Interesting, would the '5' there refer to the modell nr and the 12 the gauge?
This is probably a huge question that requires an answer equivalent to an entire reference text...but are there basic or fundamental features that differentiate between the different models?
For the moment I would say so, but I believe the Sauer Modell 5's were as scarce as hen's teeth. The date of manufacture would have to be closely narrowed & then look @ the period Sauer catalogues. Then again the Sauer longarm may be contained in the Sauer ledger and all the info is logged there. Just a hop, skip & a jump from Frankfurt but I have yet to make the journey. There are collectors that have make the pilgrimage but I know not what pages they copied.
Quite a bit of info is sorted here:
http://www.germanhuntingguns.com/archives/archive-sauer-j-p/,
http://www.germanhuntingguns.com/about-the-guns/gun-indentification/and Herr P.O.(Per-Olof) Haggards is an authority & has a website. He just may answer that question.....
www.sauerfineguns.comCheers,
Raimey
rse