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Thanks for your kind comments above.





My first was a delightful little 8x57JR boxlock made by Gebruder Merkel prior to 1912. I acquired it in 1982 as the result of protracted negotiation that had spanned several years. I felt I had arrived.

It was built on the Anson & Deeley pattern with overhead sears. It had chopper lump barrels, nice foliate scroll and game scenes, horn trigger guard, buttplate, and trim, set triggers, and a fine piece of marblecake. The rib was inscribed, "L. Frauenstorfer, Mannheim" which I understand was a sporting emporium comparable to Abercrombie & Fitch. The only attribution to Merkel was their distinctive mark stamped on the face of the breech. Here are a few photos:


















You can see it was made and finished to very high standards. The action was exquisitely filed up, and this is not your typical German game scene engraving.

Like so much in life I should not have parted with that little rifle.

Curl

CptCurl, beautiful guns! The Merkel is stunning!

Many Thanks, Captain. I normally shy away from Teutonic guns but as you say, the impression one gets from the engraving is very different from the "usual" German/Austrian firearm.

1982 seems like a wonderful year to arrive indeed. Wasn't the Hemingway Westley Richards .577 sold for $3,000 around then?

Do you see the hunter firing his rifle in this scene?



He's behind a rock just to the left of the tree trunk. There is a little puff of smoke at the muzzle of his rifle, and it is obvious when looking at the upended stag that he has made a good shot.

Curl