doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Need help dating J.P. Sauer

My wife just acquired a J.P. Sauer 20 gauge boxlock. We're new to German guns and need help figuring out it's date of manufacture. We know for certain that it was made after WWII and was made in Eckernforde but that's about it. Serial #25449, extractors with cocking indicators on the sides. Any help appreciated.

Dave. B.

It should have three of four small numbers on the bottom of the barrel flats for the month and date of proof. 865 would indicate August 1965, etc.

ChiefShotguns,

Thanks for the quick reply. The only numbers on the flats, other then the bore dimensions is a 1 and a smaller 54 though these numbers aren't right beside each other. Is this the number I'm looking for?

Sounds possible, but they commonly are beside each other so that they are read together without any doubt. January 1954 is certainly within the Eckenforde period.

ChiefShotguns

Thanks again for the help. I think 1954 is a safe bet for the year of the gun, and that's really wanted I wanted to know. If you don't mind me asking, do you by chance know what the phrase "Spezial Laufstahl Bochumer Verein" written on the top of the barrels means?

Thanks, Dave B.

Dave B...Chief is correct in his information posted here about your Sauer. It was likly proof tested in January 1954 (154 date code on bbl flates) Your Eckenforde Sauer is very likely a Model 5/5 boxlock shotgun or a model 60, which were JP Sauers basic models of that era. It might also be a very early Royal model, which had a crossbolt, cocking indicators and scalloped receiver. As an aside the most interesting thing about your shotguns S/N (25,449)is what it illustrates. It illustrates that JP Sauers new Eckenforde models appear to have began a new s/n sequence and that the Eckenforde produced model 8's continued with old and already established (pre-WW2) s/n sequence. Model 8's produced in the early 50s will be seen with s/n's in the 39X,XXX range. Jeff Stephens

Dave;
"Spezial Laufstahl Bochumer Verein"
I don't know German to give you literal translation, but essentially is; special bbl-steel & I believe the Bochumer Verein is the Co & particular alloy of steel used.

Thanks guys for all the information. I really appreciate it! I was wondering if anyone knows if Sauer made many 20 gauges? I have never seen one until we ran across this one. Perhaps they were more common after WWII? Any way here are some photos of the gun for you guys to check out for a little fun. You will have to excuse my camera it is not all that great. Thanks again.

Dave B.

I have two post war Sauer 20's, a bunch of pre war 16's and 12's, but no pre war 20's. Not that they don't exist, but they are less common.

DaveB,

"Spezial Laufstahl Bochumer Verein" means Special Barrel Steel Bochumer (for the City of Bochum) Association.

Photos are O.K. the manufacturing date is also good, the caliber designation markings also as usual, is there any indications of choke anywhere? (1/4, 1/2, 3/4 or 1/1?)