doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion German & Austrian Sporting Guns @ doublegunshop.com German Drilling-When Made?

I recently acquired a 16 ga. over 9.5x72R German drilling. Gotthilf v. Nordheim and Krupp stahl on the barrels with claw type scope mounts. Very hard to see proof marks and doubt if they would show up in a photo. I can make out the numbers 118,35; 6,07; and 1007 stamped on the underside of the barrels. There is the number 25 stamped on the side of the forearm lug on the bottom of the barrels and and on the top ledge of the frame. I'd like to know when it might have been made plus any other information about it.

BarklyVA,
The number 118,35( the Germans used a , where we use a .)is the bore diameter as measured by the proofhouse and expressed in gauge measurement. This marking is often found on the various 9.3 rifles and some 9mm rifles(9x58 1/2 S&S).The caliber is likely 9.3x72R instead of 9.5mm.In my experience the markings on your gun usually equate to a bore diameter( not groove or bullet dia.)of around .357-359" which is good for finding bullets. Gotthilf in Nordheim was likely a dealer, not a maker.The number 6,07 is likely the date it was proofed(June 1907) and 1007 is likely the ledger number. At this time Suhl didn't date their proofs or show ledger numbers, therefore, it is likely your drilling was made in or around Zella-Mehlis.BTW a drilling of this age would be "short chambered"( 2 1/2-2 9/16" instead of todays 2 3/4" chambers).
Mike

Mike, I think you mixed something (german): He is not in Nordheim, but his full name is "Gotthilf von Nordheim" and he owned a "mechanische Gewehrfabrik" in Mehlis, Thuringia. That means he was a gunmaker and of course you are right with the Zella-Mehlis proof. The Nordheims were a great gunmaker family over years.

See also this advertisemant:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Gotthilf-von-Nord...1-/151292884288


Kind regards,
Wolfgang

Mike and Wolfgang, Thank you for the information. So, am I correct in assuming that it was made around 1907? Any idea how many of these drillings might have been made and how long Gotthilf was in business making guns?

Any feel for the how his guns compared to other German Drillings?

Care to offer an estimate of the gun's value?

Several 9.3x72R cartridges came with the gun. I measured the muzzle end of the rifle bore and it is about 8.8mm. Is this consistent with the 9.3x72R ammo?

The chambers appear to be 2-9/16", and I intend only to shoot 2-1/2" shells. I'm a little concerned about shooting the rifle given its age. Not particularly concerned about the gun but afraid of cracking the stock. Any comments?

Are there any initials on the underside of the tubeset? Even though the marks are faint, could you pleasure us with an image of the underside of the tubes. It is a Roux action variant and looks to be Nr. 26 so if that is his serialization sequence, whether he made it or sourced it, it was early on and about the time he hung out his gunmaking shingle.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Some more photos showing markings on the frame and underside of the barrels. Also, the following is stamped on the side of both barrels: 2gr. Sch.P and 28.3 gr. Bl
Also Mehlis I/Thur

Wolfgang,
Thanks for the clarification.
BarkeyVA,
Yes 8.8 would be appropriate for a 9.3.The 2gr.Sch.P and 28.3 gr.Bl(28.3 gr. lead shot)marks apply only to the shot barrels.

Is that 28.3 grams? That would be slightly more that 1 oz. of lead shot. Does the 2 gr. Sch.P refer to the powder? Is that the proof load?

No, service load. 2 grams of Schultz. Can you post an image of the 4k Atmosph�ren-Pulver stamp?


Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

This is my first German Drilling, and I have no idea what you are referring to. I have no previous experience or knowledge about these guns, but I am very interested in learning as much as I can about my gun.

So, what is a service load? What does Schultz refer to? What does the 4k Atmosph�ren-Pulver stamp look like and where would I find it on the gun?

I bought this Drilling because it looked interesting, and I don't have one. I now have at least one of each kind of 16 ga. shotgun--Drilling, sxs, o/u, semi-auto, pump, single shot, and bolt action. I shoot all of them and have every intention of shooting this Drilling.