The gun was made after JP Sauer set up operations in West Germany, under new management. It was made in the old Sauer plant, under communist management, and maybe even using some prewar parts. The marking on the barrel that says Vorm J P Sauer... means Formerly J P Sauer.... It was likely used for deer and pigs, as well as small game during the time in East Germany that the use of rifles was restricted. The scope would likely have been removed during drive hunts for small game and likely would have been used with Brenneke or similar slugs for deer and pigs. Such slugs were made to be used in guns with any choke and could be surprisingly accurate with proper sighting at limited distances. During this time, especially in the East Zone, the guns were likely kept at State controlled "clubs", rather than at the hunter's home. It should be remembered that in the lean post war years, game meat was a very important (even more so than now) food source. Interestingly, my German gunsmith friend's father lived in the East Zone and was a hunter. The saleable game was taken by the State, rather than the hunters. When a Fox was taken, the hunter had to turn over the valuable pelt to the State. When my friend's father took a fox, he would stake the carcass out is a stream and allow the water to run over it overnight, before taking it home to eat. The stream washed the oils away, making the meat palatable. During desperate times meat is meat. Mike
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