Need Help Identifying a Gustav Genschow 6mm/5.4mm Rifle

[TomJohn]

I'm at a loss for identifying this rifle - model, history, etc. It is a bolt-action single-shot rifle with a one piece wood stock. On the left rear of the barrel it is stamped "KAL 6mm FLOBERT GEZOGEN 5.4mm" (quotation marks mine). On the right rear of the barrel is a crown(?) over a B over another crown over a U. On the top of the receiver is "Gustav Genschow & Co.’ (except the ‘Co’ is stamped backwards (oC.). After that there is ‘A:G’ and the vertical crown over B over crown over U. In the center top of the receiver, below Gustav Genschow & Co., are four letters in large script. They are double-lined and look like a capital "A", "P", "F", and a small "a". It is definitely not GECO. On the bottom of the barrel is the serial number: F (large space) 166XX (x's mine). There is a small iron eagle facing left over what looks like the letter N stamped on the front of the bolt. A 22 caliber long rifle shell chambers easily, but I have not yet fired the gun. The barrel is 23 inches long with a rear sight that is vertically adjustable with a screw that elevates a notched sight plate. Both the front and rear sights are dovetailed into the barrel.

I would note there is no buttplate, but rather a buttplate-carving into the butt end of the stock. There are 12 grooves cut into the center, and they look like they were factory done.

I am trying to post pictures, but have some kind of glitch in my iphone. I will send them as soon as I can.

Thanks for any help/direction anyone can provide.

[TomJohn]

I'm trying to post Pics:

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[TomJohn]

One More: Sorry it's upside down, but it's too complicated to rotate it now...

GG6.JPG

[mike ford]

Tom John,
The "Kal 6mm Flobert Gezogen 5.4mm" means Caliber 6mm Flobert Rifled 5.4mm( bore, not groove or bullet diameter). The "Gezogen"( rifled)is to distinguish it from a similar "Glatt"(smooth bore) intended for shot cartridges. This is a more or less typical "garden rifle. Twenty two rimfire ammo is often used in 6mm interchangeably, but I think I would use 22 Longs. I have a Geco, that I use 22LR in, but it is marked 22Lang fur Buschen(?) instead of 6mm flobert, plus it seems to be heavier built. The crown B means it was proofed for a single projectile ( bullet). The crown U means it passed a View Proof, which is a detailed inspection after a definitive proof, including dimensions. Without seeing it, I think the Eagle N is a nitro proof, which may justify 22LR, but that would be your decision. The Butt treatment you described is pretty common on economically priced small caliber rifles. The AG is for(I think) a type of corporate organization. Some one else may recognize the marking on the receiver and weigh in with an answer.
Mike

[TomJohn]

Mike - thanks! - You have added a lot to my understanding of this rifle. Is "garden" something akin to model, or is this simply a common name for these simple rifles?

Tom

[mike ford]

Tom John,
It is simply a common name for the type of gun. In German it would be a "Tesching Gewehr". Older Tesching rifles were chambered for a bewildering number of different cartridges, most of which became obsolete with the common use of 22 LR.
Mike

[Axel E]

Such short range, small caliber guns, formerly called Teschings, are generally called "garden guns". Their primary intended use was killing small pests like sparrows and rats in gardens and around farms. Such rifles like your's, officiallly chambered in 6mm Flobert aka .22 BB cap were not regarded as "firearms" by former German gun laws, until 1972. So they could be bought, owned and carried without any licence by anyone. Before WW2 nearly every farm boy had one. Though officially proofed for 6mm Flobert = .22 BB and CB cap only, many left the makers with quite generous chambers that accepted the .22 lr too. Others were often rechambered by their owners by several means, like a 6mm drill bit, to accept the longer cartridges.

[TomJohn]

Mike and Axel - thanks, guys. I find this all quite interesting. It seems there's a lot to know about these little 'garden guns'. I think I'll start out with a CB and graduate on up to shorts and longs, depending on how it goes.

[TomJohn]

Ok, I found the name for the large script letters on the receiver. What I read as APFa is actually ALFA. Here is a spec sheet I found on what I think is the gun (it's about halfway down the attached thread) - based on the barrel length, total length, and 6mm Flobert designation, it appears to be the number 32 (29aF). I do not know what "RM" means. I know the gezogen means rifled, and the 60 cm is the barrel length, while the 100 cm is the overall length. I don't know what the "wie Nr. 27" means - is this a model designation? Is there any way to find the years of production? Thanks for any help - Tom

[TomJohn]

Hmmmm..., the spec sheet didn't post. Let me try again: http://www.germanhuntingguns.com/arc...schow-co-geco/

[algmule]

Hello

RM-Reichsmark
wie-as

Off-topic: could someone confirm that the info on the trademark Geha in Tom's link is correct? I have nothing pointing to that info being correct, nor have I any info pointing to Geha being an acronym for Gebrüder Hengelhaupt. I have however seen Geha being used as a trademark by at least two other companies.

Tom,
nice little piece you've got there. I have something similar but in 9mm smoothbore, and not a Geco.

Kind regards
Peter

[Axel E]

RM is Reichsmark, the then German currency. RM 13.25 was about $ 3.30 then. "Wie Nr. 26" = like Nr. 26. Description of Nr 26 on top: Beech stock without buttplate, pistolgrip, foreend with finger grooves, standing rear and barleycorn front sight. The numbers are Genschow's model designations. Model 27 (former nr. 27) was a 6mm Flobert glatt = smoothbore with 50 cm = 20" barrel, while your model Nr.32 (formerly 29aF) was a 6mm Flobert rifled with 60 cm = 24" barrel.

[mike ford]

TomJohn,
The "RM" means ReichMark, which the monetary unit at the time, so that number is the cost of the gun. The "wie Nr. 27" means "same as Nr.27"; what they are saying here is that the Number 32 has the same features as the Number 27( these features are shown next to Nr 27 above the Nr. 32). If you recall, Axel said these little guns didn't require a permit at the time. Above the listing of these guns, you can see they are in the category of Waffenerbscheinfrei( weaponspermitfree). The listing of the models chambered for 22 RF are in the category of Waffenerbscheinplichtig( weaponspermitrequired). This is as Axel described. Note that if you do decide to try 22 LR ammo, the rifling pitch will likely be too slow to stabilize 40gr bullets. This is why I suggested 22 Longs.
Mike

[Axel E]

Off-topic: could someone confirm that the info on the trademark Geha in Tom's link is correct? I have nothing pointing to that info being correct, nor have I any info pointing to Geha being an acronym for Gebrüder Hengelhaupt. I have however seen Geha being used as a trademark by at least two other companies.

It probably merely means, Geco, Adamy, Heym, Meffert and others offered Geha labeled guns, just as they offered Alfa, BACO, KABA, GECADO trademarked smallbores.

[TomJohn]

Thanks, Axel and Mike, for the additional information. And thanks, Algmule, for the appreciation. I am a collector - not a seller or trader - and like to know as much as I can about guns that I own. It's part of the fascination.