German Geco Shotgun I NEED INFORMATION

albayo

albayo

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I am looking for information on a German made double barrel shotgun with the name of Geco. Don’t confuse it with the insurance company Geico.
The shotgun is a nice double barrel gun with 720mm or 28 ¼” barrels. Under the barrels on the flats are these markings 9 – 55 probably the month and year of manufacture. Each side has 12 / 70 does this mean the cal and length of shell?
There are eagles like the prewar German markings over the letter N does that mean nitro proofed? On each of the barrels are the words “Spezial – Gewehrlaufsthahl”.

The gun is in VG condition with really great stock lots of figuring. It has a low European type of cheek piece on the left side, and the stock curves off to the right and when you bring the gun up it seems to come on target easily.
The receiver has a pin that pops out or the left side when the lever is moved to open the gun up. The screws don’t seem to have been touched and they retain the fine engraving in the heads. The screw heads have really fine engraving like a flower petal, starting from the middle and going out. Under the receiver in front of the trigger guard are the words “Made in Germany”. The gun also has sling swivels on the barrel and stock. The stock has a very small pistol grip area and not bulky like most shotguns.

Are these guns worth anything? Are they a desirable item for a collector?
 
It SOUNDS like a nice piece, and "Geco" was the trade-name that Gustav Genschow & Co. used for their firearms and ammo before Dynamit Nobel bought them out in the late 50s. The "12/70"s mean that this shotgun is 12 gauge, chambered for 2 3/4" shells, and the "popping-out pin" is a cocking indicator, to show that the hammer on that side of the gun is cocked (there should be one on each side). "Spezial Gewehrlaufstahl" just means "special gun-barrel steel". As for what it's worth, it's going to depend on the exact condition of it; do you have pictures?
 
SDC said:
the "popping-out pin" is a cocking indicator, to show that the hammer on that side of the gun is cocked (there should be one on each side).
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Seems more like a Greener cross-bolt from the description provided.

Just curious are there external hammers? Sounds like a nice piece, perhaps similar to this pre-war model? :)

http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/admin/product_details.php?itemID=6236

Obviously, prices do not always have a true relevance when compared to the far bigger and diversified market in the US.
 
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Ahsan Ahmed said:
Seems more like a Greener cross-bolt from the description provided.

Just curious are there external hammers? Sounds like a nice piece, perhaps similar to this pre-war model? :)

http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/admin/product_details.php?itemID=6236
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IMHO the gun pictured looks like a field grade, worth about $300 to $500 in the Canadian market. Albayo's piece sounds like a step up with a slightly better grade of wood and more elaborate engraving. It's impossible to provide even a ballpark number without seeing pictures of the actual piece, but from the description alone, I would put it at $450 to $600.

If it turns out to be a pigeon grade, it could fetch 2 to 3 times that much if you can find the right collector.

SS
 
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Geco Shotgun

The shotgun is a hammerless model and it has the cross bolt lock up.
All of the screw heads are like the ones in the pictures, but the slots are really fine. The stock has a low European cheek piece like on some rifles I have encountered over the years. Actually I have a Husqvarna Crown Grade 270 with the same type of cheek piece.

I will snap a few pictures if someone can post them for me.

It's a nice gun and the sweep in the butt stock really is comfortable when it come up to shooting position. I have owned a few shotguns but this one has a great feel to it. I only wish it was a 20 gage.
 
albayo said:
I am looking for information on a German made double barrel shotgun with the name of Geco.

Geco was bought jears ago from RWS both companys made ammunition, sometimes they let built Rifles and put their own brand Name on it. ( Like Geco,RWS,Walther do that with Rifle-scopes, )

The shotgun is a nice double barrel gun with 720mm or 28 ¼” barrels. Under the barrels on the flats are these markings 9 – 55 probably the month and year of manufacture.

No that means others, the Year of the manufacture you can find under the eagles. The German laws says that each Gun which was built in Germany has to shoot the first 1-2 shots through a German Firearms department ( Beschussamt ) the Shell pressure has to be 1/3 higher than usual ammunition. Thats just a saefty concern.

Each side has 12 / 70 does this mean the cal and length of shell?

Yes that means 12 er gauge and 70 mm shell length of a fired shell ( not of a alive shell ) 70 mm is 2 3/4 so do not use a 3`

There are eagles like the prewar German markings over the letter N does that mean nitro proofed? On each of the barrels are the words “Spezial – Gewehrlaufsthahl”.

N means Nitro the Firearms department fired and approved this Gun with Nitro ammunition not with Black-Powder. Spezial Gewehrlaufstahl means that the steel is made in Essen by Krupp. Krupp was made the most special Barrels for special Weapons during the WWII. Krieghoff ( used ths steel for the drillings ) and some other high Quality manufacturer used in the past this spezial Gewehrlaufstahl. The most drilling manufacturers in Europe ( guess all of them ) used before the WWII and till to the early eighties Krupp spezial Gewehrlaufstahl.
Now Krupp is bancrupt and the chinese bought the whole factory sended 10.000 labourer to Germany to take the whole factory to china. Krupp spezial Gewehrlaufstahl is the best steel what you can find on the steel market for shotgun Rifles.

Are these guns worth anything? Are they a desirable item for a collector?
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I would say this shotgun is it worth to do a 3`chamber in it. With normal use you cannot destroy the Barrels. The Quality of the Shotgun is better than the Italian made or Spain Made shotguns builted the same Year. The Quality of this shotgun is as well as the modern Berettas today. ( Berettas today are lighter in weight ).
 
albayo wrote:
It's a nice gun and the sweep in the butt stock really is comfortable when it come up to shooting position. I have owned a few shotguns but this one has a great feel to it. I only wish it was a 20 gage.

In Germany the teachers on the Range say: The stock hit the target not the barrel.

If you can handle this shotgun and hit more targets as usual with other shotgunsyou should keep this gun. You can purchase hundrets of shotguns, its just the right and the best shotgun when the stock fits to you.
 
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albayo said:
It's a nice gun and the sweep in the butt stock really is comfortable when it come up to shooting position. I have owned a few shotguns but this one has a great feel to it. I only wish it was a 20 gage.
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Not to be picky, 'cause you can call it anything you want and people will understand, but the sweep is known as "cast". And, yes, it's hard to beat a nice 20 ga SXS.:rockOn:

SS
 
The initial post indicates cast-off.

Not to deviate, I've always been used to cast neutral shotguns and a CZ 12ga I acquired close to couple years surprisingly came with a cast. Initially, I was somewhat apprehensive as I couldn't exchange as that firearm was on special order but this shotgun turned out to be simply amazing in terms of pointing and hitting.
 
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I have owned several drillings and combination guns marked "GECO".

It is my understanding (from several sources) that GECO was a sporting goods distributor that had various makers produce products (guns included) that they branded as thier own.

Your photo appears to be a post war (agrees with your interpretation of proof mak) Simpson or Simpson-Sauer (as we are framilliar with them) field grade box-lock, probably buit for export to the huge North American market.

The little "nipples" on each side are cocking idicators.

It appears to be in very good shape, but I would not consider increasing the chamber length.

Enjoy.
 
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