doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Info needed on Old J.P. Sauer Hammergun

I picked up the J.P. Sauer double I purchased. Barrels have the Marks for first proof, second proof with examination, smoothbore proof, and choke barrel proof. Serial # 995xx. Water table is marked first proof, and second proof with examination. On the right barrel is stamped 106 T and is stamped not for ball (nicht fur Kugel) Barrels are marked fluid steel left, Krupp essen right.
Barrels are 28 1/8th inchs. It is a sideplated boxlock round action. MAximum width across the frame is 1 3/8ths ". At the pin it is under 1 1/4" wide. Double underlugs, and greener crossbolt. Theris a tiny silver medallion inlaid on the engraved front lug where it shows thru the action. Rebounding Hammers. Only case finish left is under the top lever. Barrels ring like crystal, blue 70% . The forearm is numbered to the gun and is 8" long and very thin.Completely checkered with a i/16" border all around. 26 LPI.The action is 1bout 50% covereage with scroll engraving.
Total weigt is 5 pounds 6 ounces. Lop to front tigger is 14 and 3/16ths". I assume the 106 is the date made January 1906?
I can't find any serial number info to nail down the age of this old girl. I would appreciate any help the experts could give me.
The stock and action are packed up, ready for NEXT DAY SHIPMENT to Craig Libhart at Susquehanna Stockworks this morning for the wrist to be repaired. I would appreciate any information that could be supplied to me.

Bill

I think most hammer guns are considered sidelocks.

There is a serial number/date list compiled from an article by Jeff Stephens in DGJ. I don't have it at the moment but would guess your gun might be earlier than 1906. Sauers of this period were not usually date stamped, but never say never.

Good shooting,

C.

Jeff's serial number list has it built in 1902. My experience with this very involved serial number list is that it is extremely accurate. You say it's a sideplated boxlock? If it's a hammer gun of the typical Sauer pattern of the period, it's more likely a sidelock, not a boxlock. I have at least three like it, one actually finished and marked by Max Fischer, Berlin, which is one of my favorite 16 gauge guns for upland hunting.

Thanks guys,

I knew someone here had the information. Very well made and still in great mechanical shape. Stock has very nice figure and is pefect color match with forend, so I assume original wood. Both pieces have the same black swirls through the wood. No scratches or dings. I'm not sure about the english stock. Did Sauer produce that type of stock in that time period? I don't see any nitro proof mark, so I guess it must be Black Powder proofed. I hope it will be safe with the RST light 7/8ths ounce loads.

Bill

No scratches, no dings, but 100 years old and broken at the wrist? I think you have to post pictures to get much more information. Safe with whatever is something you will have to determine by wall thickness measurements.

Eightbore,
No scratches or dings on the wood. A couple of marks from standing in the closet for a long time. UPS broke the wrist in shipment last week. The barrels will be checked for wall thickness before I fire it. I took pictures of the action and stock before shipping them off to get the stock repaired. I will post a couple when I get home.

Bill

Bill, yup, those old hammer Sauers are addictive. I just bought a hammer Sauer drilling that is just a wonderful gun. Fortunately, it is ready to go, needs no attention. I used Jeff Stephens' chart to date my 118,000 gun at 1905. His DGJ articles are quite informative.

Eightbore, This one was ready to go too. Until the dealer shipped it UPS ground.
The size is what gets me. I almost didn't consider the gun. When actually holding it in your hands, I don't know how you could resist it. I'm hoping the stockwork goes well. If so , I will probably have the metal recolored. I have my eye on a couple of blanks that are very near the same color and grain. If I really like the gun, I will have someone copy the existing stock now, and have it completed over time.

Bill

Eightbore, I added 2 pictures I took in my office this morning before packing the stock up for shipment. Lighting was not good, and poor background, but it shows the action. Is this considered a sidelock?





Bill

Yes, that's a sidelock gun. I have it's twin in 16 gauge.