O/U - WHAT IS IT & ITS WORTH?

Saftdave

May 23, 2003 10:31

I have an o/u 12 guage that only has "IDEAL" marked on the receiver. The receiver is highly engraved and is the silver nitride color. The barrels are 2 3/4" chambers, blued, ribbed, 29 inches long and it has fixed chokes. There is a marking of "S-86" located on the bottom of the reciever. The wood is highly figured walnut=- What do I have and what is its value?

Any assistance is appreciated,

Thanks,
Dave

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  CountryGunsmith

  May 23, 2003 10:38

  There are no markings of any kind on the barrels? Or under the forend?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Scrappy Doo sleeps with the fishes.

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  Saftdave

  May 23, 2003 11:36

  No, there are no other markings that are visible. I even looked under the water table - no proof marks - nothing under the foreend piece.
  Also, I almost forgot in the first post, this gun has double triggers that are gold, and the trigger assembly can be removed.
  
  Thanks

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  nord

  May 24, 2003 05:10

  Only a somewhat educated guess...
  
  Lack of proofs and lack of "country of origin" stampings would lead me to believe a domestic product made before the mid 60's (Lack of serial no.).
  
  I believe the "Ideal" is a trade name, but that the gun is probably a Savage product as it has the distinction of having double triggers. These were not "un nice" guns, but they aren't really collector pieces as we know them today.
  
  Only a picture would confirm what I have shared, but I believe you'll find my info to be correct. If the gun was sold under a trade name, it will somewhat devalue the piece. Still, a good shooter.
  
  Nord

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  CountryGunsmith

  May 24, 2003 06:46

  Is there a serial number? That would help date the piece if it is domestic. No logos on the buttplate?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Scrappy Doo sleeps with the fishes.

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  Saftdave

  May 24, 2003 08:41

  The butt plate has the following: "IDEAL", an etched Elk's Head,
  "AVTUFEK", "SANAYII" -
  
  I don;t have photos to post, sorry.
  
  Dave

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  CountryGunsmith

  May 24, 2003 11:33

  Well, now we can put the country of origin as Turkey. Look more closely at the monoblock and you will see proofmarks.
  
  For value, you'd have to compare workmanship and materials with a known brand of Turkish shotgun like Huglu to get a ballpark idea, then deduct some for absolutely no name recognition. I'm going to go $300-$500 as a WAG (wild-a**ed guess) without seeing it, but it would be a long, hard sell.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Scrappy Doo sleeps with the fishes.

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  nord

  May 25, 2003 05:24

  CGS is right on the mark with this one, but some details remain puzzling...
  
  Imported guns have been required to identify their origin since the early 1900's. That means a stamp somewhere on the gun IN ENGLISH. Next is serial #. A Turkish gun of this type is of recent manufacture and will bear a serial. Also, the gun will bear proofs.
  
  If these three things are missing, then there comes the question of what happened to them. Since they didn't just disappear, where did they go? Why?
  
  If I were in the market for a shooter and you showed me this gun, I'd have to ask myself some hard questions. Assuming the gun is as described I'd have to pass on the purchase because of the possible answers to the stated questions.
  
  One avenue I didn't discuss because I don't know Turkish laws... Might it be possible that the gun was purchased by a serviceman overseas and shipped home? If the gun wasn't manufactured for export, then proofs, serial, and origin might not have been an issue.
  
  The bad part is that they will now be forever an issue.
  
  Nord

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