doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Help with German guns

Thank you for all the advice guys! I appreciate the input. Which makers besides Simpson should I search for? I've been searching for Simpson, sauer, and suhl (I know this isn't a company but it get a broad range of hits)

What are so e other good searches to keep an eye on?

Krieghoff
Merkel

or just read this

http://www.chuckhawks.com/german_best_shotguns.htm

Searching German guns by brand will really steer you away from some of the best deals out there. There are many guns without brand names, which often are referred to as guild guns. They as just as good as those names you have mentioned. You need to look at enough of these guns to discern which are good (most) and which are wasted. Great no names often go for a fraction of price of brand name guns of same quality or even better. Take the time to learn to read German proof marks and to develop an appreciation for fit and finish. Also the deep relief engraving you seem to like is usually an Austrian gun not German.

OK- and Mavis always inputs de sage with de turkey stuffin'- damn tasty. When you list and sell shotguns with a 3 day inspection/NQA return, as does (his daughter Cam runs the shop today) my old friend Bill Jaqua, I'll bet you a sauerkraut milkshake your sales will improve- see you were bidding on a shotty-gun my old friend Jerry (aka- Hunter One Trigger) has currently fo sale on the GunBroker forum site-I have dealt with Jerry for years-like me, we both have little use for some of the members of the Loose Change (found on) Sidewalks Collection Agency- but Jerry knows LC Smiths like Van Cliburn knew his way around the 88 keys of a piano--

Jawohl!! Buy the gun and gauge that fits both your checkbook and shooting style(s), and not by the brand name- if you have a copy of the 1954 Stoeger's Bible- they have a two page article on German and Austrian proof marks-- well worth a close study before you put your money on the line.

Ithaca33:
The mention of "Simpson's" LTD. by a helpful poster above, is a name of a Gun retailer/Importer
The German maker you wish to search for is Simson (without a "p" in the spelling. Very Nice quality in all grades, and yes, up there with Sauer and the more common Merkel.

I have a nice 20 bore Model 74E with 28" bores, side clips ,third fastener, cocking indicators and intercepting sears that sees very regular work here at the ranch.
Good luck in your search.

There is rouges gallery of guns out there from: JP Sauer, Wolf, Merkel, Simson, Hubertus, Geco, Heym, Krieghoff, ....... well before we reach smaller makers and guild guns. Although some have cheekpieces (allowing slim light stock), sling swivels the only real downside is "full & fuller" choke combos on vast majority of them. Incredibly one can still get old ones for same prices as 30 years ago. Unlike some others I do not think the prices will rise significantly any time soon. I mean people are going to pay more when we are all forced to use non-tox shot for all upland gunning? The only thing that went sky high is prices of newly made Merkel Bros. guns. Considering one needs strong arms and good knee to load and disassemble new ones I'm surprised they actually sell some of those at dealer listing.

Ok, maybe prices will go up just like with vintage Ithaca 37s, These are no longer $250 field guns when found in excellent condition. One must now part with kool $400 or more for field grade gun in excellent shape. After 30 years or so old used closet queen Ithaca 37s finally caught up with second hand Wingmasters equipped with choke tubes....KOOL

I purchased a Sauer & Son SIDELOCK at Reno a couple of years ago for $600. It was a 12 Ga.
Another to look for are the Prussian Chas Daleys. They never made guns but imported fine German doubles for many years. I believe they had Sauer & Son, Schiller and the best (imho) the Lindner (often Americanized to Linder). Made for this country, they were usually 12 Ga, often in the black & white finish in Damascus, and sometimes in American Walnut. I picked one up at a show this month which is nearly mint, has a $2000. piece of Circassian walnut, and was dirt cheap because the owner only wanted to sell it as a wall hanger. "Cain't trust them Damascus barrels"
As has been stated before, many German guns did not have names or had only the retailer on them. No problem. There were only really good German guns until after WW2. They are the best buys out there.
Pete

most german guns made in the fifties and sixties are of good quality, similar to the pre war guns...it seems that in the seventies and eighties some Suhl guns were made to a lower price point...once the communist lost control of east Germany, prices, but not quality went through the roof...for examples merkels made in the nineties and later are often heavy, clunky old thangs, that seem for no good reason to be very high priced... merkel, and their agents, in recent years, have done a wonderful job of marketing their products.

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