Feinster-Bohler Blitz Stahl / P. Hambrusch - Steyr-

[Thantos]

Hello All,
Here is the second gun I am trying to identify from my fathers collection. Looking for the same info as before, Year of Manufacture, any history possible, Gauge/Caliber and value. I hope the pictures do it justice. Please let me know if there are any questions. And once again thanks for all the help in advance.

Gene


Photobucket Link:
http://s182.photobucket.com/user/tha...0Blitz%20Stahl

GGCA Link:
http://www.germanguns.com/upload/album.php?albumid=8

[Axel E]

Proofed 1926

[mike ford]

I tried to open the Photobucket photos and my antivirus security system want crazy. Can you post photos some other was?
Mike

[Thantos]

Mike,
I have created an album on GGCA, the link below I hope will take you there. I did this thinking if you click on my name it would take you to my profile and the albums would be in there, but that does not seem to be the case. If the link does not work let me know and I will try something different. I will update the original post to include both links.

Gene

http://www.germanguns.com/upload/album.php?albumid=8

[mike ford]

Gene,
That's better. I could open the photos, but could not make out the whole string of proof numbers. Austrian proofs are not as familiar to me as they are to others. I have the wherewithal to look them up, but what looks like pits obscured the string. Axel, dated it, but I can't ID the caliber. I suggest you make a chambercast and slug the bore. My overall impression is that tha gun fas been reworked, It shows signs of having had a new forearm(at least the wood)made, and having scope mount bases removed(note the two dovetailed blanks in the rib).
Mike

[Thantos]

A few questions:
1). Feinster-Bohler, is this the name of the company that manufactured the rifle?
2). Blitz Stahl, means "lighting steel" is this correct? if so is this a type of steel, a process to make the steel or a brand name for the steel?
3). P. Hambrusch - Steyr- is this the name of the gunsmith and the town he or the company was from?

Thanks Gene

[mike ford]

Gene,
I believe Feinster-Bohler was a steel manufacturer(at least Bohler was).Blitz Stahl would be their trademark for the alloy used in the guns barrels. You are correct that P.Hambrusch is the gunsmith's name, from Steyr. If this is incorrect, someone will provide the correct information.
Mike

[Axel E]

"Feinster" is "finest", just as "Prima" means "first class" in German. Just advertising!

[ellenbr]

Difficult to tell as the marks are worn and the Nitro mark & preliminary datastring possibly need to be chalked, but I would guess it was sourced from a mechanic in Vienna and it is chambered in 20(15.3mm stamp?) bore over 0.22(long/long rifle)-insert?. Blitz is the Böhler steel recipe. Peter/Joseph Hambrusch have deep roots in Ferlach.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

[mike ford]

Raimey,
I couldn't find indication of a 0.22 barrel.There would be no proof on the rifle for either a chamber insert or an Einstecklauf(EL). The proof for these would be carried on the device itself.
Mike

[ellenbr]

Raimey,
I couldn't find indication of a 0.22 barrel.There would be no proof on the rifle for either a chamber insert or an Einstecklauf(EL). The proof for these would be carried on the device itself.
Mike

Hide and watch Ford. Want me to bring some hardcopies by the house? Anyway, on the final pass the diameters were C = 15.2mm and C = 5.6mm. That along with the sight configuration and no other info suggest to me it is/was indeed a 0.22"?



Also Ford are you confident in the Austrian proof rules that they considered inserts like the Germans?? I'll have to refresh my memory.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

[ellenbr]

Looks like the 1st pass as found on the preliminary datastring found the diameters to be 13.6mm & 4.0mm, difficult to tell though.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

[Axel E]

MHO: This o/u combination gun was originally made by Hambrusch, Grünmarkt 7, Steyr, Austria, founded 1752, existed in Steyr at least until 1961. Later the 11th generation Peter Hambrusch moved to the Austrian Gunmaking center Ferlach. The gun was nitro proofed by the Vienna proofhouse, likely Steyr branch, in 1926. The gun is a 20 gauge shot barrel, most likely 65mm = 2 ½ " chamber, above a 5.6 mm rifle barrel. Regarding the time, 1926, most likely a 5.6x52R aka .22 HP Savage. As the markings on the rear sight show, it was originally delivered with a chamber insert for the 5.6x52R barrel to shoot the .22 rimfires too. Post-WW2 it was restocked, maybe already in the USA. The clumsy "beavertail" foreend, the semi-square uncapped pistol grip and skip-line checkering all point to the 1960s. Chamber inserts do not need proof, neither in Germany nor Austria. Mike knows such chamber inserts were known before WW2.

[mike ford]

That didn't look like a 5 to me, I guess I need to have another talk with my optometrist. Raimey,go ahead and bring a hard copy to the house, I won't hide though. As far as the proof of a cartridge insert or EL being on the barrel, the barrel( in most, if not all countries) can only be proofed for one cartridge at a time. If it is proofed for another cartridge, the first has to be marked out ,the second and a repair proof added. This would make it "unhandy" every time you change. Heym wouldn't even convert the extractor on my 7x57R BF to also extract 7x57 rimless because of this(although they gave me the parts to do it).I have, as Axel knows(he gave it to me)an insert for 5.6x61R/22lr, but also 2 ELs in 16/22lr and 2 in 16/22WMR; none of which are proofed( at least not marked).Until Axel mentioned the markings on the rear sight, I missed the second page of photos( 26-34). Nobody should be surprised that I an computer illiterate, I have admited it many times.
Mike

[ellenbr]

Ford, ah, we'll give you a Mulligan on this one. I sort of believed you were joking on the 0.22" as I thought you of all fellas would notice the sights. Anyway, I can go along with the 5.6X52R and stomach that either P. Hambrusch either made it or sourced it from Ster or Vienna as he was still listed there as „Beirat der Stadt Steyr" in 1934 and if I am not mistaken Josef/Joseph Hambrusch is listed as a gunmaker in Ferlach by at least 1928. His British issued maker number is 22. Not sure of the relationship between Peter & Josef.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse