doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Researching an heirloom Fred Adolph Genoa NY 20ga

Oh yeah, Adalbert Wolf of Zella - Mehlis easily could have performed the tube work as he, or his family, had been stroking tubes since 1879.


Serbus,

Raimey
rse

Fred Adolph began his business of importing nice German guns and marketing them under his own name before WW1. He depended, in large part, on the endorsement of well-known and even famous customers. This was an often-used method of advertisement going back to before the Civil War, and Colt. These practices may be frowned upon now but were common and accepted then. The quality of the work was never in question because of them. When WW1 began, and especially after we became involved in it, there was a lot of anti-German feeling and rejection of many things-German, even changing German spelling of family names to the English version, such as Mueller to Miller or Battenberg to Mountbatten. In this environment, it is understandable that Adolph may have encountered some customer's reluctance to pay. Also, the war naturally affected his ability to deliver prior orders or make new ones. It seems that he tried with some success to reestablish his former business after the war but didn't do as well as before. With regard to the lack of proof marks on the gun in question, German law required guns sold in Germany (and German possessions) be properly proofed under the German proof provisions. Guns exported to other countries were subject to the proof laws of the country into which they were (and are) imported. The US did not (and does not) have a mandatory proof law, depending instead upon civil liability laws to ensure safety. Since they were not required, had to be paid for, and considered ugly by some; it is more likely that proof marks were not applied, than they were removed. Richard Hummel, former editor of the German Gun collectors Association's publications wrote an article about another Fred Adloph gun in one of the issues of Double Gun Journal, which includer a goodly amount of information about Adolph himself. If I can, I will try to find out which issue it is in.
Mike
.

Raimey;

I am sending you a PM.

Stephen Howell

THANKS Raimey. I added my one other photo of the top of the barrels. I regret to say that I didn't get shots of the ejector gun and other internal details while I was there with the gun. Thanks for all your knowledge. Ultimately we're trying to find the gun a new owner and need to figure out the best way to do that.

Ford:

I concur with Adolph's modell but I just have low regards for him as I think the was purely deceitful, and stretched the Truth till it broke. He was just dishonest & and I do not think he to have been that good of a mechanic. His upper rung wares were from the hands & backs of the most talented mechanics in Suhl & Zella-Mehlis. Those are the bona fide craftsmen. And another punch: Adolph sourced the Zella - Mehlis mechanics because they were cheaper and he could pad his pocket.

Serbus,

Raimey
rse

Raimey,
He is not my favorite either, read between the lines regarding the endorsements. Charles Daley's wares were from the hands and backs of the talented craftsmen in Suhl also. I think, from Dick's article that he was mostly a stockmaker. Still, his business model was common then and now.
Mike

Ir is a bit hard to say that Adolph depended on oversea work like Daly. Kornbrath engraved Adolph guns on this side of the world and apparently Adolph was quite a stocker at one point. Adolph. Used Springfields for some of his custom rifles. Is there evidence that he sent those overseas for completion ?

No, I don't think he sent them across the Pond but Springfields along with Mausers are quite modular and since the platform already exists, add a barrel along with adornment. Adolph may have been a mechanic of merit @ one point but I would hasten to wager the chicken scratching on the forend is of his hand? Yes, He may have added some Wood but I think that was to the extent of his abilities. Adolph's whole life is a sordid tale and I for one think he was something of a con-man??

Serbus,

Raimey
rse

His whole life was sordid and you figure him a conman, Care to elaborate on either of those points? I have read something similar but it hardly seemed credible.

Bottom line....what is the gun worth ?

Being German made is not a plus in price.