doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Two Johann Ecker Wels Austria Double Guns - Info?

Hammerless gun

HA! I had to ask.

Why don't you try their KONTAKTFORMULAR. I made a test and it didn't bounce back.
Cheers,
Jani

Because I didn't realise that that meant "contact formula" Ha.

I will try it.

You are a good person for sticking with this project.

That , Sir, is what I call a serious photo shoot , proper job!
I like the Hammerless Gun....
Looks lovely
Cheers
Franc

Thank you Franc...actually, I'm a "girl" architect, but I appreciate the kind words none-the-less.

I am hoping for more input about the guns....

More input could be obtained from Proof House in Ferlach:

Beschussamt Ferlach
Maschinengasse 3-4
A-9170 Ferlach
Austria
Phone: (0)4227 2576
Fax: (0)4227 4174
E-mail: beschussamt_ferlach@aon.at

You could send them photos but I think these numbers are essential:
Hammer gun:
action: 1699.1700.14
barrels: 11039.14
Hammerless:
action: 2415.35
barrels: 1441.35

I would imagine they have these guns recorded in their old books and should be able to look up for you some additional information including who subjected them for proof: Ecker, one of the Ferlach gunmakers, or maybe even a third party.

With kind regards,
Jani

Jani is almost certainly correct about the hammer gun having originally been a two barrel set. It is a very elegant gun. The boxlock is a fairly typical, good quality, double of the period. Because the Austrian cities largely avoided the attentions of the 8th Air Force and British Bomber Command, there is some chance that you may find out something about these guns.

Both look to have been well cared for by your father. Having spent 29 years in the Army, I can attest to it being a fairly compulsive behavior pattern! You should get into shooting them. Suspect they are both fairly tightly choked, but one never knows until a guage is run through them. Either would be fun on a clays course, and that hammer gun would be a particularly elegant companion for a "girl" architect.

A lot of us can get a bit spiritual about such guns, and taking them out would not be a bad way to spend some time with your father.

If you've hoping they are of great value you are going to be disappointed.

No. I've been told by an extremely reputable expert, that I'm not going to retire on the sales of these two guns. But, I am rather facinated by them as they are so very much different than the Lugers, Mausers, Walthers, and even the 1883 Colt Peacemaker (which MIGHT be a nice nestegg) he left me in his collection.

I had "seen" the pistols through the years, but I don't remember Dad ever bringing out these double guns (which was explained after my mom died and I found the "hidden compartment" he had made in the top of the dining room breakfront. It was full of guns, swords and daggers I'd never seen before. Good thing they lived in an ultra-secure high-rise retirement tower. Gad.)

Anyway, I was born in Germany in 1958 when Dad was stationed over there with the 8th, and I grew up with Germanic antiques in our home, so these double guns are particularly interesting and I'd like to know as much as I can about them - especially since THERE IS NOTHING about Johann Ecker anywhere in any "gun" source I've found.

So, any more thoughts you have, I'd love to hear them.