doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Questions , F. W. Kessler Drilling 16X16 9.3X72R

Hello,

My first post here, this is a very nice site. Looks like the place to ask some questions about a drilling.

A friend just picked up a nice German drilling, Gun had been in a same collection for over 50 years. This double exposed hammer drilling is marked "F.W. Kessler, Suhl" on both shotgun barrels, is in 16 X 16 ga X 9.3 X 72R rifle caliber, is about 44 inches long, has 27 inch barrels, is serial numbered 30XXX, weighs about 6 1/2 lbs.

On the top rib between the shotgun barrels it is engraved "Carl Bock Frankfurt, A/M" (the guns original owner?). There are the proof marks under the barrels, can they give it's build date.? See no model markings, any idea of its model.?
Can post some pictures.
Thanks again, olypenn22

Olypenn22:
Please post some pics and Carl Bock was the firearms merchant who may have been the wholesaler who sourced the components and then subcontracted the work to Kessler who roll stamped his name atop the top rib. GGCA( www.germanguns.com ) has F.W. Kessler catalogues forsale with the copies being from an example I possess. First I'd say the serial number was in the Sauer range but the dreiling would be an early one so I'd say Kessler made it in his shop in Suhl.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Raimey,
Thank you for your response, here are some pictures of the gun.





















[img]http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk86/olypenn222/drilling/dr3.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk86/olypenn222/drilling/dr2.jpg[/img]

Can you tell me what the initials are on the underside of the left scattergun tube at the end of the "Krupp Fluss Stahl" stamp, or maybe a "Crown" over "S"? Looks like a set of initials right under the "8.7mm" stamp on the rifled tube just about the Gothic "J" which I think noted the Jaeger craftsman. The rifled tube may have experienced the preliminary proof more than once as the "Crown" over "G" is either pretty low or beside a worn "Eagle". The tube may have been modified to accept the normalized 9.3X72R or maybe it was proofed separate prior to 1912 and then again under the 1912 rules. The Drillinge is a No. 8 and described as follows:

"8. Hammerguns with three barrels, Roux action, double bars and forwarded rib, best rebounding locks, insertion for ball by lever on the disk, visor to lay, on simple stock, plaine line engraving."

The marks date from 1912-1923 but if I'm not mistaken, I think the 9.3X72R was normalized circa 1914. So it would have been made between 1914 & 1923. Many times an example finished in F.W. Kessler's shop will have the FWK monogram on the standing breech.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Raimey,

Thank you again,

"Can you tell me what the initials are on the underside of the left scattergun tube at the end of the "Krupp Fluss Stahl" stamp" looks like ESSV,

The rest of the stamps are as you discribe, the FWK monogram is on the breech, receiver and barrels.

Any ideas on the value of this rifle?

Thanks again, olypenn22

Then the stamp would be Krupp Fluss Stahl Essen or Krupp Fluid Steel Essen. A guess would be that on a good day the Förster Dreiläufer would realize between $1200 - $1500 U.S. of A. and possibly a bit more to a hardcore F.W. Kessler collector. Someone, and it may be me, was putting some info together on ole F.W. Kessler and it I might find it if you are interested. If there are any initials or letters on the back side of the locks(if you every have them off) like a "S&S" or "N" or near the forend lug, I'd be interested. Could you supply a pic of the FWK monograms? The Förster Dreiläufer is very similar to the Sauer Model 19(XIX) less the 1/2 pipe side frame reinforcement and I would guess that components were sourced from Sauer. I'm sure you well know, but the top lever selects the the ball(kugel) or shot(schrot) and the right trigger should push forward for the single set trigger or German stecher.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Raimey,

Thanks again, Will get some more pictures posted, Larry, my friend is quite interested in german double rifles, shotguns and drillings, (this is his second one) do you have a recommendations as to source books on this subject he should consider picking up? He would be interested in the info you have on F.W.Kessler.

Thanks again, olypenn22