Taking the following U.S. of A. patent #305264 where William Anson sought protection for the upper & lower scear innovation,
http://www.google.com/patents/US305264?p...son&f=false (GB - August 26th, 1882 - 4089), and with the U.S. of A. being what 20 years, Germany what 15 years and the U.K. 14? -

http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbt...true#Post260064

It seems that Sauer waited some 20 years before settling on a boxlock design in 1902/1903.

Sauer's side cocking indicator is found under DRGM/Gebrauchsmuster Nr. 130,243(signalwellen für kipplaufgewehre /Spannanzeiger) and was filed on 24th January 1900, with subsequent registration on 14th March 1900. Protection under the D.R.G.M. was only valid for 3 years with an additional 3 years at a cost of 60 Marks. I'll have to look to see if Sauer upped the ante but April 1903(1.14.1903) would have seen the protection pass and this example doesn't wear the D.R.G.M. 130243 around the indicator, or does it? Edward K. Tryon Jr. & Company of Philadelphia seems to have peddled some of the earlier Sauer boxlocks in the 103xxx range. Edward K. Tryon, Jr. expired in 1904 and the company name changed to Edward K. Tryon Company so Sauer 103221 had to have experienced proof prior to 1904 and it doesn't wear the D.R.G.M. 130243. So that would box it in between 1903 & 1904.

So the subject scattergun could well be in the 1st upper/lower scear boxlock shipment to S,D&G. No touchmarks on the standing breech are there?

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse