Josef Fegers ?

[sharps4590]

I have an acquaintance who recently acquired a Josef Fegers in Rheyd(t)? marked drilling in 8 X 57IR over 16 bore. Neither he nor I can find but one blurb about the name. From the pictures I have seen it appears of typical quality...you know, very good. Could anyone point me in a direction? The gentleman is curious about him and frankly, I am too.

Thanks!!!

Vic

[mike ford]

Vic,
The name is not familiar to me, but I suspect he marketed the gun and didn't build it. If you could post photos of the gun, including all markings, maybe someone could provide some information. Maybe Axel or Jon could help with the Fegers name.
Mike

[sharps4590]

My initial thought was the same but I'm still so green that doesn't count for much. I have requested more and better pictures from the owner and when he gets them I'll post.

Vic

[sharps4590]

Was there an "e keener" active in Suhl between the wars? My acquaintance has discovered that name on the barrels of his drilling. He also describes what he calls a "heart with a scar running down the middle" with the numbers "840" over it. Is that a proof mark anyone recognizes or any other mark? I have asked him if it might be the Suhl "shield, sole, pick" but haven't received a reply. Pictures are still on hold.

[Steve Whitley]

There were both and Emil Kerner and Ernst Kerner in the area at the time. The "heart with a scar" sounds like the Grünes Herz Thüringens symbol used in Zella-Mehlis.
Steve

[m-4]

Is the Nitro markings on the barrels in script or Block lettering?

m-4

[mike ford]

Steve,
Emil and Ernst Kerner were both from Suhl. I agree the "heart with a scar" sounds like the Zella-Mehlis house mark, but this doesn't "square" with the location of the two Kerners. I guess this is why M4 asked if "Nitro" was in block or script letters. Photos will tell the tale.
Mike

[Steve Whitley]

Ernst is known to have marketed at least some guns which were assembled by Weihrauch but marked with Kerner's logo (have seen and held in my hands). Not saying that this gun was made by Weihrauch, at all, but stating this as an explanation of how the Z-M proof could very well be on a Kerner gun...
Steve

[mike ford]

Steve,
Ernst was the father of my friend Helmut that I wrote about in the article about rebuilding a Meffert drilling. He was also the son-in-law of the owner of Meffert. I think he worked at Meffert, but at the same time worked on his own.There is a Ernst Kerner vierling on the cover of one of the "Der Waffenschmeid"s that was clearly built on a Meffert action/barrel set.In the case of the gun you handled, Ernst could have very well, used a Weihrauch action/barrel and put it together himself. While I lived in Germany and hung out in Walter Grass' shop, he usually used Heym actions/barrels in building his guns(he had been "Meister"in the hunting gun section until 1969 when he went on his own);but he built a o/u double for one of my American friends on a Krieghof barrel and action. The gunsmiths usually used a favorite factory as a source, but not always. They would send them to the proof house they used, which may or may not have been the same one the factory used.
Mike

[Steve Whitley]

Mike,
This was on some of the last DSMs which Weihrauch assembled under the consortium/guild process, likely in 1938. They were among the last building them, along with Mauser and BSW (and possibly Walther) at that time. The contract they signed soon afterwards for manufacturing rights to the KKW stipulated that they stop production of DSMs or parts for them. Kerner likely ordered the .22 to please a customer, but would have had no hand in any assembly or production, outside of possibly applying his Auerhahn logo (if he did that). Anyway, it was thus sold with Kerner's mark and yet was proofed in Zella-Mehlis.
Steve

[sharps4590]

I am still waiting on photos and have asked whether the "Nitro" is block or script.

[mike ford]

Steve,
This is all very interesting, and one of the reasons we all enjoy this hobby so much. We often find things that go against the accepted norm, yet there is an example. This is why I try to avoid saying anything is always or never true.I try to say "usually", "often", etc.
Mike

[ellenbr]

Whitley:
Have you information that Greifeldt also sourced Weihrauch as several of Greifeldt's examples have Z-M proofmarks?

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

[Steve Whitley]

Raimey,

That I don't know. I do not recall seeing any indication of that, but will look through some of the records I have to see what I can find.

Steve