expertise needed A. schuler 16x16x9.3x72R

[Shane111]

Hi, i apologize for the embarrassing amount of time it took me to post this, I have a buddy that offered to sell me this beauty and i was just wondering if anyone could tell me anything about it, possibly an estimated value?? the only thing i know about it is the gauge 16x16/9.3x72R and it was either made by Augusta Schuler, or a Robert A Schuler im assuming around the 1920's. I did try to search google but i wasnt able to find any that looked remotely like this , or even get the answer of which Schuler built it,

i thank you for any and all advice!

by Shane Vloet, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

[Raymund]

Wow
That is truly magnificent . Now when you say 9.3x72 did you measure that chamber and what is the bore diameter ?

 

[Shane111]

we honestly did not, the gentlemen we picked it up from has never fired it in the 10 years hes owned it, (so he says) and we're just going off of whats in the case with it

it is certainly a magnificent piece it was a must have when he showed it to me.

 

[canvasback]

That’s quite a piece you have. While there are some knowledgeable people who frequent this site, you have a rather unique gun that requires some really specialized knowledge and IMHO that would mean getting that gun in front of the most knowledgeable German gun collectors and researchers in NA. To do that go to the DoubleGun forums and post those pics and ask your questions in the German gun sub forum. You will need to provide much better (clearer) pics of all the proof marks and all other writing or stampings that are anywhere else on the gun.

They won’t be able to help you much with value. They are American and the market in the US is quite different than here. But to start closing in on a value, you first need to know what you have. They will very likely be able to tell you that.

 

[Shane111]

I figured that might be the case still waiting for the admins to approve me on Doubleguns, I did try for good pictures but it's never been my Forte, had missed anything on the barrel and of course my camera caught nothing of the proof marks /chamber markings under the barrel

 

[dilly]

I looked in my book “the Drilling” by Norbert Klups. The only reference I found to August Schüler is about his development of the Hercules breech. Apparently, it was close to the Kersten breech in design. This gun you have pictured does not appear to have either of those types of breech system.

That gun is certainly beautiful to my eye. I love the cartridge combination although I’m not big on exposed hammers. LOVE the cartridge trap in the stock. I wonder if that front trigger is a “set” trigger? What does it have for sights? Are they ones the user would flip up when needed?

Regarding value, it very difficult to say. I think these guns are among the most difficult to price. Given their intricate design and engraving, they should be worth many thousands IMO, but very few people seem to want them. You need to find a very specific buyer.

 

[canvasback]

I figured that might be the case still waiting for the admins to approve me on Doubleguns, I did try for good pictures but it's never been my Forte, had missed anything on the barrel and of course my camera caught nothing of the proof marks /chamber markings under the barrel

It’s worth the effort. Some of those guys are the guys who write the books we use for reference.

 

[Shane111]

From the brief moment I had it all out of the case, just a standard matte rib with a blade sight, also unfortunately not sure about the set trigger though looking at the safety it doesn't look like it has the ability to slide left or right as the more modern doubles have, I should have it next Saturday and I'll be sure to take better pictures and post them here

 

[brybenn]

It appears from the pics that a section of the rib is removable? As if dovetailed in place. Beautiful gun even if the engravings are aren't to my taste

 

[Shane111]

Their is acouple more pictures if you click on my name In the second picture from the top, but still dog water quality I think maybe one shows abit more of the rib ill try to find it.

Edit, never mind if you click on my name you can zoom in on them in Flickr, it does have something I first assumed was a claw mount but could be a flip up rear site

 

[sillymike]

they should be worth many thousands IMO, but very few people seem to want them. You need to find a very specific buyer.

What they are worth and what they sell for, are two different thing. As far as I know, drilling/combination guns are more often than not a "novelty" items that the guys will bring out for show & tell at the BBQ.
- I can probably count on one hand, the number of folks I know of who hunt with theirs
- I'd probably need my two hands to count the number of people I know who own one. More often than not, it came from the continent with them (or their parents)


As far as your gun, you might want to check with these guys, they have two entries on " Schuler " under their Austrian section.
- https://www.germanhuntingguns.com/archives/

Only similar Schuler gun I've found (external hammers, ammo trap door) that recently sold, is this one from kiddfamilyauctions that sold for 1,325.00CAD last February.

But it's not as nice as yours, and it didn't have a case.

Good luck with your search, if you get some nicer pictures... don't be shy to add them to the engraving thread

 

[Raymund]

What they are worth and what they sell for, are two different thing. As far as I know, drilling/combination guns are more often than not a "novelty" items that the guys will bring out for show & tell at the BBQ.
- I can probably count on one hand, the number of folks I know of who hunt with theirs
- I'd probably need my two hands to count the number of people I know who own one. More often than not, it came from the continent with them (or their parents)


As far as your gun, you might want to check with these guys, they have two entries on " Schuler " under their Austrian section.
- https://www.germanhuntingguns.com/archives/

Only similar Schuler gun I've found (external hammers, ammo trap door) that recently sold, is this one from kiddfamilyauctions that sold for 1,325.00CAD last February.

But it's not as nice as yours, and it didn't have a case.

Good luck with your search, if you get some nicer pictures... don't be shy to add them to the engraving thread

Unfortunately sillymike is right.
Most drillings are in 16ga and short shell ( expensive and hard to find )
The rifle caliber is either impossible to find or very expensive ( 9,3x72 right now going for around 150/20 rounds ) on the top of that we don't do driven hunts in here , where the drilling has the advantage to switch from rabbit to duck to deer or boar.

 

[sillymike]

On the other, if you reload... it's must another set of dies

- C&H still makes them, and there ought to be plenty of old RCBS ones floating. Norma sells new brass. And short 16g are relatively easy to make...

That gun might be of the heavier side, to use as a daily-walking-the-wood grouse gun... but I'm sure it would be fun for the odd hunting-in-style outing.

 

[canvasback]

I would suggest that SillyMike and Raymund have, together, nailed the problems with valuations on drillings. The market in Canada is so small and so specialized that it almost doesn’t matter how well made the gun is. It is much more a question of are you able to find a highly motivated buyer.

 

[iron cat]

From the brief moment I had it all out of the case, just a standard matte rib with a blade sight, also unfortunately not sure about the set trigger though looking at the safety it doesn't look like it has the ability to slide left or right as the more modern doubles have, I should have it next Saturday and I'll be sure to take better pictures and post them here

What a gorgeous drilling!!
I hunt with a 16x16/9.3x72R, and it is a gun that is a delight to carry ( 6.5 pounds)
I see you have some ammo there, do not lose the brass!
Is it loaded with 195 grain bullets?
Also, that is NOT a safety , it is the barrel selector for the rifle barrel.
Pushing it forward should raise a rear folding sight and activate the bottom barrel.
No need for a safety as it is a rebounding hammer gun !
Cat

 

[Shane111]

Thank you iron cat for the information on the barrel switch I called a safety, wish I would've handled it and seen the rear site pop up, I have been able to gain access to doubleguns and posted it there, as suggested as of yet no one's told me what it could be worth, the guys asking 5,450 but I'm worried Here in Canada it wouldn't be worth that, and I hate sending nice guns out of country

 

[iron cat]

Thank you iron cat for the information on the barrel switch I called a safety, wish I would've handled it and seen the rear site pop up, I have been able to gain access to doubleguns and posted it there, as suggested as of yet no one's told me what it could be worth, the guys asking 5,450 but I'm worried Here in Canada it wouldn't be worth that, and I hate sending nice guns out of country

It certainly is a fantastically engraved gun!
My Drilling is nice but un named, my son's Austrian drilling is a very expensive gun ( 12x12/375H&H) as heavily engraved as yours , but resale is a fraction of what it would cost new to buy.
Cat

 

[Shane111]

It's one of those guns that kinda speaks to you, I have a feeling that I won't be leaving the next show without it, once I do I'll be sure to share many more and better quality pictures

 

[Raymund]

It's one of those guns that kinda speaks to you, I have a feeling that I won't be leaving the next show without it, once I do I'll be sure to share many more and better quality pictures

If you end up with it you can come to the Annual Double Gun Classic .