A patient, whose family was involved in the gun trade in pre war Germany, explained that what we call guild guns were made be name makers for the retail trade. If desired you could have your own name engraved as a retailer often did or they would be sold with no name on them at all. He said it was a way to keep workers making guns instead of not having enough to do. His explanation seem to make as much sense as any other reason for guile guns. He said the often heard explanation that guild guns were made by small gunsmiths or those learning the trade was not very likely.
It was not that much different than say Crescent guns which could be made for any retailer who wanted them and for a large enough order or for a small fee have any name put on them that you wanted.
