Originally Posted by sandlapper
CJ, Thanks for the information. When I have the Sauer in my hot little hands, I will reach out to you for your input. Just looking at all the details, it appears to be a Model XVIII sans the gold inlays, with maybe a little more scroll and fewer animals, on barrel wedges and floorplate than most of them. A little more English flavor than most. How do the the 16’s rank in production, as opposed to 12’s & 20’s, in your experience? Thanks, Sandlapper

Regarding the high grade Prussian Sauers, Stephens wrote in his DGJ article that where the Grade 40s were concerned, 12s were difficult to find but that 16s and 20s were "almost impossible". He said that he knew of just two 16s and three 20s. Given that I owned a 16ga Grade 40 and that I bought it from a Cabela's Gun Library, I've always thought that there may have been more of them out there than he thought. But he was actively looking for them while I was lucky enough to stumble across the one I bought at Cabela's.