Merkel records

[Phil C]

I looked at a very nice Merkel 16 gauge today. The 16 gauge was made in October of 1941. I will soon own this shotgun and will post pictures at that time.
The wood is ornately engraved with no animals or hunting scene. 100% scroll engraved. Not sure of what model this is but I’m sure that once pictures are posted the members from this forum will be able to tell me.

My current questions are how many Merkel were being manufactured during this period? Since the war was raging on I would have thought that almost all manufactured would have been going toward the war effort.

I am also curious are there any surviving Merkel records?

Merry Christmas
Phil

[Axel E]

I am also curious are there any surviving Merkel records?

Yes, many, but not all, survived. See https://www.merkel-die-jagd.de/en/expertise/history/
You may ask them by email.

[Phil C]

Thank you Axel and Merry Christmas.

[Axel E]

Since the war was raging on I would have thought that almost all manufactured would have been going toward the war effort.

The various Mekel gunmaking companies, Oskar, Bernhard and Grbrüder (brothers) were, other than Mauser, Krieghoff, Simson, Haenel or Sauer & Sohn, not traditinal military arms makers. And all those companies were still making civilian guns besides military stuff until VE day in 1945.
Additionally, by October 1941 Germany was not yet under severe pressure. As noone except some Japs then thought about Pearl Harbor, the USA were still out of the war. France was occupied. The Brits were driven from the European continent. The Wehrmacht closed in on Moskow and Rommel's Afrikakorps was pushing British troops back towards Egypt in Africa. The Nazis appeared to be on the road to victory. It wasn't before the winter 1942-3 German small arms production really became a priority.

[Phil C]

Thank you Axel for this information. I will be sending an email shortly to see what information I can find.

[chapmen]

Normally it is no problem to get an scan from the record card if you ask via mail and give them the serial number. Typic card is like this from my B221E ( http://www.jagdwaffensammler.de/bock...br-merkel.html ) :

[Phil C]

Thank you so much MR. Chapman for this information. The link looks excellent and will have a review tonight. I purchased the shotgun. The Serial number is 23691. I will pick it up in 2 weeks and will post pictures at that time. Mr Chapman I have requested information by email, but can request by mail if you think this is best.

[Phil C]

Pictures

Here are a few pictures.

[Phil C]

http://www.germanguns.com/upload/att...1&d=1547094047

[Phil C]

http://www.germanguns.com/upload/att...1&d=1547094366

[Phil C]

[Phil C]

[Phil C]

[Phil C]

[Phil C]