OSS,
Most of us call it a "cross eyed stock". If you need one, you are lucky to have found it, they are pretty rare. For a front sight, check with New England Custom Guns. We can likely give you some information about it, but you need to post photos of all markings, especially proof marks on the bottom side of the barrels. If it is 8mm there are several possibilities for the nominal chambering. If it is 8x57R, there are still at least 3 possibilities. You may need a chamber cast to sort it out, but maybe not. I think you are in for a lot of fun.
Mike
Mike... thanks for the info. Just ordered a front sight from NECG... I will post pics of the underside of the barrels tonight.
Here are the proof marks
[img]/https://i.imgur.com/HZKxlRa.jpg?2[/img]
[img]
https://i.imgur.com/gzSiKHi.jpg [/img]
1st pass thru the Steyr proof facility, being a satellite Vienna stamping station, in 1927 w/ the scattergun having a diameter of 15,5 mm and the solid projectile tube @ 7,3mm. Final pass in 1927 was 16,2? and 8,0mm. I've seen that open ended infinity symbol as well as the script M many times.
Cheers,
Raimey
rse
OSS,
Raimey is more familiar than I with Austrian proofs so I will defer to his opinion. As far as the nominal chambering is concerned, the Austrians commonly used a slightly different system of marking than the Germans. Where the Germans marked the barrels normally with the bore( not groove or bullet) diameter, the Austrians often used the groove diameter. This means the groove diameter of your rifle barrel should be around 8mm or .315".This is a little tight, but 8.1mm is .319" whereas we normally consider the 8mm sporting groove diameter as .318". Considering tolerances, we can likely disregard cartridges with .323" bullets. In addition to the common German cartridges, the Austrians also chambered rifles for their own cartridges. All this is a round about way to say you will likely need to make, or have made, a chamber cast to determine the nominal chambering of your rifle. Slugging the barrel will determine the actual groove diameter( or extend the chamber cast into the barrel). If the seller included cartridge cases fired in your rifle, they could be used instead.
Mike
Something I omitted is that the tubeset should weigh 1460 grammes. Is the scattergun a 20 bore @ 15*5mm to 16*2mm(?)?
Cheers,
Raimey
rse
The UK call it a cross over stock. I have bought and sold a few when I was importing/dealing.
The UK call it a cross over stock. I have bought and sold a few when I was importing/dealing.
So Mike are you out of the business?
I was hoping Jani would chime in on the 8,0mm stamp as he is typically accurate on equating those marks to cartridges; well within a few mm, +/- 5mm?
Cheers,
Raimey
rse
I looked by over preliminary datastrings for many examples & 15,5mm is most common for the 1st pass thru the proof facility & 16,0mm & 16,2mm are common for the final pass for a 16 bore. So they were working the tubes for 0,5mm - 0,7mm from the preliminary state till the final state.
Cheers,
Raimey
rse
Peter Hambrusch (from the top rib) was born 1889 in Ferlach, and opened a shop in Steyr by 1919. This gun was probably made from Ferlach components.
Considering relatively light construction - no Greener crossbolt, back action locks, lightweight barrels -, the nominal 8.0 mm caliber was likely one of the low pressure group: 8x58R Sauer, 8x57R/.360, 8x72R. As Mike wrote, the bore should fit the .318 bullets.
Cheers,
Jani
I can't disagree with Jani, but since the Austrians had a pretty lively ammo industry of their own, I would feel more comfortable with a chamber cast( even understanding most of the rimmed Austrian 8mms used 8.2mm bullets).
Mike
I appreciate all the info & advice. I do have an issue that needs resolved, the gun doesn't lock up properly and the top lever doesn't return to center unless the barrels are removed... I've thoroughly cleaned the action and inspected every contact point surface for burrs...and I haven't found any. Any advice for competent gunsmiths in the Spokane, Wa. area that I can entrust this rifle to?
OSS,
Sorry, Spokane is out of my area. Maybe Vintage Doubles in Wenatchee, Wa.(
www.vintagedoubles.com) knows someone.
Mike
