doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Emil Flues 20 Ga O/U Shotgun

Clive,
Here are some photos of a pre-war Merkel for you to compare your Flues to...in hopes that you'll notice some of the differences that truly make your gun (nearly) unique...

Here goes...they're just quickly composed photos

Clive,
Notice the cocking levers in the lower right of Merkel photo #3 (above) have spurs so that they function as cocking levers and trip levers in one...


To other readers...note how differently the Flues 3 piece forends have steel bits at the rear of the upper forend...nothing like a Merkel or a Griefelt...That screw in the center of the barrel bars looks as though it limits the travel and holds the ejectors.

We're fortunate to have two currently online for comparison at the same time (and to our Merkels at home)...If only someone would show us a Two Thousand dollar grade next...

Take a look at the size of the hooks on these rib extensions...the mortises in the receiver must be quite deep to accept these...I wonder what forces they're subjected to when fired. Having never owned a Brithish O/U, I can't really say if those hooks are unique to Flues.


The Merkel shown above has no hooks but rather a small panhead (sort of) screw head that limits the travel of the ejectors as can be clearly seen in Merkel photo #1

Robert, although there are obvious differences, the bolting system still strikes me as being similar to a Kersten. The outside end of the bolt (when it protrudes from the receiver) is even the same shape. The holes in the barrel extensions (they're not "rib extensions" like a Greener or a doll's head on a sxs) are certainly larger and of a different shape. But even when a sxs has a square rather than a round crossbolt, it's usually referred to as a "square Greener".

Clive,

I am sorry you are not having the best experience. I am glad you shared the images. I hope you have received valuable information.

A trivia note. In the 1910 US Census, Emil Flues listed his occupation as "Experimental Gun Maker".

Robert,

Glad to see you posting on this thread again. Just ignore the flies, they soon find other interests...

Pete

Clive,
Here's a couple of Flues rifles from when he was a very young man...this Ballard type may have been his apprentice piece...the worlds foremost authority felt as though the action showed very little signs of being a built up gun (from an existing Ballard action), but rather a homemade action...



This second rifle is a Marlin lever action, that I'm assuming is a built up gun...If I remember correctly, the gun was made up for some local judge who happened to be in the same shutzen club as Emil


Both of these guns were built years before his association with Ithaca

Post deleted by Robert Chambers

Robert,
The stock on the auction gun looks well fitted except its not quite perfect(pretty close though) at the top tang. Why do you think it is not the original stock?
Ross

Mr. Chambers. I have no "dog in this fight" as they say, so please take my comments as supportive and in our mutual best interest. Your last few posts are examples of the quality that contributes to our enjoyment of this thread. Please continue to simply ignore comments that you find offensive from people that you may also find equally offensive and continue to post information of value. The petty bickering (no matter who is at fault) benefits none of the rest of us, and as noted by others, your contributions would be greatly missed should you find yourself "locked out" from this BB. I've never been exposed to any discussion of Flues work before now. Consequently, I find it interesting and wish to learn more. I think I will if everyone takes a deep breath and stays on task. Thanks for your contributions.