H.Burgsmuller & Sohne Rifle information.

[Eyegor]

I picked up an H.Burgsmuller & Sohne Rifle from a guy I worked with I know nothing about these rifles nor did he. All I've really found is that they used to be a mail order company and more know for drillings. I don't know if I paid too much for it or if I got it at a steal. Does anyone know anything about these? it is built on a Mauser action chambered in 308 it's extremely accurate giving my dads Sako a run for it's money. I would like to know a rough value if possible along with anything else about them.


https://postimg.org/image/4vwbuc9gb/
https://postimg.org/image/dpn8bfwez/
https://postimg.org/image/hbt1o32sb/
https://postimg.org/image/7fryofx0b/
https://postimg.org/image/uveh7j657/

I've somehow lost 2 photos 1 of which was stamped on the top of the barrel that said "H.Burgsmuller & Sohne Kreiensen W-Germany" and on the bottom of the barrel but "H.Burgsmuller & Sohne G,M,B,H, Kreiensen"

Thanks in advanced for any information.

[mike ford]

Eyegor,
Your rifle is a relatively new rifle, made post WW2, but before the reunification, from the style I would guess 1960s-80s. It has a Munich proofhouse mark, but there was a sub office in Melhrichstadt(?) which is much closer to Kreiensen. There is a fair possibility that it was made not too far from the proof house. By "made", I mean it was likely assembled with a surplus action and new stock and barrel. The mark that looks like a shield is the proofhouse mark, the federal eagle with "N" is the nitro proofmark. Above the caliber mark are the words "Bohler Spezial", this is simply the type steel the barrel is made from. I don't generally estimate the value of someone else's gun, that I don't have "in hand", but a guess is $250-350.
Mike

[Eyegor]

Thanks Mike that's a lot of useful information. I'm pretty happy with this purchase just taking ages to find information on it.

[Axel E]

That "Bavarian" shield with the extended and squared top corners stands for the Munich proofhouse. The Mellrichstadt shield has rectangular corners. So the rifle was assembled for Burgsmueller somewhere in Bavaria. 1265 is the proof date, December 1965. Burgsmueller closed down the modest remains of their gunshop about 1990. The company still exists, http://www.burgsmueller.de/en/startseite.html , but their website does not even mention their former gun related business.

[mike ford]

Eyegor,
Sorry I went over your rifle too quickly and missed the obvious proof date, I completely agree with Axel that it was proofed Dec.65.
Axel,
I found the new Burgsmueller advert. interesting in their use of the word "whirling", instead of "turning" with a machining operation. I thought it was another case of bad translation from technical German to English(American), but when I went to the German, the word really was "Wirbel" instead of "dreh"( as in drehbank). I guess this is another sign that modern technology is over running us. The Advert. is for a CNC Machining Center, and the spindles in those things do turn "faster than all get out", so I guess "whirling" is appropriate after all. I have noticed more and more German Gunsmiths using CNC Machines ( Stienerstauch, Zimmerman, Hennerberger, etc), so I guess even there hand work is going away.
Mike

[Diz]

Mike,

I just had the pleasure of visiting H&H and Purdey in London last week and was very much surprised that Purdey's new Damascus guns are made with "powder" technology. That is the receivers are forged from powdered metal and the mixture gives them a Damascus look. I can't say that I like the look that is created by this technique as it doesn't look quite right to my eye. It seems that gunmaking is giving way to all the new technologies, like it or not.

Thanks, Diz

[mike ford]

Diz,
I agree, some of it, I don't like at all; but some I am neutral on, and even favor some of it.
Mike

[CoyoteJoe]

Mike,

I just had the pleasure of visiting H&H and Purdey in London last week and was very much surprised that Purdey's new Damascus guns are made with "powder" technology. That is the receivers are forged from powdered metal and the mixture gives them a Damascus look. I can't say that I like the look that is created by this technique as it doesn't look quite right to my eye. It seems that gunmaking is giving way to all the new technologies, like it or not.

Thanks, Diz

Say what you will but somehow I just don't think I could ever trust a "powdered metal" receiver, small parts OK but I want forged steel between my eyes and 50,000 PSI.

[mike ford]

Joe,
Read it again, the powdered metal is forged. I would trust anything H&H did.
Mike

[Diz]

Mike & Joe,

Here is a link to an article about the new Purdey Damascus shotgun. The link is safe as I checked it out myself and there are pictures and some info about it. I didn't go much further than this but there may be more out there.

[URL="http://www.shootinguk.co.uk/reviews/shotgun/purdey-damascus-steel-shotgun-review"]

Thanks, Diz

[mike ford]

Ah, Purdey, not H&H, I trust them too. I found it very interesting. It seems they could have made it even lighter than 6lbs,12oz.
Mike

[Diz]

Mike,

You are right, at one time a 6 pound 12 ounce SxS would have been considered a real porker. Today, as it was explained to me by the salesman at Purdey, the trend is back to long barrels and more weight for the sporting clay crowd that has increased considerably in Europe. 32 inch barrels are common now and even 34 inch barrels are being requested. Seems things always go in a circle.

Sorry Eyegor, for getting a little off topic on your thread.

Thanks, Diz