doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Franz Kettner Hammergun on Gunbroker

What do you think of item 326515482 on gunbroker? Is this worth bidding on? Thanks, Jim

Hi Jim, nice looking gun! The engraving is very well done and the wood has some great figure. Looks like there was a repair done to the forend. I did notice that the crossbolt is sticking out quite a bit (not flush with the fence). The opening lever is quite a bit to the right also. The gun may not be totally locked up. I'd ask the seller about this. Maybe he can send you a pic with the gun locked up solid. I would also suggest the bbls have been cut. Most German guns of this period are 29 to 30" and choked full and fuller.

As to price, that's your call.

Best of luck to you!

Greg

Like gjw I would be wary of the barrel length. The lever being right of centre and the cross-bolt sitting proud makes me wonder if the action has been 'squeezed' a little to take up some play.
Maybe of course just a lazy photographer ?

It could be that the tubeset has a length of 66cm but I would ask for an image of the muzzle. Quality Krupp tubes by Louis Kelber. Proofmarks note constriction in the right tube. It is somewhat similar to the Sauer Modell 2 in some catalogues but I don't see any marks to suggest Sauer sourcing. But it is very similar to a F. W. Ke�ler hammergun and I would say that components may have originated there and then a lesser known Suhl maker finished it for Kettner. The image of the toplever has the Greener crossbolt out and it is not in battery and that is why the toplever is to the right. Appears to be a upper rung hammergun offering made between 1912 & 1923.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

the lever being right of centre means that the gun has not been closed properly.
if it was 'squeezed', then the lever would be on the left and the crossbolt would sit 'deeper', not proud
IMHO

regards from England

G�nter
NRA Life 1974

Edit: crossposted with ellenbr - sorry

New pics on GB showing action closed properly and keels at bore end of barrels. So what do you people think? Value of such a gun etc.? Thanks. Jim

Menacing muzzle would confirm the tubes are original at 66cm. No worries G�nter as I like a similar 2nd opinion.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Muzzle photo does not show higher quality work like the rest of the gun.

I'll agree that the muzzle does not reflect Richard Keller's best work as compared to the Renaissance leaves/Wetzlaub on the frame, but maybe he had an apprentice to play Xs & Os on the muzzle while he performed the intricate tap, tap, tap on the receiver? If we are looking at deception, the purported fella that cut the tubes went the extra mile to apply some adornment to the muzzle. I've seen a lot of cut tubes, but I don't remember any having a newly scribed muzzle adornment, and then again they may have all be cut over here in the U.S. of A.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Raimey, what do you think of the $$$? Thanks, Jim