I have a 16GA SXS that doesn't have a maker's name on the receiver, but it has what I think is an owner's name engraved on the barrels: Richard Reuter, Velbert. What can you tell me from the proof marks and other information on the gun from my photos? Here is a link to photos: http://s396.photobucket.com/albums/pp48/Vol423/Richard%20Reuter%2016GA/

The gun has 29-3/4" barrels and weighs 6 lb, 4 oz. Dimensions are 1-3/8 X 2-1/2 X 14-1/4.

Thanks.

Allan

Allan, any chance of a pic of the area from the flats to the forend lug? There appears to be some faint marks on the flats, other than the typical "D", but those may be scratches. Very interesting proof date of 12/1923 & it has a ledger number like those that passed thru the Zella-Mehlis proofhouse but the marks seem more Suhl than Zella-Mehlis. Maybe from September to December of 1923 they assigned a number monthly ledger number. Hopefully Axel will have some insight.

The name atop the tube is the firearms merchant.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Here is another shot a little further up the barrels. Hope this helps.

Not what I expected but if the initials are "RL" it may point to a Zella-Mehlis origin by R. Langenhan. The time periods seem to overlap. Odd though is the date code with the ledger number while the Nitro stamp & location isn't typical of the Zella-Mehlis proofhouse. A maker in Zella-Mehlis would not have sent his weapon for proof in Suhl. We might assume that some Suhl maker with a A&D boxlock with lower scears, sideclips and sideframe reinforcement employed "RL" as a tube knitter. Max Möller was one such Zella-Mehlis craftsman who was sourced by Suhl makers for his talents.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Despite the NITRO stamp, this gun looks to me much like a "Zella-Mehlis job".The lower sears, the forend tip, the general shape and the Krupp steel marking all point to that direction.
The retailer, R.Reuter in Velbert is completely unknown to me.

BTW the gun apparently features chopper lump barrels, very unusual on a German gun. 2nd btw: the gun was proofed for 16g 2 1/2" shells.

OK, I think I see the seam in the lugs for evidence of chopper lump barrels. Nice catch. How can you tell from the photos I took that the gun has "lower sears", and exactly what does that mean?

Thanks.

Allan

See the screw at the lower rear of the action body? This is the fulcrum of the original design Anson & Deeley sear. It is in the bottom of the action body and engages a detent in the tumbler from below, close to the tumbler fulcrum. During the 1920s the Suhl gunmakers almost universally adopted E.Kerner's modification of the A&D lockwork. Kerner relocated the sears to the top/rear of the action. They turn on a screw located at the top rear of the action and engage a detent on the top of the tumblers, removed as far as possible from the hammer fulcrum. This arrangement vastly improved the leverage. As much less mainspring pressure rested on the sear detent, Kerner's top sears allow lighter and at the same time safer trigger releases. Secondary safety sears are unnecessary with Kerner's sear arrangement.

Seems as if the Suhl ledger number carried over into early 1924. This is a nice little hammergun peddled by Emil Kerner at Cabelas.





link to Roux type action with seemingly Suhl marks: http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=254354#Post254354


Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

I like that Kerner; plain and clean. A hunter's gun, for real--not a "look-at-me" gun. Game bag filler-upper!