Akah Drilling...perhaps?

[Jim Cate]

Locally I have a friend who has a very decent Drilling (12ga.x8mm), proofed in 1933, that has a Akah buttplate on it. There are no maker or seller's name on the rib or the receiver. It has a 4 digit serial number. While looking at a repro-1932 Akah catalog I noticed that the trade name HUBERTUS was noted on the side margin of the page showing gunsmiths working of different things. The action / receiver of this particular Drilling is very similar to the Model 30 Sauer except there are two relatively large screws utilized on the bottomplate rather than the typical one screw as seen on the Sauers. It occured to me that perhaps Sauer cast the receiver and Merffert completed the process of finishing the barreled-action and the gun; then sold it to Akah for retail sales in their outlets. Yes, I know there are many Drilling receivers which are very similar, but if anyone has noted a similar Drilling or has more information regarding this situation I would love to hear about it. Best regards, Jim

[mike ford]

Jim,
If the "HUBERTUS" was only shown on an advertisement in the cataloge,I wouldn't consider that as indication that the drilling was put together by Meffert. Of course, that is also not proof that it wasn't.It would be a different story,if the gun had the HUBERTUS stamped on it. As far as I believe, a Hubertus drilling would have been made on a Meffert action. Someone else could have very well built it up with a Sauer action/barrels. Maybe someone else can answer the question of the two screws.
Mike

[Jim Cate]

Mike, that's a new thought! Perhaps Akah's mechanics finished the gun after a completed the action/barrels were done. From what little I have read, mostly in our Journal, Meffert did complete guns utilizing other firms' actions especially those actions that Meffert did not make. Obviously with a 4 digit serial number it must have been made by a small company with gunsmiths on board. Oh well, just another "wish I knew who made that." JIM

[Axel E]

As usual, photos of the Drilling action and of all markings in- and outside the gun would be helpfull! When it comes to guns, Akah (Albrecht Kind, Hunstig) never was a maker, but a wholesaler only, so it is very unlikely that Akah put any finishing touches to the gun. By 1933 Suhl and Zella Mehlis Blitzlock drilling design was very much standardized, so it is near impossible to ascribe one by action shape and outward appearence alone to any maker, be it Sauer & Sohn, Simson, Meffert or you name him.

[norsk]

If you are interested in other AKAH marked guns, my combo gun (16 X 9.3x72R) is unmarked as to maker and has the Akah mark on the frame. It was proofed in 1926. It also has a very low serial number.