doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion German & Austrian Sporting Guns @ doublegunshop.com Ziegenhahn und Sohn

Ya- In MI- Frankenmuth (near Saginaw) most likely has the greatest concentration of folks of Germanic descent-Many years ago the old Carling brewery was going strong- a heavy competitor to the Stroh Brewery in Detroit- about 90 miles South. Carling Black label was a fine Pilsner beer- much like Budweiser, Pabst, Miller and Schlitz- and very popular. I grew up on Cincinnati Creme with their old "Ask for the handsome waiter" logo, but my Granddad liked Altes- German word for the 'topmost" or "peak" of flavor- as opposed to the other word Haupt- meaning the highest up the ladder-- Almost all those pilsner beers are either gone, or the original breweries have been swallowed up by the "Big Three"- Anheuser-Busch, Miller and Jacob Coors--

But the old Carling brewery is back up and running as a very fine micro brewery today- Their Dunkel is first rate, I like it as well as Leinie's Nut brown- and their Doppelbock is first class-

You'll never see a native German drunk on beer- not because they are so used to it- but besides the Reinheitgsbot of 1516 (Purity of brewing)laws that govern brewers in Germany- they drink their bieren in tall clean glass mugs- and NOT Frosted- served at about 38-40 degrees. Drinking beer from a bottle (we call that Chicago style- don't know why-just is) or from a bar tap on draught and ina frosted glass mug- Nicht zer Gut--

I like a tapered glass with a nice wide rim that will hold 14 ounces- room for the head- and I tilt the glass at first, then bring it up to "plumb and level" to the tap of bottle to cap off the head. But to each his own-- We owe a lot to the Egyptians-- they were the first to brew beer, they developed the condom concept, and they gave us King Tut- so Steve martin could prance around on stage with a fake arrow in his head-

Fox, I can't imagine anyone else on here bringing this thread around to Steve Martin and King Tut. Fantastic! I've been chuckling since I read your post. Martin was hilarious.

Gents, the engraving is complete. The gun should be ready next January. I think the engraving came out great, couldn't be happier. Have not seen it in person yet, but Jens sent me these photos and afew more.


That is "my" dog in the engraving, an excellent design of her.

Will it be case colored like the Essencia? Congratulations! STeve

No, it will be Satin Nickel like in the pictures. I appreciate Case Coloring but don't desire it on my own guns.

Gents, I visited Jens Ziegenhahn today to wrap up some of the payment for my gun. Hope to pick it up 10 Feb! Today the metal parts were back from being hardened in an oven. I was able to see all the metal except the bottom tang. Wow is all I can say, the engraving is better than I hoped for. Full pics when I pick it up next month.

Now, if you read your Shooting Sportsman, you may recall Steven Dodd Hughes' article on the Manufrance Simplex and Ideal. When I showed the article to Jens, he says "Have you seen my Ideal?" And out comes an 1899, double trigger, ejector model Ideal, with a retractacble sling stored in the butt. Beautiful wood and very fancy engraving. Here is a crude pic I took with my point and shoot; I've never seen this "Scissor-style" double trigger look.

Big day is tomorrow, Friday 10 Feb!

I'm feeling a little jealous! Enjoy the day, and lets see some photos.

Can't wait to see the finished product. Absolutely fantastic.

OK, guys, here she is. My Ziegenhahn und Sohn 16 Gauge SxS with 28 in barrels, English Grip, Trigger Plate action with Double Triggers, choked Mod and Full to hunt Pheasants, Sharptails and Huns on the Great Plains, false sideplates with custom engraving, weighing at at 6.28 pounds. The gun looks great and feels great. It mounts a little higher on my cheek than my O/Us, I think for a rising Pheasant, kind of like a Trap gun. I haven't measured the actual DAC and DAH yet, will do that and take more pics when I get time. The triggers and long bottom trigger tang were Blued, which I didn't ecpect, but I really like the contrast between the blueing and the Silver finish of the receiver. More pics with Macro soon.






The Italian case needs a minor adjustment; the snap cap holder needs about 2mm's cut off so the gun slips in and out easily; right now it is too tight a fit. Minor issue that can be resolved easily. The "primer" in the Snap Cap is spring loaded so it gives a little when the firing pins strike it.
Total time from order to receipt was 22 months, but I made it clear I was in no hurry. Jens could have done it in 18 mos if required. However, the bird hunting over here in Germany is less than optimal and everything is expensive (gas, hotels, etc). So this Fall, my GSP and I should be bustin' birds in the good ol' USA!