Merkel question

[t4halo]

I stumbled upon your site while looking for some information on a rifle I recently acquired. I own a couple of Anschutz (1413, 1733D) but yesterday I stumbled on what I think is a fantastic rifle, a Gebruder Merkel 190, I think. It is a Mauser action and has some very nice work done to it. The barrel reads Augsberg on one side and Karl Gunther on the other. It is a 7X64 and I am heading to Cabelas today to pick up a few boxes of ammo. I know there is probably no way of knowing how many of these were built or if all of them were this fancy or possibly more ornate but wondering what to expect out of the old girl when it comes to grouping. It doesn't appear to have been fired very much if even at all. The gentleman who sold me the rifle says he thinks he purchased it at an estate sale in the late 50s and put it up never firing it. Any additional info would be great.

Thanks, Tony

[t4halo]

I'm sure it's been redone but I like the way it looks. Hope it shoots well.

T4

[Axel E]

Your rifle is a Gebrüder Merkel Modell 191, with half-octagonal ribbed Barrel, engraving and horn foreend tip, an upgrade of the 190. It was proofed in Suhl exactly 80 years ago, 1134 = November 1934. It was proofed for the highest pressure Brenneke loads then availble, crown/E proofmark. The barrel was supplied by Louis Kelber, Trübenbachstr. 1, Suhl, a well-known barrel maker, shown by the Z shaped mark below 64. The rifle was retailed by the gunshop of Karl Günther, Annastrasse 32. Augsburg.

[t4halo]

Axel, thank you for all the information. I am looking forward to shooting this fine rifle. Do you believe the rifle started as milsurplus?

Tony

[Axel E]

Do you believe the rifle started as milsurplus?

Yes, as this was the usual practice during the interwar years and even after WW2. But I may be wrong. Take the rifle apart and post a photo of all the markings and numbers you find under the receiver ring. If not scrubbed, they may tell us more about the action's origin. Don't be disappointed if it is a "scrubbed" milsurp action. Alas, all the coveted Griffin & Howe Springfields are really customized milsurp rifles too.
BTW, that finger hook on the trigger guard is a custom feature once popular in Austria and southern Germany, rarely seen in middle and northern Germany. Augsburg is in Bavaria, southern Germany.

[t4halo]

Here are a few more pictures.. I have a question, the 4 digit serial # on the bolt handle doesn't match the 5 digit serial # on the barrel & receiver. How bad is this?

Thanks again, T4



and how do these markings translate?

[mike ford]

t4halo(must be a jumper),
The mismatched bolt is not unusual at all and makes no difference.When the new barrel was installed, it would have been properly headspaced with that bolt. Furthermore, checking the headspace would have been one of the inspections performed by the proofhouse during the "View"proof(shown by the Crown U).BTW, 7x64 is a very good, world class cartridge that will give you years of enjoyment.
Mike

[sharps4590]

The St.m.G. is a steel cased bullet with which the rifle was proofed. The 11 gr. is the weight of the bullet in grams which translates to 168 grains. I agree with Mike, the 7 X 64 is a fine cartridge and equal to the 280 Remington. Not interchangeable but equal in ballistics.

[t4halo]

t4halo(must be a jumper),
The mismatched bolt is not unusual at all and makes no difference.When the new barrel was installed, it would have been properly headspaced with that bolt. Furthermore, checking the headspace would have been one of the inspections performed by the proofhouse during the "View"proof(shown by the Crown U).BTW, 7x64 is a very good, world class cartridge that will give you years of enjoyment.
Mike

Mike, yes sir.. I was the lead instructor at the Military Free Fall school in Yuma AZ during the late 90s. And, thanks for the info on the bolt....I was a little concerned. I am off to the range with the new rifle and hope it groups these 162gn Winchesters well. At least I'll have some brass to reload if it doesn't. I leave for Northern Michigan deer camp on Wednesday and plan on taking the 7x64.

The gentleman I purchased the rifle from has some very cool stuff he wants to sell me. 2x Drillings, a mid 50s Austrian made Mauser in 30-06 he had made while stationed there and 3 Lugers. He's got so many nice weapons and his kids have no interest in them. He pretty much gave me the Merkel because he figured it had been redone and not worth much. I go by his house at least once a week to check on he and his wife and fix things for them..good folks.

Tony

[t4halo]

Range report: I'm very happy with how the ol' Mauser handled.the factory 162grn bulllets. From the prone off a rest she grouped 8 rounds just under 4in at 100 yds. Not bad for open sites. I now have to move the rear site slightly, the group was perfect on elevation but windage was 5 inches to the left. Any pointers on sliding the rear site without damaging anything?

Tony

[mike ford]

t4halo,
sounds like you made a real good find, you lucky dog. Can you describe the drillings? When moving the rear sight, be sure to use a brass or plastic drift punch. Light blows with the hammer. 0000 steel wool and WD40 will remove any brass smears.
Mike

[t4halo]

Mike, I'll check them out next time I'm there. I don't remember to much about them. I got the sight moved without any issues and will be shooting again tomorrow to confirm zero. I'm down to 12 rounds and need to save a hand full for Bambi. I actually found a nice narrow leather sling that fits through the tiny a$$ swivels. Glad I don't toss things in the garbage if not in use.

Tony

[mike ford]

Tony,
I don't throw things in the garbage either, in fact, I'm prone to put other peoples cast off stuff in what I call my "junk pile". As soon as you throw something away, you need it.
Mike