Ross,
Your gun is a Lindner-made Daly model 250. At the time this gun was produced, Daly only produced three hammerless SxS models - the 120, the 200, and the 250. The 200 and 250 were both diamond quality guns. The only difference was that the 250 had ejectors.
It it is important to note the phrase "at the time your gun was produced". The reason I wanted to emphasize that phrase is that SD&G Daly offerings (models) were a constantly evolving and changing mix. Certain models would show up for a year or two and then dissappear or their features would be subsumed within other models. For example, depending on the year, the model 275 would have been either SD&G's highest quality gun, or merely a mid-range diamond quality model.
My best ESTIMATE on the date your gun was produced is 1888/1889. Here's why:
- The gun lacks both proof marks and the country of origin stamp (i.e., "PRUSSIA). This pegs it as pre-1892.
- The gun has the Anson & Deeley brevete (patent) mark on the breach face aloing with the patent use number. The A&D patent expired in Germany in 1890 (15 yr).
- The gun has ejectors. This feature first shows up in 1888 (based on the catalog info.) The slight scallop in the action shows up a year or so earlier.
- The Daly/Lindner database production numbers for this serial number "jive" with this production date.
Best regards,
Ken
