12 Guage German double barrel shotgun
I have a very fine German shot gun that I'm trying to find out more about. Based upon the stamps, it is made of Excelsior Witten Steel. The gun was manufactured by the Nimrod Gun Factory (Nimrod Gewerhrfabrik) in Suhl, Germany, which was owned by a company called Thieme & Schlegelmich. It is finely engraved with a woodcock (?) scene on one side and a bird dog on the other. It was made prior to WWII as my father "liberated" the gun during his tour with the Third Armored Division. Can anyone point me in the right direction to learn more about this gun? Thanks for your help.
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I would also ask this same question on www.gunshop.com's Doublegun BBS. Between these two forums, you should get some information. Keep in mind that many German and other European guns were made by very small makers with small output, so there may not be much info to be had. At least you have a maker's name; many so-called "guild guns" don't even have that! Some of them are damned fine guns, too.
What kind of shape is this gun in? Many that were liberated when the shooting was actually going on (rather than distributed to GIs from guns confiscated during "deNazification") are pretty rough. I know of one fine Sauer double rifle that rode in the back of a half-track from the German border to near Berlin. The outside is a mass of dents and nicks.0 -
My father said that as towns fell to the Third, the citizens were instructed to turn in their guns. Once they did, he and other GIs would pick through them to see if there were any worth keeping. Once they picked the best, they ran their tanks over what was left. The one I have is in excellent shape. The wood to metal fit is superb and checkering and the engraving is really a pleasure for the eye to behold. It is defintely a high end piece. 30 inch barrels, both full choke. 0
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