Help with an Austrian Drilling

[Tom H.]

At least it may be an Austrian drilling as I have learned not to be sure of anything.
I have had this one for a few years and I originally picked it due to the tang safety, side selector, and relatively light weight without being dural.

There are a few things that I am curious about including the actual maker. The scope mounts were installed with lesser skill compared to the rest of the gun.
I wasn't sure if it originally had 70mm chambers but it didn't appear to have repair proofs.


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I couldn't find an exact match for the eagle. (Franz Sodia)

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[Tom H.]

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Is the mark below the Ferlach proof the proof for multi barreled guns?

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Original barrel weight 1650g
9g bullet (steel or copper?)
The number inside the fore end loop is 69

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[Axel E]

This drilling was made by Franz Sodia, Ferlach, Austria, see the contemporary trademark on triggerguard. It was originally Ferlach proofed in 1939, before the German proof law became effective there in 1940. Franz Sodia was the largest gun factory in Ferlach. They closed down in the 1980s. Post-war, in April 1953, it was proofed again by the Ulm proofhouse in Germany. It was submitted for proof there by the gunsmith Fritz Wendel, then Ulm, later in nearby Weissenhorn, died in 2008. Most likely Wendel rechambered the shot barrels from the pre-war standard 16-65 = 2 ½" case length to the "modern" 16-70 = 2 ¾". He may have mounted the scope too. There is no eagle/I repair proofmark because the gun was not German proofed before. The rifle barrel was regulated for the then popular 9 g = 139 gr nickel plated steel jacket load.

[Tom H.]

Thank you Axel.
That explains the 453 and Ulm proof as well as Wendel's stamp.

Is there a maker code for Franz Sodia on the gun?

The gun exhibits excellent accuracy with hornady 139 fb and is very capable as a shotgun. It's nice to know who it was made by and I am looking to spend more time in the field with it.

Tom

[Axel E]

Is there a maker code for Franz Sodia on the gun?

None that I know. The Ferlach "house numbers" became mandatory post - WW2 only. Franz Sodia was 33 then.

[mike ford]

Tom H.
Your drilling is very interesting to me, I also have a Franz Sodia drilling, mine is also very accurate with the 8x57IRS barrel and I never had any trouble with flying or running small game either. It is a more common Blitz action made in the middle 50s, with Greener safety. The trade mark on mine is on the trigger plate rather than the trigger guard, and includes the name of the firm . I have been using it over 40 years and it is the gun I pick up if I have to take a deer. With an Einstecklauf in one shot barrel, I am ready for anything. Your Sodia is the one you should keep also.
Mike

[Tom H.]

Thank you Axel. It was a nice surprise to find that I have a "name" gun.

I had seen another Sodia like this one in .222 and 12ga. with a similar selector but without optics.

This one weighs 7.25 lbs which is a little heavy for a shotgun but it carries and points well enough.
I was shooting some light RST loads in an effort not to beat the gun up too badly and my best score in trap was 23 (and I don't shoot trap). Eventually I will have to take it out for birds or probably rabbits as the chokes are quite tight.
Using a 45gr of AA4350 and the low tech hornady flat base the rifle shot well at 200 yds (2.5").
I can't imagine that the rear sight was ever filed in as the rifle shoots 9" high at 100 yards so I am going to do the math and file out a replacement for it.

Mike, I don't want to get rid of any of them! I forgot who it was that said " never hunt with a gun younger than you are" and these were perfectly built for a day in the field so I have that covered.

I keep promising myself that I am going to make an Einsteklauf but I haven't gotten around to it. The extractor on the top right barrel has a cut that must be for centering one. Would have been nice if it came with the gun.

Tom