Originally Posted By: ellenbr
I'm fairly confident that the DRGMs began in 1877 with the DRPs, but I can't say the date of the 1st sporting arm with DRGM.


Hi Raimey,

while the German Patent Law came into force in 1877, the Law regarding "Gebauchsmuster" (=utility model = DRGM) came into force on 1st October 1891. I don't know, which is the earliest sporting gun incorporating an invention protected by a DRGM, but Sauer's DRGM No. 223 of 1st October 1891 is hard to beat.

Regards

Martin