Picked up a strange Cape Gun this weekend.

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robesetz

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I picked up a German Cape Gun this weekend. It looks to be pre WWI as it has exposed hammers and is an under lever. The strange part is the left barrel is 12Ga and the right barrel is 45/70. I've seen one in 16Ga and 30-06 but never 45/70. The trigger guard is covered with a solid piece of horn and the underlever is made of horn also. Every screw on the gun is timed and indexed properly. The maker roll mark on the rib is unreadable but it seems to be a J.P. Sauer. Thoughts?
Thanks,
Robert.

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Handsome old gun.
European guns in American calibers are not unheard of.
I looked hard at a Manton branded (Probably German action, MAYBE stocked in England) double rifle in .32-40.
And once saw a lightweight combination O/U in 28 ga over .25-35.

I think it CONSIDERABLY predates WWI.
The foreend lever "grip" action and both barrels made of Damascus may put it back into the 19th century, although after the 1891 Proof Law.
The 1911 ALFA catalog shows Cape guns with Damascus shot barrels but steel rifle barrels; and with top snap or underlever actions.
 
Someone spent a great deal of money on that, though I'm guessing they had people to take care of that sort of thing.
 
Not really.
In 1911 Alfa, a well engraved hammer cape gun was 206 marks.
A '98 Mauser sporter was 195 to 260 marks, depending on how fancy you wanted to get.
 
Found a table that said one 1913 US dollar was 4.20 Marks that year. 1913 was as far back as the table went.

Was curious myself.

Did not say what the exchange rate for a carton of Cowboys or bottle of Johnny Walker was back then though..........

-kBob
 
robesetz

Very neat vintage Cape Gun! Nice old world craftsmanship! Thanks for sharing.
 
Congratulations. That is a beauty. 12ga / 45-70 is a great combination but I agree with you; it strikes me as quite unexpected in a German made Cape Gun. I suppose in the late 1880s - 1890s when this gun likely dates from, the 45-70 was a powerful round in the sub-dangerous game class, which would have been right for a Cape Gun. Perfectly adequate against lions and well suited to large game. Just seems a geographic anachronism. Anyway, it adds to the uniqueness of the firearm in my opinion. Those Damascus barrels are gorgeous.
 
How do we know the rifle barrel is .45-70?
The 62.70 in the proof marks is for a .420" bore. Now that was quickly checked with a plug gauge and they tend to run small, but still...
I'd want a chamber cast and barrel slug.
 
How do we know the rifle barrel is .45-70?
The 62.70 in the proof marks is for a .420" bore. Now that was quickly checked with a plug gauge and they tend to run small, but still...
I'd want a chamber cast and barrel slug.

index.php

Somebody at some point was firmly of the opinion it's a 45-70.
 
Yup, I did not scope out that yellow spot before.
And the NP next to it? I don't care if somebody sometime Nitro Proofed it, I am not interested in it.
 
Isn't unusual to find S x S drillings in Europe. Mind you, .45-70 would be decidedly unusual. Unless the thing was made for some rich American.
The Crown over the R is Belgian from 1894 to now and indicates a rifled Damascus barrel. Mind you, that also indicates an East German Repair mark but only since 1950. Lotta the pre1891 German principalities didn't require proof marks.
Any other marks on it?
http://damascus-barrels.com/Belgian_All_Proofmarks.html
The Crown over the U is a German inspection mark but also only since 1950.
"...62.70 in the proof marks is for a .420" bore..." 62.78 but still not .45 cal.
 
Although nitro proofed, I'd never shoot it in it.
No need to. BP loads in 12ga and .45/70 give excellent reliable performance.
With 12ga buck and .45/70 w/400gr hollow base bullet over compressed BP or Pyrodex, it would be a thrill to hunt pigs with.
Of course you'd have to wear Wiederhosen, with a feathered cap, and a bottle of Schnapps in case you were successful! All the while imagining that you were hunting wild boar in the Black Forrest...

I'd definitely want a chamber cast and slug the bore. I'd almost bet its for 2.5" 12ga also.
 
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