“The Old Sauer” - Help Me Identify It!

[canvasback]

Here is a description of the difference between a typical A & D boxlock and the Kerner-Anson lock:

"This is Emil Kerner's improvement on the Anson and Deeley boxlock. By relocating the sear detents from the bottom of the hammers to the rear tops, as far away from the fulcrum as possible, Kerner greatly reduced the pressure the detents have to hold. The improved leverage makes secondary intercepting sears unnecessary. Simson/BSW incorporated Kerner's top-hinged sears into their boxlocks in the 1930s. Since then these sears became the Suhl industry standard. All post-WW2 Simson and Merkel boxlocks feature Kerner's sears. Barthold's "Jagdwaffenkunde", the GDR time textbook for gunmaker apprentices, show no other boxlock design."

 

[canvasback]

As mentioned before, the action does not look like a typical Sauer action from the period. The gun was likely ordered from a maker by a retailer who had a custom order...one that specified "no makers name" and "Sauer 3 Ringe" barrels. Instances of Sauer actions with that style of frame re-enforcement as, how shall we say it, exceedingly uncommon. Best guess I can get my go-to "German/Austrian gun expert" to come up with is the gun was made by August Schueler of Suhl. That's a guess, but knowing who is making it, I have a high degree of confidence it is the best guess you will get in North America.

 

[BigUglyMan]

Thanks canvasback. I knew that someone with more double gun knowledge than I would eventually have some input to point me in the right direction!

 

[Grouser]

I would hazard an opinion that it is a Semptler(spelling?) with January 1924 as the make date 9not a proofmark. http://www.germanguns.com/
Cheers

 

[canvasback]

Well, you have two possible makers thrown out....anyone for a third?? Haha! Regardless of who made it, it's a very finely made gun with some interesting engraving. I'd be pleased to own it.