Von Lengerke & Detmold, the Knock-About

[dojcwj@att.net]

I have received from my father-in-law a Von Lengerke & Detmold, shotgun side by side, model: the Knock-About gun S/N 81111. Is there any source for ageing or other information on this gun?

 

[Erich]

I remember the old VL& A (& Antoine?) brand. If you can't find anything out about it, email me and I can get in touch with a friend who knows about it - he's a big shotgun guy and a friend of his owned the marque when it folded.

 

[4V50 Gary]

Heck, they use to import Broomhandle Mausers long before my parents were born.

 

[Harley Nolden]

Here is what I have on the gun. Taken from SXS's of the world 2K by Charles Carder.

HJN

 

[Erich]

Here's what my friend had to say:

"Von Lengerke & Detmold was a high end sporting goods importer and retailer in New York with a sister outlet in Chicago named Von Lengerke & Antoine. They both sold out to Abercrombie & Fitch about 1930. The firearm he wants to know about is probably a middle grade British "midlands" Birmingham mfg. The proof-marks on the water table and barrel flats would tell a lot.

So, what are the proofs?

 

[fal308]

By proofs he means proofmarks. These are makers marks and safely testing marks. They should be on the barrels near the breech end (on the watertable), under the forearm.

 

[Erich]

Right, what he said, if I wasn't clear.