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Group 3: Action Mechanism and Serial Numbers
https://postimg.cc/gallery/yWP8vc5

IMG_0541.jpg: Close-up of the serial number "17521" stamped on the tang, positioned just forward of the decorated trigger guard screw. This confirms matching numbers on this section of the action. Note the fine checkering on the stock wrist.

IMG_0557.jpg: Close-up of the open action showing the standing breech, firing pin holes, and the scalloped receiver bolsters with fine scroll engraving.

IMG_0559.jpg: Detailed view of the action water table, clearly showing the stamped full serial number "17521" and the hinge pin mechanism.

IMG_0560.jpg: Top-down view looking into the action and barrel breach area, showing the extractors, ejectors, and the serial number "7521" visible on the action edge.

IMG_0561.jpg: Full top-down perspective of the open receiver showing the top lever, safety slide, textured background engraving, and the breech face mechanism.

"PB" Monogram Escutcheon
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IMG_0542.jpg: Detailed macro photograph of the oval gold/brass escutcheon inset into the stock, featuring an interlocking monogram with the initials "PB" surrounded by ornamental scroll flourishes.

Factory Archives & Authenticity:

The original Merkel factory record (Gewehrkarte) explicitly records the presence of "PB on the butt plate" (or escutcheon). Looking this exact monogram on the gun today directly validates the factory document and confirms its original, unmodified state.

Historical Interpretation of the Monogram:

On high-grade Suhl firearms of this period, an engraved monogram points to a few historical possibilities, ranked by statistical likelihood:

- Original Owner's Initials (Most Likely): Statistically, custom monograms on luxury guns most frequently represent the individual client who commissioned the build.

- Family or Estate Monogram (Less Common): It could represent a family crest/initials or a specific hunting estate (domaine).

- Presentation / Institutional Gift (Rare): Exceptionally, it might mark a commemorative gift or institutional order.

The ATM Connection:

Given that this Grade 210 was custom-ordered through ATM (with specific factory requests such as regulation for French powder and optic mounts), one of the most plausible scenarios is that a custom order placed by a client through ATM, with Suhl executing the "PB" engraving at the factory before final delivery.

Original Ammunition Accompanying the Rifle
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Hello everyone,

The Merkel Model 210 was accompanied by two original boxes of Browning 9×57R cartridges, both opened but still almost full, which had remained with the rifle from its previous owner. Their presence constitutes a particularly valuable addition to this remarkable ensemble.

These cartridges are Browning 9×57R, manufactured by Fabrique Nationale (FN) of Herstal, Belgium, and loaded with 250-grain (16 g) semi-jacketed hollow-point (HP) bullets using Boxer primers, as clearly indicated on the original packaging, an especially fitting companion for a Merkel rifle imported for the French-speaking market.

Beyond their practical value for the rifle's initial sighting-in and initial field use, these boxes are of genuine historical and collector interest. Original Browning 9×57R ammunition bearing FN markings has become increasingly scarce, making these boxes an exceptionally appropriate companion to a Merkel Model 210 manufactured in 1929.

The 250-grain (16 g) semi-jacketed hollow-point bullet represents a classic loading for the 9×57R cartridge. Its exposed hollow-point design was intended to provide reliable expansion on large game such as wild boar and red deer, in keeping with the hunting practices of the period.

The use of Boxer primers is also a significant practical advantage. Unlike the older Berdan system, Boxer-primed cases are easily reloadable using modern reloading equipment. Once fired, the cases can therefore be carefully preserved and reloaded, allowing this historic rifle to continue being used with appropriately assembled ammunition.

The presence of these two original boxes, preserved together with the rifle for many decades, further enhances the historical value and authenticity of this exceptional ensemble.

Considering the exceptionally attractive acquisition price of this Merkel Model 210, the inclusion of two original, almost full boxes of Browning 9×57R ammunition represents an unexpected bonus. Their rarity, excellent state of preservation and direct association with the rifle make this acquisition even more remarkable from both a historical and collector's perspective.

C'est très difficile de rendre une réponse adéquate à ton dernier posting sans une transgression des bornes de politesse et de bienséance... mais parfois, c'est bien nécessaire.

C'est une attaque massive d'Intelligence Artificielle (ou bien, hélas maintes fois aujourd'hui, aussi de stupidité artificielle) déchainée, comme on le lit bien. Ce forum est destiné pour l'échange et et la conversation entre des humains qui soient unis (et parfois, comme cela parvient, divisés) pour une passion partagée commune, celle des fusils à deux cannes, avec une certaine prédilection pour les juxtaposés; mais bien sûr, les armes de combination et les superposés y sont aussi les bienvenus.
L'expression centrale dans cette définition est peut-être: "humains", et j'estime un posting comme ton dernier, comme une assez grave impolitesse et infraction d'un consensus. Donc abstiens-toi d'une telle malfaiseance !

La IA (ou si tu préfères le Vlaams, la Kunstmatige intelligentie of artificiële intelligentie) est très utile pour s'informer rapidement.
Et "se" signifie soi-même.
Ce n'est pas un instrument de torture pour importuner les autres. Et si tu as quelques choses à nous dire (et j'en suis bien sûr), DIS-LE toi-même. Ton robot bavardant ne nous intéresse pas. Veuilles limiter un tel tête-à-tête intime à toi et elle, exclusivement.

***

Now to the ammunition itself.

I am glad for you that you were able to acquire this intriguing (and, as Raimey would say, partially mysterious) O/U Bockbüchsflinte jointly as a "value pack" ;-) together with its last boxes of ammunition (the two of which have been produced some years apart from each other).
Often, we lack the original factory ammo for an older chambering, e.g. Raimey's 6,5x70R, or my own 7x72 R, 6,5x58R and 6,5x52R, which would be so useful and welcome before we start start to load our own. The 9x57R is very easy to create from 8x57 IRS, but factory ammo has not been made for decades. Yet it once was quite popular on the Old Continent, both in its at least two (!) different rimless variants, and in its rimmed sister incarnation.

Your ammo was made for (not by !) FN, and is bearing the (quite common) "Browning" headstamp. Such "Browning'" hunting cartridges were made both by Hirtenberger (Austria), and by Norma (Sweden). These now were done by Norma, as you can clearly read on the primers. The "golden" packaging type of the cardboard boxes is the most common. The older semi-transparent 10-round-plastic boxes are rarer.

They were made in the 1970s or the very early 1980s. Not rare as such, but nowadays difficult to find. Your AI has clearly indicated the main use not only of the gun, but also of the bullet: it was very typically used for the chasse à battue in the French Grand Est, and in Belgium, up to the Western border region of Germany.
This "slow but reliable" cartridge - comparable to the .35 Winchester and .33 Winchester for you American readers - seemed almost tailored for wild boar, Sus scrofa (which back in the time, was a fairly rare and highly esteemed commodity, and not as today an ever-present nuisance) and for red deer, Cervus elaphus. The typical use distance would have been between 20 and 70 metres on the open sights, while the big open hollow point bullet would react and expand reliably already on roe deer, instead of just passing through.

I have absolutely no clue about Gevelot and SFM, and would be curious to learn whether French ammo manufacturers - before the de-industrialization ravaged the land after the Trente Glorieuses, and left it nigh barren - maybe also have produced these loads for a short time?

Avec mes salutations assez sincères,

Carcano

In the above hodge-podge mixture of kalibres, I will add some load-data I have seen thru the years:

»1935 DWM list has a 12.7 gram (196 gr) bullet at 637 m/s (2088 fps) with 2.3 grams (35.5 gr) of Rottweil No 5 powder«


»The 1934 DWM „Patrone und Schuss“ catalog lists a 127 gr jacketed bullet ahead of 23 gr R5 smokeless for a mv of 2156 fps ( 26" test barrel), no pressure given. This load was even slightly more powerfull than their contemporary 6.5x58R load, the same 127 gr bullet ahead of 28 gr W1919 smokeless for 2116 fps. The 1922 Steigleder catalog quotes the 6.5x48R S&S with a 103 gr steel jacketed bullet and 23 gr R5 for 2100 fps. So I would try 23 gr VV N140 and a 100 – 120 g r .257" lead core bullet. Though N140 is a bit slower burning than the obsolete R5«

So it would appear that for the same bullet weight of 127 grains for the 6,5X58R that 23 grains of VV N140 vs 28 grains of W1919. Yes, I am heading towards a load for the 9X57R....

Axel E. on the 9X57R:

»The 2009 DEVA handbook lists some 9x57R loads with other powders, but only for 170 gr Sierra and 250 gr Speer .358" bullets (not resized):
170 gr Sierra fmj, 47 gr VV N130, 2608 fps, 2374 bar
250 gr Speer, 46 gr Norma 202, 2150 bar,or 46 gr IMR 4895, 2386 bar, or 47 gr VV N140 for 2200 fps, 2341 bar.
All these loads are well below the 2800 bar max pressure. For my Mauser and Haenel rifles in 9x57 rimless I load 50 gr VV N140 behind the 358" 250 gr Hornady rn. «


Hochachtungsvoll,

Raimey
rse

Too, 7,35 Carcano, I see you are a »Huge Fan« of pseudo KI.....


Hochachtungsvoll,

Raimey
rse

Just a tidbit of information regarding loads for 9x57R. In opposition to the loads for other rimmed/rimless cartridge pairs (i.e. 7x57/7x57R, etc.) 9x57R seems to share the same loads as 9x57. Since the 9x57 was more popular than the rimmed version, there is a lot more data available that can also be used with 9x57R. Regarding Axel's comment above, concerning not resizing .358" bullets, both a former and my current, as well as a late friend's 9x57 all "slugged" to .358". Also, the RWS listing in the "blue book" shows .358" is the proper diameter bullet diameter (barrels should be "slugged" to verify this).
Mike

and another example of these guns surfaced as i was rambling around the merkel links - https://lsbauctions.com/merkel-brot...over-under-o-u-double-shotgun-1930-cr-2/

this is evidently the same gun that double take referenced, and raimey claimed conservatorship of in late 2022. i don't see an auction date, so it may be somewhere amongst those fellows.

Yeah, more than one exuberant bidder was online that day to be the next custodian. I more than likely paid more than it was worth but it has not disappointed me nor faltered and I believe I have dispatched about a 1/2 Ton Pickup of Geese with it. Fabulous Smoke Pole is She. If I travel to hunt, it is in my primary Cabela's Airline Case, unequivocally.

Hochachtungsvoll,

Raimey
rse

hopefully not derailing this thread, i am trying to find information on merkel #14,351, brought in by a.f.stoeger during their time as importer. gun is a 12ga 200e, proofed in 8/26 (happy 100th b-day!) that on the left frame has a pigeon with both wings severed , and MARKE TAUBE. obviously made for pigeon shooters, and i wonder if it was a special run for stoeger.

recently have found another example: https://reddingauction.com/item/406...ger-12ga-over-under-trap-pigeon-shotgun/ this gun is very similar (#14,263), differing mainly that mine has the typical fancyback contour, and is much lower mileage.

on one hand it would seem that the marke taube name would mean german market, but i have found nothing to support this notion...and if it were stoeger's concept, why would they use the german term?

any insight would be appreciated.

best regards