Does anyone know anything about an L Ruttmann of Ansbach?

[cordite]

Don't know if he was a maker or a dealer. This is an old 16 gauge with non-rebounding hammers. I found this about 15 years ago and was attracted by its wonderful condition and modest price. But what would it cost to duplicate this handwork today? I have been loading up some blackpowder shells and my goal is to take some grouse with it this year.
20160203_160247.jpg

[cordite]

20160203_160725.jpg

20160203_160518.jpg
The bores are in great shape with just a bit of pitting in front of the chambers.

[Axel E]

Are there any proofmarks on the underside of the barrels? You have to push the little wedge in the foreend to the right, open the gun and take the barrels off. The proofmarks may disclose the date and the place of making. Are the barrels steel or damascus? If steel, the gun is probably post-1895. I have nothing on a L. Ruttmann or Rüttmann in Ansbach, so he was likely a contry gunshop who retailed the gun.

[sharps4590]

Gorgeous double cordite!

[cordite]

It has Damascus barrels. The only proof marks are the E over L G black powder proof, the provisional black powder proof, and a couple of "crown over M" proof marks which I have no clue about.
Another interesting thing is the fore end stays attached to the action when you remove the barrels. You pull the wedge and drop the front of the fore end, tip the barrels and off they come.

[Axel E]

That's what I suspected, from the shape of the trigger guard. The ELG proofmark shows: The gun was imported from the Liege, Belgium, guntrade and merely retailed by Ruttmann.
The design with the foreend iron linked to the action bar, the barrels hooked onto the foreend, is quite common with Belgian and German Lefaucheux breech action guns. My 1893 Meffert "Hubertus" has the same arrangement.

[sharps4590]

As does my E. Goldmann in Erfurt double rifle.

[algmule]

Hello

In my search for something else I stumbled across the following: Ludwig Andreas Ruttmann, Büchsenmachermeister, Wethgasse 6, Herrieder Vorstadt, Ansbach (1865). By the way, lovely shotgun.

Also: wrong thread but a couple of images of the mentioned E. Goldmann double rifle will yield some info on him. Nothing ground breaking but some info at least.

Kind regards
Peter

[Leatherman]

This is my favorite configuration or style of Germanic guns. I have all the configurations except a nice shotgun and single shot stalking rifle. Still looking for those. This one is a very nice one.

[sharps4590]

alg, if I had a photo host I'd put up some. I would like to know just a little more about the rifle.

[algmule]

Hello

10ALRuttmann.jpg

Peter

[mike ford]

Cordite,
When I lived In Germany, Ansbach was very near one of my main hunting areas, in fact, two of the hunters lived in Ansbach. I agree with Axel that Herr Ruttmann likely had a local shop and marketed your gun. I doubt that the shop survived until the 1970s as I never heard of it, at least not as a gunshop.
Mike

[algmule]

Hello

In 1825 Ludwig Andreas Ruttmann took over his father?s (Leonhard George Ruttmann) business. He married Louisa Fraa? on May 26, 1828. In 1866 Ludwig Andreas Ruttmann passed away. Here are a couple of things from in between the dates 1825 and 1866:

1aLRuttmann.jpg

1cLRuttmann.jpg

In 1869 there is a mentioning of a master gun smith Karl Ludwig Ruttmann. Here is an ad from that year that only states a gun smith Ruttmann

1eLRuttmann.jpg

Karl Ludwig is, however, mentioned as master gun smith in both 1869 and 1870

And here is an ad from 1870

1dLRuttmann.jpg

In 1882 C/Karl Ludwig Ruttmann received a bronze medal in the Bavarian State Exhibition. After 1882 I have nothing on any Ruttmanns involved in the gun trade. I believe Carl Ludwig took over the L. Ruttmann business and that he is behind the topic of the thread, or maybe better, he was the one that peddled it. Do I know that as a fact? NO.

Peter

[Igor]

Three gunsmiths were known in Ansbach by the surname Ruttmann. Andreas Ludwig Ruttmann, Buchsenmacher. Married August 27, 1837 to Josepha Grebner. Died July 19, 1866. Karl Ludwig Ruttmann, Buchsenmacher. Johann Ruttmann, born November 19, 1871, Buchsenmachermeister.

[algmule]

Hello

In 1824 Georg Leonhard Ruttmann, master gun smith, passed, at the age of 63, buried some time between December 1 and 5. IF there was a "Johann Ruttmann", gun smith, I count four. Maybe they count differently in Russia.

Georg Leonhard Ruttmann, master gun smith
Ludwig Andreas Ruttmann, gun smith/master gun smith
Karl Ludwig Ruttmann, gun smith/master gun smith
Johann Ruttmann???, ???

= 4. I.e. if there was a Johann Ruttmann, master gun smith. 4 is one more than 3 and one less than 5. Conclusion: 4. As I have no information on any Johann Ruttmann I stick with 3 Ruttmanns in Ansbach involved in the trade because 3 Ruttmanns are what I have sources for.

Also: in 1828, Ludwig Andreas Ruttmann married Louisa Fraa? (insert two s where the question mark is). Let us hope my information in this thread does not turn up in article on the web.

EDIT: in 1864-65 there is only one gun smith/master gun smith by the name Ruttmann active in Ansbach - C/Karl Ludwig Ruttmann. IF he took over the L. Ruttmann business he did so before Ludwig Andreas Ruttmann passed.

Peter