Merkel 96k Drilling valuation and Id

Jesus.C

Jesus.C

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Hello fellow Cgn'er. Ive recently got my hand on a nice Merkel 96k and im trying to ID the manufacture date of this gun and the choke of both barrels. Ive found little information on the steyr websit https://www.steyr-arms.com/us/datecode but I still cant put a mfg on this gun. Also I think the choke are both Ic wich should correspond to the VZ marking but on the barrel im seeing VN wich dosent correspond to anything I could find. In the link below Ive provided many details pictures of the gun, its marking and choke ID charts. Any help would be appreciated. Ive been told this gun was made in around 2006-2007 but on the barrel I can see made in GDR wich is east germany. So its probably older. Also if you could help me put a valutation on this rifle it would be greatly appreciated. Right now im in the 5k water but I want know if im off my rocker. Thank you for your help. Heres the pictures https://imgur.com/a/dX5DtO4
 
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Can't help you much with the $$ estimate, other than the market for such firearm in Canada is pretty small and the few guys I know that use combination gun do it as "curiosity"
- If you're looking for a rough-estimate to use for insurance purposes, there's always the past auctions from Joh. Springer’s. They seem to get a fair number of drilling


Nice gun by the way :cool:
BnPj0eR.jpeg
 
Thank you guy for the input, im fairly confident with the valuation part. Those rifle were quite expensive back in the day but like sillymike said the market is small in Canada for thoses rifle. Im still trying to Id the choke and mfg. Ive just wrote directly to merkel. I hope theyll be able to help me.
 
I find it interesting that it even has engraved bolts inside the end guard
- Should you ever get the urge to take it apart, please invest in a proper set of driver bits (from Brownells). All the bolt/screw heads look to be unmolested... it would be a shame to bugger them up by using the wrong bits

j2o6lZU.jpeg



Have you a caliper?

- Probably the easiest/most accurate way to actually know what the chokes are is to simply measure the barrels.
- As an added bonus, once you've got the proof mark figured out, you'll be able to tell if the value does match the stamps, or if they've been opened-up at some point in time

chart.jpg
 
I do have a caliper but its a mechanical one and I dont think ill have a 3 digit precision with it. Also thank for the charts but this one is a 20ga.
..
 
The overall engraving on this gun are amazing. At this point its a piece of art. Yes the top barrel are smooth its just some kind of reflection.
 
Thank you for the digging. Ive find it interesting considering the previous owner tough it was made in 2006-2007. From what I can add, the 20/76 stand for 20ga 76mm shell (3 inch). Personally It would be a good news knowing this gun was made in the 50's im more into milsurp and I always enjoy piece with a certain age and history.
 
I “think” the 593 stamp means 1959 March. I know my Sauer drilling is similarly stamped.

So, is that gun 20x20? If so, it is a rare configuration and intriguing. I would be surprised if the chokes are IC. Most I have seen are “German tight”. As in, full and more full.

The claw mount scope and overall great condition for a 60year old gun would increase the value. It has a Q1 stamp so I doubt it was a war bring-back. Likely made for possible export. Probably a $4000 unit IMO.
 
I was also considering the 16.1 to be the bore diameter in mm but that equate to .634 inch wich make it more open than a cylinder (.617).
 
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dilly said:
I “think” the 593 stamp means 1959 March. I know my Sauer drilling is similarly stamped.

So, is that gun 20x20? If so, it is a rare configuration and intriguing. I would be surprised if the chokes are IC. Most I have seen are “German tight”. As in, full and more full.

The claw mount scope and overall great condition for a 60year old gun would increase the value. It has a Q1 stamp so I doubt it was a war bring-back. Likely made for possible export. Probably a $4000 unit IMO.
Click to expand...

I fail to see the 593 stamp could you please tell me were you see it. And when youre saying the Q1 stamp are you refering to the marking on the left side(right when looking at the picture) of the rear locking lug?
 
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The blue wear on the action/ trigger guard and lever mechanism of the forehand wouldn't make sens for a gun that's only 15 years old. Unless someone took it out hunting all the time... all season long.

I'm not familiar with older S&B scope, but the West Germany marking means it was probably manufactured before 1992.
- I'd guess a 70s-80s scope
 
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