doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion German & Austrian Sporting Guns @ doublegunshop.com Merkel drop lock 128e?

Just bought this one, I found the old catalog pic but nothing else anywhere. Anyone have any information or have seen one sell?
I just bought the thing since it’s the only German drop lock I had seen in the flesh.

I have no information to contribute, but that French catalogue ad copy is scenery-chewing poetry.

Can you show how to drop the bottom plates and remove the locks.
It doesn’t appear to operate as the WR drop locks I have seen.
Best Regards,
JBP

Gun came in today feels less than 7 but weighs 7.4lbs. .725 bores chokes .042 .055 crazy tight. Will have to email Merkel it looks like made for an American with no sling swivels. Articulated trigger and checkered butt. 27.8 in barrels 14.5” lop IT FITS!
Anybody familiar with these Merkels?

Better pictures is really making that wood pop! What a score. Lovely gun with a pretty cool action.

However they drop the gun is drop dead gorgeous!

I hate to open chokes but DANG!

Beautiful gun!! Beautiful wood!! Thanks for sharing.

Thanks, I had never handled a drop lock before this. I always assumed the triggers on these would probably be less than nice. Pleasantly surprised. Anyone else shoot a drop lock and what are the pros and cons?

wow...

Stunning gun and looks to be beautifully put together. Congratulations!

Well according to Germanhuntingguns and Larry this is only the 2nd one of these Merkel Drop locks found so far. Much more rare than i expected. I have sent Merkel an email asking to purchase the work card or factory letter, I hope they can provide.
Shot trap with it Sunday reached way out there with .055 choke and 1oz 1170 loads

Either Bernhard Merkel or Gebrüder Merkel manufactured it as those were the 2 sources.

Serbus,

Raimey
rse

I’m pretty sure this is a pigeon gun with 70cm barrels(27 5/8in)70mm chambers, non auto safety and no sling swivels. 7.5 lbs.
Sure worked out well on the sporting clays
Hopefully Merkel will provide the work card.

Love the background!

Man that gun is in fine condition. What a score!

Thanks. I’m going through the gun “ like a kid with a new toy”. Never had a drop lock to go through so I’m pretty ignorant of them. Thought it was odd to have a slotted hinge pin cover on one side with a drop lock but now I can see why.

It gives access to the slotted( removable) hinge pin screwed in between these two bars milled inside the action. Crazy this was done without CNC.
Just sharing! Yes I’m getting geeked out over this one.

This gun was proofed 2/42 unfortunately Merkel is missing the war time work cards. Da#$!

Keeper.

Great to see it in its natural habitat!

Congratulations on a beautiful gun. Your pictures are much better than the auction listing! I bid on that and thought it was special (and belonged with my Merkel 131 double rifle) but finances weren’t sufficient for that and another lot I want more. But I never realized it was a drop lock! That certainly wasn’t pictured.

That same seller is who I bought my 360EX Watson double rifle from.

Very jealous. Congratulations!

A stunning gun for sure, but what was that dark brew in the background?

O’Hara Irish stout or Sullivans Maltings can’t remember but both are very good.

German Dopplebocks are usually around also but believe that one was Irish.

Wow, I have never seen a merkel droplock. And here in germany there is big market for used merkel and/or suhl shotguns. Theres always dozens or evens hundreds for sale. Have you inquired with Merkel about the gun? I would love to know, if it was produced for export or the german market.

Unfortunately Merkel has no wartime work cards according to them. Found several Merkel catalogs it is either a 128e or a special order variant of the 128e. Consensus both here and over there is that it’s only the second Merkel Droplock found, the other one was the same gun (actual gun not just the model)pictured in the catalogs. It’s definitely the top of the food chain. I consider myself Lucky to be able to hunt with it. Had it goose hunting today with Bismuth 1 1/8 oz. Gun is really something.

Pigeon gun works pretty well with 1 1/8oz #1 bismuth .055 choke. Just folded up nicely at 45 yds.

Congrats on the goose. I'm still sore I didn't notice that one was a drop lock. Beautiful. BTW, did you figure that out because it has no bottom screws or by asking the seller? It wasn't in the listing.

I had already found catalogs with German drop locks and told Raimey I would sell several to buy one of those. Yes I noticed no pins/screws and was 90% sure it was.
Crazy thing blue books for over 20k! Lots of 16ga doubles i would rather own at a 3rd of that price. I need a 16ga 28-30” barreled Lindner Daly or sauer with both sears. R2 or R3 16 would be nice even trade. I always end up with great guns that aren’t my style but look great!

Well that's the best kind of find, where your astute observation turns into a rare opportunity. And damn, the stock on that one is so nice. As is the engraving.