Replacement forearm?

[sharps4590]

Can anyone tell if this forearm on the rifle linked to below is a replacement? It looks like it to me but I'm going to defer to you guys.

Vic

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=463411356

[ellenbr]

I'd say so. Something is awry.



Note too that either Suhl was using a ledger or as Axel gives the Suhl proofhouse was experiencing a renovation & the Suhl maker's wares were taken to the Zella-Mehlis facility to experience proof. Wonder what those script letters are KM?

Cheers,

Raimey
rse

[mike ford]

Vic, Raimey,
The rifle was likely made in or around Zella-Mehlis instead of Suhl. A great many were made there "for the trade", and marked with the name of whichever firm ordered them. It is dated April 1924. The forearm is a replacement, without doubt.Almost all of the rifles like this that I have seen had no "forearm iron" and this one does.Also, the wood doesn't match. Furthermore, it was not chambered for 8x57IR,and if rechambered to that cartridge, it was a grave mistake. With a 7.7mm bore dia, it was likely 8.15x46R. Other less likely possibilities are 8x48R S&S, 8x58R S&S, or maybe 8x57R/360.
Vic, If you buy it, insist on the right to return it. It is pretty pricey for a rifle with the potential problems.
Mike

[ellenbr]

Ford:
It is possible it was sourced from the Z-M region. For any other period I would be all in with you but for the period of September 1923 till say April or May of 1924 almost all of the Suhl examples wear a ledger number. It may have been sourced from Z-M but the probability is very high that it passed thru the Suhl proofhouse or as Axel gives, while the Suhl proofhouse was experiencing repairs(possibly a few years earlier 1921-1922) sporting weapons were forwarded to the Z-M proof facility. Here about only a proofhouse ledger or maker ledger would sway my opinion. Does it wear any Nitro stamps?

Cheers,

Raimey
rse

[Axel E]

These small Tell-type break open rifles were a staple of the Zella - Mehlis guntrade. Many with such "round actions" were made by B. Paatz. Except the original Tell by Sauer & Sohn very few were made in Suhl. Most often even those signed by Suhl companies were actually bought in from Z-M.

[sharps4590]

Thank you everyone, I appreciate your expertise. You have confirmed my suspicions and added other questions I'd not thought of. I wasn't very keen on the rifle because as Raimey said, "something is awry". I had/have the same feeling.

[ellenbr]

Are those script letters WM for Walter Munk?

Cheers,

Raimey
rse