Sauer .16 guage questions
- Thread starter DBeato
- Start date
DBeato, that is a nice little Sauer with 2 3/4 inch chambers, capable of shooting modern 16 gauge ammo (if the bores and ribs and such are still in good shape). It doesn't look like it has been played with much, the screws still appear to be in good shape. The presence of the screws immediately behind the fences indicate intercepting safety sears. The frame is nicely shaped. That engraving would have been disguised a little by the colour case hardening, which is now all gone. In short, a nice mid grade Sauer boxlock, and an excellent grouse gun. It should weigh around 6 1/2 lbs. These guns were usually choked full and modified, no steel shot please.
Bochumer Verein - the barrel steel maker. An old company - try Google.
Laufstahl means fluid steel - "Special Fluid Steel" (I think).
Your gun should have a 3 or 4 digit date code, such as 625 (June, 1925) or 1150 (Nov,1950) on the water table or barrel flats. I would be very interested to hear the date on this gun. I am going to guess the 1950's. Does the pad say Pachmayr?
Sharptail
Bochumer Verein - the barrel steel maker. An old company - try Google.
Laufstahl means fluid steel - "Special Fluid Steel" (I think).
Your gun should have a 3 or 4 digit date code, such as 625 (June, 1925) or 1150 (Nov,1950) on the water table or barrel flats. I would be very interested to hear the date on this gun. I am going to guess the 1950's. Does the pad say Pachmayr?
Sharptail
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- Location
- Saskatchewan
Sauers are high quality guns, made by a very old and well respected firm in Germany.There are many different models, but Sauer guns are typically built with a very strong action, including multiple locking devices and good hand fitting. They were most often built for the European shooting style, more "heads up" than North American or British shooting, so were fitted with a lower comb than many Canadian shooters like. If it fits the shooter, they are very reliable guns and are a good value. Prices I've seen for the fairly plain boxlock actions like yours range from 500-800 dollars or so, but can vary a lot depending on good ol' supply/demand. You'd need to spend at least a couple of thousand to buy a new gun of comparable quality. I sugggest you check the chamber length to be sure, most of the older 16's had 67mm chambers, ( about 2-1/2") so shorter shells from companies like Gamebore may be required to feed your gun. The barrels should be marked with chamber length in MM's, or have them measured. I shoot a couple of 16's, it's THE classic upland bird guage. I think you'll enjoy yours!
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Longwalker, good reply but I would like to point out two things. Firstly, many of these Sauers were imported by Roy Weatherby. They were equipped with higher combs and the Pachmayr pad for the North American market. Secondly, the barrels are stamped 16/70/2 3/4 (bottom pic) so the gun is not that old. Otherwise, I agree with you.
Sharptail
Sharptail
Not to put it down or anything but the finish on the reciever on that gun doesn't look right. In all the Sauer's I have seen or owned they were case coloured or blued. I have never seen one like that. Nice little bird gun in the very best of bore sizes. 
Thanks guys for all the reply's. This gun was given to me by a relative who did not want to go through the registration process. I'm pretty sure the pad says winterline, not Pachmayr. About the case Hardening, I was told once that some less expensive Sauers came over here that were not case coloured? Anyways, its a great gun I do hunt pheasants with it, only lead shot, and it sure is a wonderful gun to shoot!
I have the same shotgun n 20 guage, I paid $1,000 a few years ago. It was and is in vg-x shape in original condition. I second the low comb comment, every year I miss the first couple of birds because i am looking up too much, but once I remember to really weld my cheek down it's deadly on grouse.
