Merkel 16/ 9.3 X72R

[ohiochuck]

DSC_0078.JPG Merkel 50 yd target.jpg DSC_0073.JPG DSC_0074.JPG Found this Merkel listed for sale in early 2017 in the Double Gun Journal after Ohio decided to allow straight wall cartridges of .357 or larger for hunting deer. Sent it to JJ Perodeau to mount the Schmidt & Bender 1.5 X 6 scope scope in claw rings and to sight in both the 16 b with the new Brenneke 2.5 inch slugs and Sellier & Bellot rifle ammo. I am really pleased with the accuracy as shown by the 50 yd target. both rifle and shotgun slug hit same point of aim.
To date I have successful harvested 3 antler-less deer on family 9 acre property.
Have started handloading the rifle cartridge but need to do more this spring.
I was fortunate to receive a copy of the Merkel build card- photo attached
The Merkel is missing the extra set of shot barrels.
Any help in translating the build card will be appreciated.
Thanks!
Jim

[Peter K]

Very nice gun and target. I would be interested in your hand loaded rifle data when you are satisfied with it. Peter

[Axel E]

Post the card and I will try. But the old handwriting is sometimes unintelligible.

[mike ford]

Jim,
I suggest you sight the rifle a little high at 100 yd( or m) and make a mental note of where the slug hits at 50.
Mike

[Axel E]

My Interpretation of the Merkel Card:
Left:
o-u combination C 410 with interchangeable barrels
Barrels: Boehler steel
Cal. 16/ 9.3x72R length 65 cm = 25.5?
Cal. 16/16-65 (16- 2 ??) 74 cm = 29?
Barrelmaker not noted, so probably inhouse.
Action: model C without ejector, front set trigger
Krueppelschaftsystem (= action for cripple or cross eyed stock)
Master actioner: B???? I
Stock: (Cripple stock action , straight hand, rounded cheekpiece. Make the stock this way, fits the customer) deleted.
Right:
(ordered by Fritz) Barella, Soest , (changed to) and Engels (country gunshop in Dortmund, shipped July 10, 1934
Scope: used (Zeiss) ?Zielvier?, delivered by Barella, # 12211
Mount: Claw mount central over bore, without see-through tunnel, as low as possible
Open sights: cube (or dice, called ?Bockvisier? in current Recknagel catalog), silver bead front
Sighting in: (load) 3.7 g = 42 gr Rottweil Nr.5, Collath (=Tesco copper jacket bullet) 20 T (20 mm long 12.5 g = 193 gr), 5 ? 6 cm high at 100 m.
(changed) with scope exact
With open sights 6 o?clock hold at 100 m, both sight notches.
Accurate shooting of the rifle barrel is demanded.
Engraving: 400 s
Extras: to Soest in the white for stock fitting and positioning the scope.
To be delivered: August 25, 1930??
(most of the pencil notes are unintelligible to me)

[ohiochuck]

Axel,
Thank you for translating this information.
I really appreciate you help!!

Was this often requested to your knowledge? "Accurate shooting of the rifle barrel is demanded."
Jim

[Peter K]

Chuck, I read Axel's commentary and noted his comment about not being able to read the pencil notations. Surely some forensic trial and error would make the notes readable. Have you tried light of a different wavelength such as UV? Or there may be a government or police agency in your neighbouhood that has some experience with these types of documents. I found this whole business very interesting, so thanks for posting.
Peter

[algmule]

Hello

Br?hl.JPG
IF so, there were some Br?hl's around at the time. Four B?chsenmachers and one Systemmacher.

Also: Clay (Themauserkid) has also posted a Merkel card and it looks to me that the same names(?) are on his card as well.
http://www.germanguns.com/vb5/forum/...el-5-6x52r-16g

EDIT: I have no information that any of the Br?hl's were working at the Merkel establsihment. I'm only trying to help.

Kind regards
Peter

[Axel E]

Peter, you are right. The late Suhl historian H.J.Fritze has a list of 1899 to 1951 employees in his book on Gebrueder Merkel. Sorry, just names without further info. He lists two Bruehls, Helmut Bruehl and Wilhelm Bruehl.

[algmule]

Hello

Axel,
here are suggestions for Br?hl-suspects
Franz - B?chsenmacher
Friedrich - B?chsenmacher
Wilhelm x 2 - both B?chsenmacher
Oskar - Systemmacher
Ernst - Schlosser

No Helmut(h) around in 1934 as far as I can find out. At least not in Suhl. Maybe he resided in one of the surrounding villages. I shall go look and see if I can find him.

Later on there were a couple more Br?hl's involved in the trade.

EDIT: Helmut Br?hl was around later. Possible year for his entrance in the trade is 1939. He is in Suhl in 1949, listed as Maschinenschlosser. Also, the above suspects are suggestions. I've no info on any Br?hl's at Merkel other then the two names Axel posted and we can safely rule out Helmut Br?hl on the Merkel card as he wasn't around in 1934. If Wilhelm Br?hl, we will have to work out which Wilhelm and I don't offer to do so.

Kind regards
Peter

[algmule]

Hello

I changed my mind. Of the two Wilhelm Br?hl only one is possible, or so I believe. Which one is it then? It's the Wilhelm Br?hl on Fr?hliche-Mannstra?e 3. The other Wilhelm Br?hl had his own business, a Mechanische Werkstatt f?r das graphische Gewerbe, with Gustav Nothnagel (another B?chsenmacher) as pers?nlich haftende Gesellschafter. According to the Handelsregister that business started out on June 1, 1909. The business went under the name Wilhelm Br?hl & Compagnie, later shortened to Wilhelm Br?hl & Co. Later on Gustav Nothnagel was co-owner of the business. The business was around in 1934.

Conclusion: if the name Br?hl on the Merkel card is for a Wilhelm Br?hl, it's the Wilhelm Br?hl on Fr?hliche-Mannstra?e 3b, Suhl (later Fr?hliche.-Mannstra?e. 1).

Kind regards
Peter

[offhand35]

Jim, I was reviewing your post, and want to ask, what is the choke on your Merkel? The Brenneke slugs are supposed to work ok with any choke, but wanted to be sure of that. Thanks!

[ohiochuck]

Offhand35,
This is the e-mail I received in October, 2017 from JJ
I replied that he could use his judgement in opening the choke. I have not measured it but will do so soon.
Jim

jj perodeau <jj@jjperodeau.com>
Jim,
First ; I?m almost finished with the claw mount on the combo.
The 16 ga choke is .035? and I?m afraid the slugs will buldge it. Opening to IMP CYL or MOD would greatly help.
Please let me know on the choke.

[offhand35]

JIm thanks for your reply, looking forward to your information. Reason being that I had been waiting for a combination gun to show up that appealed to me and was in my price range. I now have a Hermann Schneider Zella-Mehlis SxS combination gun coming to me. It is 16/65 x 8x57J. Since i have lost my private land access for rifle hunting for deer in CT, USA my current hunting is with shotgun slug on state land. The choke is FULL, My current slug guns are all 16ga CYL bores, but I would not want to open the barrel on this new gun that much. IMP CYL would be as much as I would be willing to go.
David

[ohiochuck]

offhand35
If I measured correctly, the choke is .020 or modified. I agreed with jj perodeau to not take any chances of bulging the choke with a rifled slug.
I am very please with the result..
Jim