Guns International #: 101334786
Seller's Inventory #: 38-2019

Category - Drilling & Combination Guns - Sauer Shotguns

Category
Drilling & Combination Guns
Sauer Shotguns

J.P. Sauer & Sohn, Sidelock Drilling, a best gun, 16x16x9.3-72r, Excellent Plus, cased

Description:
SOLD ** J.P. Sauer & Sohn, Sidelock Drilling 16 x 16 x 9.3-72r  
Built pre-World War II, in Suhl Germany in 1930, a best gun, Kahles scope.
A super nice high-condition true sidelock drilling made in the peak years of hand-made guns.
 
Description:
J.P. Sauer & Sohn Sidelock Drilling, 16 x 16 x 9.3-72r, Suhl, Germany made in 1930.
Serial Number 226061.  The cartridge is available and in the .358 Winchester class, see below.*
 
If you don’t think Sauer made a best gun, you missed this one.  It is a true sidelock, built by hand at the peak of the period when the finest hand-made best guns were made in Europe and Great Britain by the world’s best makers, and J.P. Sauer & Sohn is in that esteemed group.  For locking, the maker used the Purdey two underlug system with an additional third top crossbolt as in the Greener system. The breech face shows bushed strikers, not only bushed, but with the added feature of locking screws – a feature only found on fine handmade guns.  This action is built with two seven-pin sidelocks with side clipped fences, three cocking indicators, and a Greener-style manual safety. The top lever is checkered on both faces for either the right or left hand.
 
The barrels at .677” are 27" Bohler steel barrels with 2 ¾” chambers (both are Improved Modified) and have the rib extension to lock up with the Greener-style crossbolt . The flat matted rib is fitted with claw mounts for a high-end Austrian-made Kahles scope in 2 1/2 x. The optics are still perfect.  The rear sight consists of one standing leaf which is actuated with the rifle barrel selector on the top tang.
 
The front trigger is a set trigger and fully adjustable for the rifle barrel.
 
The barrels, top lever, tigger guard bow with long tang, and one of the two protruding Purdey action lugs are finished in blue.  All other metal parts are color case-hardened with strong colors remaining today.
 
The engraving is hand-engraved by a master engraver, with three hares (rabbits) erupting from the woods and running into brush on the right sidelock, and one sitting pheasant and two in flight in a dense forest of flora on the left sidelock. Additionally, there is border engraving in every plane of metal and many small scrolls everywhere even on the fences.  All screws are engraved. The bottom of the receiver joins the wood in two scalloped shapes. The engraved top and bottom tangs are perfectly inlaid with tiny points in the stock.
 
The blued Anson & Deeley forearm release is also engraved. As is the practice of German makers, the engravers never left their signatures, but the quality of the engraving gives away that this was the work of a master.
 
The stock has a classic comb, is fluted, with Euro-pancake beaded cheekpiece, and open pistol grip fitted with an engraved coved blued steel pistol grip cap.
 
For the metal finish, the barrel blue is at 98% and the frame and sidelock colors are still strong and vibrant. The buttstock has been re-oiled but not sanded and remains at 98%. The original 26 lpi checkering is at 99% for both the forearm and the pistol grip. All three bores are spotless with sharp rifling and look amazingly like new. It is hard to believe these date to 1930. This is a solid Drilling that set around a whole lot more than it went hunting in the 89 years it has been around. 9.3x72r ammo is available from European suppliers and in this country imported by Sellier & Bellot.

The Length of Pull is 14" over the 7/8” leather covered recoil pad. Weight is 7 lbs. 7 oz. without the scope and 8 lbs. 5 oz. with the scope.  The scope is still bright and clear with a German #4 reticle, a top-of-the-line Austrian-made Kahles 2.5x, scaled perfectly in size for this gun. The gun was sent back to the maker and fitted with a new canvas hard case with brass corners and the maker’s label.
 
If you're a big-time rancher with a huge spread and can't get to the south pasture before sundown, this multipurpose shotgun, big game rifle will certainly make your day.  No matter what critter you encounter, you will be prepared. Here is the ultimate gun for your 3/4-ton diesel ranch truck that can be a pleasure to shoot out of those large electric windows while sitting in air conditioning.
 
Buyer must furnish FFL for shipping, payment by money order or cashier’s check. Buyer pays $50 toward shipping. Seller is the author of The Rifleman’s Rifle (pre-64 Winchester Model 70s) and will furnish a Letter of Provenance that this gun is from the author’s collection.  Feedback can be checked on eBay under rcrwin70roger. 3-day non-firing return privilege, no questions asked. For questions, call (678) 971-4173 and ask for Roger.
 

Priced to sell at SALE PENDING
 
*About the cartridge:  Cartridges of the World by Frank C. Barnes, dubbed this an obsolete cartridge when the book was written.  As it has turned out, many guns are still around and many have changed hands to new owners curious to shoot these guns.  Nearly all of them are handmade double rifles and drillings and much too valuable not to stir the owners’ interest to inquire about the availability of 9.3x72r ammunition. Recognizing the demand, loaded cartridges are now available again as well as all components for hand-loaders.  Sellier & Bellot ammo uses 193 grain, jacketed soft point bullets and imports them to the USA.  Other European makers have added this caliber back in their line of available cartridges. 
            According to the descriptions in Cartridges of the World, the 9.3x72r Sauer is not in the class of the 9.3x74r, but with the right load, is in the same class as the .358 Winchester and suitable for all North American big game under most hunting conditions. It is particularly good for hunting in brush or heavily wooded areas.

SOLD