Imman Meffert Drilling Proofmarks Help - Pics

[Herbert]

Looking for some help to identify my drilling caliber and year of manufacture.
Rib is marked Imman Meffert Suhl. Below are the pics of the Proof Marks.

I was told it may be 9.3x72R, wondering if can I use the currently available S&B 9.3x72R in this gun?










Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks

[Herbert]

Some more Pic's...

[Herbert]

Some pics of the complete gun.

[Herbert]

[mike ford]

Herbert,
Your drilling may very well be chambered for one of the 9.3x72R cartridges, if it is, or which version is not knowable from the markings. The bore ( not groove or bullet) diameter is marked as 8.7mm, which would fit several different 9.3 and some 9 mm nominal cartridges. The 8.7 alone is a little unusual and indicates it was proofed in or very near 1911. When they changed from bore diameter in gauge measurement to mm, they very quickly also started showing case length. Since the gun has a stock magazine, you may get a hint from the depth of the holes ie. are they deep enough for 9.3x72 or shorter for something more like 9.3x57R or 9x58 1/2R, or longer for something like 9.3x82R ? The way to find out, for sure, is to make, or have someone else make a chamber cast. BTW, by the markings, the right barrel is cylinder bore and the left barrel is choked( amount of constriction is not shown). The chambers are both 16 ga, but "short chambered"( 2 1/2- 2 9/16", not standard 2 3/4"). Both barrels are 16 ga ahead of the chamber (about 16.81mm). The mark " EHRHARDT LAUF" is the steel, from which the barrels are made.

[Herbert]

Thanks Mike for the help. I will try and have a chamber cast done.

I also checked the depth of the rifle bullet holes in the stock magazine as I don't have a 9.3x72R ammo at hand and I am a little confused.

The first hole (near the butt plate) is only 84-85mm, the other 2 holes are about 88 mm deep. I checked on the internet and the 9.3x72R is supposed to be 86mm long including the rim(1.3mm), so the holes should be at least 84mm deep. The magazine cover also has about 3-4 mm room as it is concave. Is it normal for the holes to have a little variation?

Thanks

[sharps4590]

I just wish I could take pictures like that!!

Nice ol' drilling. Gotta love those old hammer drillings.

[Herbert]

I just wish I could take pictures like that!!

Nice ol' drilling. Gotta love those old hammer drillings.

Thanks, you are correct about these old guns. Some pics of the other side.

[mike ford]

Herbert,
For a drilling of this age, the holes would likely have been drilled without a positive "stop", but maybe a witness mark on the "bit". Consequently, some variation is not unusual. The depth of the holes is , at best, only an indicator anyway. The depths you measured indicate a cartridge not longer that 72mm case length. This seems to eliminate the 9.3x82R, but not 9.3x57R or 9.3 x70R or 9x58 1/2R S&S. Just considering the popularity of the cartridge, the most likely chambering would be one of the 9.3x72R variations. If you can find a 9.3x72R norm. cartridge and it lacks a half inch or so closing, it is likely the "D" version. If it closes, it is the currently available "norm." version. If it is the "D" version( I know Meffert sometimes chambered for this version, because I have an inoperative one) there are a couple pretty easy ways to proceed.
Mike