A member brought this out to my gun club yesterday. He inherited the gun a few years ago. It has been in his family since at least WWII. He's pretty sure his grandfather brought it back from the war.

He wanted to get a good ball park price for insurance. He has no desire to ever part with the gun. It has a few minor issues with it. The front trigger will not fire. I feels like it has a broken spring inside. The toe on the butt stock is missing a small piece as well as a piece of the horn butt plate. The rear screw on the horn trigger guard is not correct either.

Would appreciate any inormation on the different proof marks and the numbers stamped in the bottom rib. The top rib is blank. I would assume this is where a maker's name should be, which leads me to believe it was a guild gun.

Bluing is about 80% and the receiver has a lot of case color remaining as can be seen in the photos.

Thanks in advance.

Left Side of Receiver


Right Side of Receiver


Bottom of Receiver


Top of Receiver


Left Side of Buttstock


Right Side of Buttstock


Toe Damage


Forearm Wood


Forearm Iron

Remaining Photos:

Top Rib


Bottom Rib


Barrel Flats


Left Barrel


Right Barrel


Water Table


Top Lever


Breech Face


Horn Trigger Guard

Made in 1939 with the tubes having a diameter of 15.5mm and 15.3mm on the 1st pass. Components were sourced from the Consortium/Cooperative which was founded in 1885. Nice A&D boxlock with Boehler tube steel. Not sure on the encircled M, maybe a Mischitz or Michelitsch.

Genossenschafts Maschienenhaus/Maschinenhaus der Büchsenmacher
http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=257941

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Raimey,

You state that this was manufactured in 1939. Am I correct to assume that is what the "39" after the 1944 designates? If so, what does the 1944 mean?

The 1944 is the final pass datastring inhouse number to prevent maker bias by keeping anyone at the proofhouse from knowing the actual maker so at the onset a sporting weapon is issued a house number. It experienced proof in 1939 and may have begun in 1938 or finished in 1940? The preliminary pass inhouse number is on the lower rib.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Maybe it should be better stated that the inhouse issued number was to prevent any maker from getting preference on initial submission and also to prevent a proof administering fella from giving a maker bias by knowing the actual maker of the tube/sporting weapon to which he engaged proof.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

If it helps, I had a 16ga Ferlach (Josef Mischitz) made with Bohler Steel barrels which I sold here in the UK through Bonhams some 18 months ago for c.$900 before costs. There seemed to be a relatively limited market for the gun (which was in excellent condition), focused primarily on European buyers.

Hi Fix the trigger and stock toe & I would put value at $1200-$1500 IMHO.
Jeff G.