Need help with intriguing .22 rifle (pics)

[Larry Ashcraft]

I was helping a friend price some old guns so he could sell them when I came across this. The only marking on the rifle is a tiny oval with four letters in it that I couldn't make out. It appears to be .22 rimfire, but I didn't attempt to chamber anything in it.

The action is odd. The top of the action lifts up and the extractor comes out like a tiny drawer. There is inlaid scrollwork in gold and silver colors and the wood is quite nice.

I have the rifle so I can answer any questions or post more pics.

Thanks for any help!

 

[deadin]

Larry,
The action is a "Warnant" from around the turn of the century (1900). As to the actual maker, who knows?
I found a couple of pictures in the Adolf Frank from circ.1909. They were listed in 6,7 and 9mm (I assume rimfire).
Hopefully someone will have more info.

Dean

 

[SDC]

I've seen something that operated the same way that was made in Germany by Deutsche Werke, but yours looks more like it was made in Belgium. Are there any proofs on it?

 

[deadin]

Any chance the letters in the oval are "DRGM"? If so it is German made.
DRGM, Deutsches Reich Gebrauchsmuster (German Reich Registered Design)
is kind of like our "Patent Pending" mark.

I've seen a few of these over the years and the ones that are inlaid, etc. can be quite nice. I think they fall in the category of "parlor rifles"

Dean

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

I got a magnifying glass this morning and looked. The letters in the oval are:

E
L G
(star)

The oval is on the left side of the receiver under the hinged portion. They are the only markings visible anywhere on the rifle. I haven't pulled the stock off yet though. The wood on the stock is quite nice, in a fiddleback pattern. The buttplate and grip cap are missing.

Any idea of value?

 

[deadin]

That's a Belgian proof. No idea on value, but I wouldn't let it go cheap. It looks and sounds like quality. The problem will be finding someone who appreciates it.

Dean

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

Thanks. This one may have to follow me to Tulsa in the spring.

 

[plexreticle]

The sock by itself is worth some money. That's a nice rifle.

 

[ACP230]

I had a ratty specimen that looked quite similar.
It was a Flobert. I think it was made in Belgium too, but it's been too long to say for certain.
This one may be a variant of the Flobert action.