This is a lovely little thread with some very welcome (and also instructive ! ) eye candy. The reason for its continuation here is transparent: from the estate of a recently deceased former gunsmith here, a rather similar gun came into my temporary possession (the legal owner and permit holder still is the widow of the gunsmith, who continues his enterprise with the aims of liquidation; all guns are meanwhile in the vault of another young and very talented gunsmith, who holds them in trust).
The widow wants to sell it, probably for a rather good, i.e. low and advantageous price (compared to the strangely high US price levels, of which we are aware). The export to the USA would be effected not be herself, but through an experienced dealer who is repeatedly and rather easily exporting from here to the US, mostly competition guns (Walther, Hämmerli, Korth, Manurhin) and older hunting guns. I think the gentleman is a US national himself, and he seems to enjoy a good reputation here in our national trade. Any potential sale would give our host Dave his due commission, as stipulated in the forum rules.
This specific gun bears two numbers, namely "4355", which must be the serial number proper (on system, repeated on the left side of the underlug lump, and as "355" inside the forestock), plus the barrel number 3623, barrel maker is "G.G." within a spiked/barbed long oval, and the peculiar apparent (or feigned) patent "D.R.P 3367". It has the very selfsame asymmetrical locking lug / underlug to the left side of the system, with large axle. Opening lever under trigger guard (Roux style).
Has an old detachable scope mounted in decent working condition. Not a claw mount, but proprietary, with fixed bases, good work.
Old nitro proof for 5,3mm with sideways barrel stamp "Crown-N" and 0,5 G.B.P [dividing underscore] St.m.G.
Now the specialty: this one is NOT a single shot, but an over/under (Bockbüchsflintchen, in a fact a typical and charming combined "Schonzeitwaffe") with a choked 28ga shotgun barrel (size stamp 26 to the left).
As to the age of the gun, I decipher 6,4m/m, 524 and 672 under the barrel. I interpret this as May 1924 and ledger number 672, probably Suhl. Remains to be seen whether the barrel once was lined down to the smaller and more precise cartridge (5,6x35R Vierling fits well).
Condition of wood and scope is "good", condition of metal a low good (realistically spoeken, because of former light surface rust). Barrels / bores still remain to be photographed, so I shall not wax poetic.
[PS and contentwise off this thread: there is also a Bockdrilling to sold, in good to very good condition, 9,3x74R, 20/76, 5,6x50R Magnum). But that one is much newer, in better condition, animal scenes engraved (very good style, I would say, definitely several (!) notches above the usual German and Austrian animal pieces, flying turnips and chimerae sadly lacking)... but anyhow who would lust for a Bockdrilling, such a strange wannabe universal contraption ? ;-) :-D Ts, ts... ]
Regards,
Carcano
