doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion German & Austrian Sporting Guns @ doublegunshop.com HELP!

I have a Richard Marhoff & Sohns drilling and I need the three small leaf springs that operate the internal hammers. One is broken, one cracked and one is good but I figure I'll replace it anyway since the gun is apart. The gun is with the gunsmith now (who, thankfully, is knowledgable about combo guns) and he is trying to find suitable springs through his sources. He has asked me to check with any sources I may have on the internet so I thought I'd check with you fine folks.
Any ideas? I've sent an email to New England Custom Guns and am awaiting a reply. I've posted on the German Gun Collectors site as well. I inherited this gun from my late father and it is very dear to me. Hunting season is around the corner!
Any ideas would be appreciated. Either post here or email me at geobruner@aol.com.
Thanks for listening.

George Bruner

Lot'sa Luck finding those springs, doubt that you will. If your gunsmith is really an experienced combo gun smith, he'll be able to fabricate the springs you need. That's the way these old guns are maintained today.

I would contact TJF Suhl (just google them) and try to arange an exchange: you send them old springs (and payment), they send you replacement springs. I did a similar thing with Ferlach years ago and it turned out just fine.
With kind regards,
Jani

I dunno whether this will help or not, but last year when I broke a hammer spring on my '79 Simson, Merkel USA was able to provide a replacement for about $50. I kinda doubt one of those would fit out of the box, but it might provide a good basis for your smith to work from.

Thanks for the replies folks. I got an email from NECG and they said to send one of the springs in and they may be able to match it or order them from Germany or Austria. Something tells me this ain't gonna be cheap. Thanks again.

George

Your sense is almost certainly right.

Part of the problem, such as it is, with German guns is that they are precision machinery designed and made by Germans. As in "we are Germans and make quality things, so there is no need for us to worry about spare parts because even to admit spare parts might be needed would demean our skill and quality."

Why do you think the mechanics at the Porsche dealer wear white lab coats?

Then, when you need a spare part, not only are they hard to find because of scarcity but the mere act of asking for them can offend some of the craftspeople.

Dave,

I hear what you�re saying and my guess is some Germans may see it that way but having worked as a journeyman tool and die maker in my younger years at a company owned, managed, and staffed with many "old country" Germans I can tell you that somebody probably didn't get their "tempers" right. "V" and "leaf" springs are a bit of an art and it's realistic to assume that over time some will fail. Everybody has an off day or moment that in the spring business may not be noticed until many years of cycling, in George's case the cocking and uncocking of the lock mechanism. The Germans do have a history of being damn good craftsmen so George's spring issue is a bit of a rarity, in my experience anyway. I must admit I find a measure of humor in the notion that German engineering and craftsmanship is "bullet proof". It basically comes down to people and statistics. There is always that proverbial "one in a million" that will get ya.

Regards,

Buchseman

Yeah. I was just having some fun.

Dave,
Just go to your local NAPA and find new parts for a 1938 mod USA made Chevy.
Mike

We used to have an old gunsmith here who had a reputation for making durable leaf springs. When there was a spare spring needed for an old gun, he made a handful of the same shape. But he tempered each one a bit diferently. The one which survived his testing was instaled into the gun.

With kind regards,
Jani