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I am a new member. I inherited a beautiful antique 11-mm double-barrel rifle from my late father-in-law. He "liberated" it from a bombed out arms plant in Nuremberg at the end of WWII. I have been unable to locate any proof marks, but it has a fancy gold inlaid monogram and grown on the trigger guard, indicating nobility. It has a beautifully-carved walnut left-handed stock and fancy hunting scene engravings on the metal parts. The stock is shorter than normal, indicating that it was custom made for a youth or smaller woman. I would like to learn anything I can about this gun, such as probable age, possible maker, place of origin, the meaning of the gold "T" and crown monogram, etc., if anyone can help. Attached are photos.
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jackrobertson,
The rifle your father-in-law left you is very nice. I'm afraid it may be pretty difficult to find out much about it, unless you can find additional markings. If there are no proof marks, it would have been made before the beginning of April 1893, when the 1891 proof law went into effect. If you can find a "crown" V on the top of the gun that would mean it was in "stock" somewhere during the month before actual proof marking started. To be sure there are no proof marks, you should remove the barrels and examine the underside. The photo of the chamber indicates it is chambered for one of the many "Mauser Base" cartridges. The first of these was the 11.15x60 R, from the Mod 1871 Mauser. Therefore the rifle would have been made after 1871. The first cartridge to try, then, should be the 11.15x60R Mauser ( AKA 11mm Mauser, AKA 43 Mauser). If it doesn't chamber, then a chamber cast must be made to allow measurements to be taken for identification. Slugging the barrel, will narrow the possibilities some, but groove diameters of barrels for cartridges of this age, usually do not match the bullet diameter of the nominal caliber. I would think that if it came from an "arms plant" it would have been marked to the manufacturer. On the other hand, there were ammunition plants in and around Nuremberg, and an ammunition plant may have used a variety of rifles for testing. I am not very learned on the finer points of heraldry, and suggest you check the website "German Hunting Guns" for an explanation of the different "Crowns". I will note that people are often disappointed that their gun didn't belong to a King or Prince. The "T" could be for any number of names beginning with T. Once you find additional information, I will be happy to try again.
Mike -
This coronet with five pearls indicates the rank of a simple, untitled (not even a Freiherr = Baron) von Soandso, the lowest rank of nobility, gentry in Britain. So a "von T.... " can not be identified without further hints.Comment
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Hello
The following is mere suggestion:
Sigmund von Tr?ltsch, born (or at least went to school there) June 29, 1852 in Petersgm?nd bei Roth. Mentioned as being a Revierf?rster (district forester). Petersgm?nd (bei Roth) is 45 kilometer south of N?rnberg. I first found von Tr?ltsch's in N?rnberg which led me to dig further and that's how I found Sigmund.
The following is hefty speculation:
In N?rnberg I also found two von Tucher's. If the letter behind the "T" is an S, the S could be (yes, I'm guessing) for Simmersdorf, but as Axel mentioned, we are not looking for a Freiherr and the only von Tucher I was able to dig up was a Freiherr. Besides, I couldn't find any S. von Tucher, only a Theodor (1886). The other von Tucher was a lady. Seems there are von Tucher's in N?rnberg to this day.
Jack Robertson,
thank you for posting. Pity about the right hammer.
Also: could someone please put up a link to GGCA's main page/home page. My search engine can't find it.
EDIT: where there are question marks insert Umlauts. o with two dots over in Tr?ltsch and Revierf?rster and u with two dots over in Petersgm?nd and N?rnberg. Could this not be fixed?
Kind regards
PeterLast edited by algmule; 11-22-2020, 04:31 PM.Comment
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Peter,
Instead of the umlaut, you might try adding an e after the letter that should have the umlaut above it. This is the system most of us use when we don't have an easy way to add the umlaut.
MikeComment
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Hello
offhand35,
thank you.
Kind regards
PeterComment
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