JP Sauer Model designation reference

[Nathaniel Myers]

i have seen we have several excellent books on JP Sauer in the Guilds offerings. Is there one that best details the different models of Drillings and Shotguns? I'm looking for something somewhat technical that outlines the model designations and mechanical qualities.

[Nathaniel Myers]

Maybe a few of the catalogs would be best? I want to know what options came with which models and know what that model is. I find rarely are Sauers sold by tgere model number, but it would nice to know when looking for something specific.

For instance, I owned a JP Sauer Royal 12 SxS and would love to own an equivalent 16. Not knowing what I had makes it difficult to look for what I want.

[Axel E]

Get im Cate's "J.P.Sauer & Sohn" book from the GGCA bookstore. But if you are interested in post-war, Suhl (early post WW2) or Eckernförde made guns, try to find old catalogs. The "Royal" was probably Eckernförde made.

[Nathaniel Myers]

Axel, I believe the one I owned was Suhl made post WW2, and the quality was fantastic. I do have a picture of the water table if that narrows it better than the barrel marking. I want to find essentially the same gun, same options, but in 16ga, which leads me to believe I would need to find a Pre war example.

Here is the one I used to own.




I do regret selling it. I have never owned a shotgun prior or since that shot instinctively to the degree this Sauer did.

[Axel E]

As the inscription clearly reads "Made in Western Germany", the gun was not made in Suhl or pre-war, but during the 1950s - 70s in Eckernförde. For the post WW2 west German, Sauer & Sohn, Eckernförde, production, you have to go to the German language "Sauer & Sohn" book by Arfmann 6 Kallmeyer. The dispossessed in Suhl, east Germany, Sauer Family, together with some Investors, refounded the "Sauer & Sohn AG, Eckernfoerde, in 1951. At first they reverse engineered an existing, pre-war Sauer side by side Modell VIII to make the necessary parts drawings. By 1953 they upgraded their VIII E (with ejectors) into their "Modell Royal" with the scalloped action back. From 1958 on S&S cooperated with Beretta, Italy. The making of the basic Modell VIII was transferred to Beretta, merely inspected in Eckernförde and marked as "Sauer-Beretta". But the Eckernförde made Modell Royal was still offered by the mid-1960s in 12, 16 and 20 bore. The east German Suhl "People owned" Combine Ernst Thaelmann Werke also continued making the S&S Modell VIII, but offered them in the west under the "Simson" Trademark.

[Nathaniel Myers]

I must humbly admit, my knowledge of Post WWII Europe geography is very poor. I should have asked my wife, she studied German while living in Austria, of course, her knowledge on the subject may have been less!

None the less, thank you again for the education Axel. I know now that I am looking for a Model VIII, though without the scallops at the back of the action. I will look into the Cate book and keep my eyes peeled for post war Sauer literature.

[Jim Cate]

Thanks, Axel.................Jim