Trying to identify this shotgun. Any suggestions on how to do so would be appreciated. No serial number or manufacturer name stamped on the barrels. Says Krupp Essen on the underside of the barrels, however, that's just the German steel used to make them. Purchased at an estate auction where no details were available. It is a 12 guage and the bore is clean with a mirror like finish. Engraving everywhere, including the screw heads. This shotgun was taken to Cabela's and two other gunshops in an effort to identify it. While they were unable to do so, they did check it out and the report from all three was that the gun was safe to fire with light loads.
Possible Pre-WWII German Shotgun
- Thread starter crslght
- Start date
Dismount the barrel and...
look at the underside of the barrels.
There should be various marking that maybe the "PROOF" marks.
rub a white china marker to fill-in the markings to high lighte them and then take shoo good photo's.
google for Belgian and German Proof house markngs and compare against them.
Good Luck..
Post the photo's here and someone may know.
look at the underside of the barrels.
There should be various marking that maybe the "PROOF" marks.
rub a white china marker to fill-in the markings to high lighte them and then take shoo good photo's.
google for Belgian and German Proof house markngs and compare against them.
Good Luck..
Post the photo's here and someone may know.
In the photo of the breech, I clearly see two proof marks along with the word "Nitro" (or maybe Nitra?)... Either way, the proof mark on the right is definately East German, town of Shul, and is a proof mark for nitro powder.
As for the proof mark on the left, it almost looks like some Austrian examples I've been able to dig up, but not exactly...
With more pics, preferrably of the underside of the barrels when disassembled, we could probably help a bit more.
As for the proof mark on the left, it almost looks like some Austrian examples I've been able to dig up, but not exactly...
With more pics, preferrably of the underside of the barrels when disassembled, we could probably help a bit more.
The proof marks are as jbcoastie opined, from East Germany's Shul. IINM, the crown surmounted by a cross was adopted around 1950 and the letters below the crown refer to:
[SIZE=+1]G[/SIZE] Black powder or first proof, rifled barrel
[SIZE=+1]S[/SIZE] Black powder or first proof, smooth bore
[SIZE=+1]N[/SIZE] Nitro powder proof
[SIZE=+1]R[/SIZE] Repair proof
[SIZE=+1]U[/SIZE] Inspection mark
[SIZE=+1]W[/SIZE] Choke-bore barel mark
[SIZE=+1]G[/SIZE] Black powder or first proof, rifled barrel
[SIZE=+1]S[/SIZE] Black powder or first proof, smooth bore
[SIZE=+1]N[/SIZE] Nitro powder proof
[SIZE=+1]R[/SIZE] Repair proof
[SIZE=+1]U[/SIZE] Inspection mark
[SIZE=+1]W[/SIZE] Choke-bore barel mark
oneounceload
Moderator
You might try emailing these folks:
http://www.germanguns.com/questions.html
You can see German proof marks here:
http://www.phoenixinvestmentarms.com/archives/Proofmarks.pdf
According to that site, the U, S, and W with a crown are from Suhl AFTER 1950
http://www.germanguns.com/questions.html
You can see German proof marks here:
http://www.phoenixinvestmentarms.com/archives/Proofmarks.pdf
According to that site, the U, S, and W with a crown are from Suhl AFTER 1950
Thanks for this link, http://www.germanguns.com/questions.html - I'm taking a number of detailed photos to forward. Have learned a number of details from this thread and one posted but no longer accessable on THR.