J.P. Sauer drilling --- help w/ info please.

[Waveski]

My friend gave me temporary custody of his long gun for the purposes of cleaning and researching.
His story: Some years back my friend developed a friendship with a WWII veteran. The veteran eventually bestowed upon my friend the gift of his WWII bring back. The vet explained that he was on duty in occupied Germany , assigned to a detail which was rounding up civilian weapons , most of which were to be destroyed. The vet saved the lovely Sauer from that fate and brought it home.

Anyway ... I know little about such guns. We would be interested in the age , calibers , and value would be interesting , although the gun is not for sale. The bores are in very good condition. There is one bunged up screw. The receiver (nickel?) is lightly tarnished. The walnut is gorgeous. Action is good. I included an image of the once owner's nameplate for interest , silver perhaps? Whoever engraved the nameplate had a real nice touch.

This old gun is cool beyond description. Any informational help will be deeply appreciated.

 

[DM~]

When you break the gun down, on the action and bbl. flats, there are symbols. Those symbols give age ect…

There are LOT'S of Sauer drillings around, they are still being made, and if "I" had that one, I'd send it to a DRILLING smith and have it thoroughly cleaned/checked, inside and out.

DM

 

[kudu]

A couple of them that I have seen were 16 gauge doubles over 7x57 Mauser. Not any kind of expert, just saying what I have seen personally.

Beautiful gun though, I almost bought one of the ones that I came across.

 

[entropy]

That one looks more like 16 ga. SxS (2 5/8" chambers, BTW) over 9.2x74R, the most common configuration for drillings. Sauer are actually the most common maker, most were made by small shops in Ferlach, Mainz, or other small towns all through Germany and Austria. I still kick myself for not buying a Mainz-made 16x16/9.2x74R offered me for $400 many years ago...

 

[cdb1]

Seems like most drilling’s I’ve seen were 16 gauge too but I could be wrong.

 

[paulsj]

That one looks more like 16 ga. SxS (2 5/8" chambers, BTW) over 9.2x74R, the most common configuration for drillings. Sauer are actually the most common maker, most were made by small shops in Ferlach, Mainz, or other small towns all through Germany and Austria. I still kick myself for not buying a Mainz-made 16x16/9.2x74R offered me for $400 many years ago...

Older ones in 9.3 will usually be chambered x72R.

 

[Waveski]

Here is some barrel flat info --- the 16 indicates shotgun gauge I would think , anything here indicate rifle caliber or age?

 

[George P]

Take the gun down, take CLEAR pics of ALL of the markings on the water table (action flats) and the barrel flats and post them. They will give you the gauge, chamber length proof pressure, choke constriction and bore diameter, among other things.

Look for marks like these:

 

[George P]

http://shotguns.se/html/germany_1890-1945.html

 

[Waveski]

Very helpful link George. The only stamp I can find which resembles date is 16/1. The key in the link shows month/year. Any chance "my" specimen is marked year/month?

 

[George P]

Two sites with great folks:
www.doublegunshop.com and
http://www.16ga.com/

knowledgeable folks on drillings ( the first link) and the 16 in general (2nd link)