Poldi Wolfram Special

[TimM]

Poldi Wolfram Special (Photos Added)

I just saw a 20 gauge side by side in a local pawn shop, marked Poldi Wolfram Special on the top of both barrels. Double triggers, case hardened receiver. It also had a small engraved/stamped word that looked to be "praha" on the left barrel. It appears to be a very well built gun, but I can find absolutely zero information on it. Does anybody know anything about it?

 

[Jim Watson]

Poldi: The big steel company in Austro/Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Czech Republic.
Wolfram: Tungsten, used as a low percentage alloy element to harden steel.
Special: Darned right, tungsten is expensive.

Praha: Prague, one of many places Poldi had operations.


So you now know where the steel the gun was made out of came from.
Nothing about the gunmakers themselves. There might be something to ID the maker in amongst the proof marks on the action flats and bottoms of the barrels. Or not, it might be a trade gun made for sale by a small dealer or distributor who did not pay to have his name applied.

 

[Virginian]

The amount of tungsten added to achieve hardening a pair of shotgun barrels ought to add about one U.S. Dollar to the costs.

 

[Jim Watson]

Well, yes, if you want to be picky about it; 1-3%.
But why should Poldi miss out on the advertising?
Wolfram. Doesn't that just SOUND strong? Better than "tungsten" used by almost nobody but Yanks.

 

[oneounceload]

Euro guns have proof marks on the barrel flats and water table. Pics of those might help us help you.

 

[TimM]

Here are some photos of the gun in question. All I know is I think it's beautiful, it seems really well made, and it fits me perfectly. Other than that I know nothing about doubles.

They're asking $800. I don't know if that's a fair price, great price, or overpriced.

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[Jim Watson]

I can't google or research anything very helpful.
There were two Jiraceks in Prague, Lankaste and Jirich. Makers or dealers, I don't know.
The barrels weigh 1202 grams and the bore diameters are 17.1mm.

The 1076 might indicate manufacture as recently as October 1976.
Or the 46 after the serial number might mean it was made as soon as Mr Jiracek could get back going after the war.

I cannot decipher the CS2 proof marks. I suspect the VTKZ monogram might be a maker for one of the Jiraceks.
The lion is the basic Czech black powder proof, the (shield) N is the standard smokeless proof.

The chamber length is not specified, therefore it is probably the European standard of 65mm variously listed here as 2 1/2", 2 9/16", or 2 5/8". Shells are available.

 

[TimM]

Thanks for the input,guys. I appreciate it.

 

[jaguarxk120]

Also note the top lever screw is not clocked correctly, and the two screws on the belly/bottom of the receiver not clocked right. You can see the outline of the trigger plate, someone's been in there.

 

[TimM]

Okay guys, I found out a lot of info on it so I bought it. Got them down to $700.

It's actually a 16 gauge and it's an A&D Body Action scattergun by Jindřich Jiráček Praha in 1946 right after WWII.

 

[bannockburn]

TimM

Nice pawn shop find! Looks to be in great shape and I really like all of the fine detail in the engraving.

 

[Liberty1776]

I was gonna say offer $600. Then I saw it was 16 ga. and I immediately thought - Pay the $800! So, IMHO opinion, you did very well...

 

[Snejdarek]

Okay guys, I found out a lot of info

I'd only add that Poldi steel/barrels were well known for their quality and apart from the Czech lands, they were also extensively exported to UK and Belgium. With the gun being marked as manufactured by gunsmith Jiráček, it is clear cut case, but you may find also a lot of Belgium and British guns with Poldi markings.