Greifelt O/U Shotguns

[kcordell]

Hi,

I am very excited and happy as I just acquired the 12ga mate of my Greifelt 20 gauge. I cannot find too much about Greifelt but I am guessing from the small amount of data I could find that this is a grade 1. It also appears from some of the Greifelts that I have seen in the US, that they made many configurations...almost custom as many that I have seen are quite different. The two that I have in particular have the button forend release and same scrolling with the exception that the 12 has flowers and the 20 has oak leaves. Both have factory single trigger and ejectors.

Does anyone have any data on Greifelt that they can share?

[mike ford]

kcordell,
This looks like a very nice gun.Photos of the markings,including proof marks, would be helpful.Axel, might be able to offer good information about Greifelt and their different models. Beside my impression that this is a very nice gun, I offer, with no justification whatsoever,that the stock finish may have been applied by American hands.
Mike

[kcordell]

I agree and believe the stock has been carefully "maintained". Gun was made 4/26 and was sold through VL&D. I bought it to use. All springs and everything has been checked. Screws are in fantastic condition so in my guesstimation, a quality gunsmith has always been used.

[ellenbr]

So Ford are you saying the stock was finished in the U.S. of A. or that it was restocked in the U.S. of A.?? Nice addition of the ebony rhombus and points just off the church windows which would point to an upgrade. Lovely double on the Kerner-Anson platform. I'm curious if the single trigger was added in Germany or in the U.S. of A. Also I'm curious as to when Greifeldt adopted the O/U platform and was the research prior to Merkel or did it parallel that of Merkel.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

[kcordell]

Raimey,

I know for a fact that it is not a miller trigger and has a selector with o/u with highlights in gold.

[mike ford]

Raimey,
I'm not saying that it" was", It is just my unjustified opinion that the finish was applied by American hands.The diamond and three dots in the stock are distinctly German, so there is no "doubt in my military mind",that the stock is original.This is not a complaint against German finishes.
Mike

[mike ford]

Raimey,
I'm not saying it "was", I'm saying it is my unjustified opinion that the finish was applied by American Hands.The diamond and three dots are distinctly German, and there is no "doubt in my military mind", that the stock is original. This is not a complaint against German finishes.
Mike

[kcordell]

Mike I agree with your assessment.

GGCA I have done a complete search and can find almost nothing on Greifelt. Of particular interest is the 3 dots behind the diamond on the stock. Does anyone have any relevant data on what that could mean?

Thanks,

kc

[kcordell]

Hi Forum, I am updating with the little brother of the 12 gauge above. Here is a 20 VL&D that I found a few years ago in rough ...maybe close to death shape. I won't go into detail but I had to replace both main springs, remove bluing that someone put on the receiver and have surgery done on the single trigger mechanism. Yes, the screws are a little buggered and plenty of other things are not perfect but for now, I am just happy to have it fully functional for some shoots we have in March. I wish I could find more about Greifelt. Lovely guns.

[mike ford]

kc,
I don't think the screws are that bad. I think the displaced metal can be moved back and the engraving touched up as required, without having to replace or weldup/recut any of them. The slots may windup a very little bit wider than original, but if they all match it wouldn't be obvious.This is the kind of work that can wait until it is convienent for you, if ever.
Mike

[mike ford]

kc,
I don't think the screws are that bad. I think the displaced metal can be moved back and the engraving touched up as required, without having to replace or weldup/recut any of them. The slots may windup a very little bit wider than original, but if they all match it wouldn't be obvious.This is the kind of work that can wait until it is convienent for you, if ever.
Mike

[Büchsemann]

Kevin,

With two Greifelts and questions about Greifelt in general you may want to talk to Jon (germanguns1234) about acquiring a copy of the Greifelt catalog available from our GGCA bookstore. The pictures below are of the six O/U shotguns offered by Greifelt in the aforementioned catalog from 1925. Your two guns may be variations of a couple of them. The catalog includes descriptions of each in English, French and … Spanish! Yes, perhaps Greifelt was ahead of its time.

Enjoy …









Mark

[Büchsemann]

The other two ...

[kcordell]

Mark, Mike,

Thank you for the responses above and thoughts on my 20. I have received communication from Jon on the catalog and was hoping GGCA would be present at the Maryland Arms show in March. I didn't see presence there last year but had a great time there the year prior. I will get the catalog and perhaps get a letter from Bob Beach as both are on the VL& D. Ledgers.