doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com any clues on a H Pieper grade

we stopped in a antique shop today, the guy gets a few sporting items in now and then.

this time there was a H Pieper. sidelock hammer gun with 28 inch damascus barrels, it was light enough I thought is was a 16, but turned out to be a 12. (no pics)

the bore were not perfect, but was very good, the damascus pattern showed through the patina. Very nice well figured wood with no damage. Off face wise, only the slightest bit of movement with the forend off, easily resolved.

nice simple engraving- borders on the locks and well done pheasants in roundles behind the hammers.

I know Pieper was Belgium and made a large variety in the quality of guns, including some low end stuff, this one seemed to be fairly well put together and good workmanship,

Of course the bore and wall measuring tools which are almost always in the truck were not there today. So based on what I find out I may make a return trip..

is there any information available on the grades and comparable quality of his guns. I did a search here by found nothing like this one.

if any one has the index to the double gun journals ( another need to get) have there been any articles on the maker and his grades?

There is a single DGJ article on Pieper, but it barely touched the surface. (I don't recall the issue.) As to "grades" for Pieper that would be model numbers. Without pictures, it is impossible. Pieper and his heirs were simply too prolific.

Pete

Thanks Peter

I'm fairly sure that H D Folsom was a major importer of Pieper (later A.E.P.) guns. There were probably others as well. I read that both Pieper and FN were the only two Belgian firms of the day that were able to make complete guns, rather than outsourcing to other smaller Leige firms. There are lots of lower quality Pieper "Eclipse" guns out there, I have one disassembled on my bench right now. This one is inexpensive, with "Twist Finished" barrels rather than actual twist steel. (twist pattern applied over lower quality steel). Pieper certainly produced higher grades, yours may be one. you may check out Cornell pubs for this Folsom catalog (Researcher may have one, you could PM him) to see if your gun is listed. It may not be if it wasn't imported by Folsom. Other catalogs from additional importers may be available as well. You never know, you may be able to find a diamond amids the coal pile.

http://www.cornellpubs.com/old-guns/historic-hdfolsom.php

Regards
Ken