Need Help Identifying a Double Rifle - Chr. Pauli . Munster .

[buckstix]

Hello All,

I've just bought a double rifle that I can't identify. I'm hoping someone can help with some info.

Here is what I know.

No Serial Number
Gold Inlay; "Chr. Pauli . Munster ." on top of rib
Back Action Locks with rebounding hammers.
26" Barrels w/ Gold Rings Inlay at Breach
Single Standing Rear Sight
Both Triggers have Double-Set feature
Overall Engraved with Game Annimals
Horn Triggerguard, Horn Grip Cap, Horn Butt Plate
"EB" and "Punch Mark" on action
"A.W" and "Flower" on bottom of barrel block
Caliber is close to / but not exactly - 11.15x60R (slightly shorter shoulder)

Thanks - I'm hoping for your help.

Here are some pictures.

[buckstix]

[buckstix]

[sharps4590]

Wow! What a gorgeous old double rifle!! Triggers are "single set", not double set. I'm sorry I can't tell you anything about it but did enjoy seeing it, thanks!

[Axel E]

As the lack of BUG proofmarks, even a crown/Vvorratszeichen, shows the rifle was made and sold before 1893.
The rifle was retailed by Christian Pauli, Münster in Westfalia. Not much is known about Pauli, but the business was taken over from a Theodor Pauli by an Emil Harmann in 1914.
The rifle was made for Pauli by Emil Barthelmes, Meininger Str. 11, Zella – Mehlis, founded 1854, existed at least to the 1920s.Their EB trademark is visible on the watertable. A.W is the mark of the barrelmaker. Unfortunately there were two barrelmakers with these initials active then in Zella –Mehlis: Albin Wahl, Alfred Wilhelm. Your choice! The "flower" is most likely a private proof or quality mark.
I can not identify the cartridge from your description. In the „Good Old Times“ nothing was standardized when it came to cartridge and chamber dimensions. Each gun- or ammo maker had his own dimensions. Even country gunsmithes designed their own proprietary rifle cartridges, just different enough from the one offered by the competitor next door to preclude interchangeability. Thus the customer was bound to buy his cartridges at the same shop as he had bought his gun. There were umpteen variations of blackpowder/lead bullet cartridges on the M71 Mauser MB base eith different shapes and nominal bullet diameters from 9.3 to 12 mm. An exact designation is most often futile, as the now common designations with bullet diameter x case length came into common use in the mid-1920s only. If you want to make ammo for such an old rifle you have to start from scratch, that is, a chamber cast and slugging the barrel.

[buckstix]

Wow! What a gorgeous old double rifle!! Triggers are "single set", not double set. I'm sorry I can't tell you anything about it but did enjoy seeing it, thanks!

Hello sharps4590,

Thanks for the reply.

Both triggers are approx. 6 pounds pull, but can be "set" by pushing them forward until they catch. Then they are approx. 1 pound pull.

As the lack of BUG proofmarks, even a crown/Vvorratszeichen, shows the rifle was made and sold before 1893.
The rifle was retailed by Christian Pauli, Münster in Westfalia. The rifle was made for Pauli by Emil Barthelmes, Meininger Str. 11, Zella – Mehlis, founded 1854, existed at least to the 1920s.Their EB trademark is visible on the watertable. A.W is the mark of the barrelmaker. Unfortunately there were two barrelmakers with these initials active then in Zella –Mehlis: Albin Wahl, Alfred Wilhelm. Your choice! The "flower" is most likely a private proof or quality mark.

I can not identify the cartridge from your description. In the „Good Old Times“ nothing was standardized when it came to cartridge and chamber dimensions. Each gun- or ammo maker had his own dimensions. Even country gunsmithes designed their own proprietary rifle cartridges, just different enough from the one offered by the competitor next door to preclude interchangeability. Thus the customer was bound to buy his cartridges at the same shop as he had bought his gun. There were umpteen variations of blackpowder/lead bullet cartridges on the M71 Mauser MB base eith different shapes and nominal bullet diameters from 9.3 to 12 mm. An exact designation is most often futile, as the now common designations with bullet diameter x case length came into common use in the mid-1920s only. If you want to make ammo for such an old rifle you have to start from scratch, that is, a chamber cast and slugging the barrel.

Hello Axel E,

Thanks for the reply.

I really appreciate the information. As you know, I try to document details about all the rifles I collect.

As for the cartridge, I made a chamber cast and was able to make a few cartridges from 11.15x60R brass by pushing back the shoulder by about 0.045", and reducing the head diameter by about 0.005". As you say, nothing was standard back then.

[Diz]

Wow! great looking double. Superb engraving and looks to be pristine overall. A terrific find and hope it shoots as good as it looks! I'd like to see the targets. Best of luck with it, Diz

[mike ford]

Buckstix,
If you had to reduce the head diameter of 11.15x60R by .005", you can make good cases from 45-90 Win. cases by pushing the rim back to approximate the MB rim and reduce the rim diameter to fit the extractor. This assumes it is a MB based cartridge.
Mike

[sharps4590]

Double set triggers are a two trigger arrangement of either two lever or four lever design, a front trigger and a rear trigger. Either trigger can be the one used to "set" the triggers. However, the rear trigger is most often the one used to "set" them then the front is the "hair" trigger. Single set triggers are the arrangement on the lovely rifle in your possession. They consist of one trigger that is, as you noted, pushed forward to "set" it.

[Nathaniel Myers]

Beautiful!

Axel, thank you for the excellent history as always.

Buckstix, thanks for sharing! I would be very interested if you document and share your reloading.

[buckstix]

Hello all,

I've now finished with load developement for this double rifle. I do a lot of bullet swaging and have a set of .440 RN SWC dies. With swaging dies is you can vary the bullet weight to obtain regulation.

I use 45 cal pistol cups to make a "half jacket" bullet so I don't have to mess with bullet lube. I'm a little lower in velocity than original Factory ammo, but I'm pleased with the results and still have the ability to take game this Fall. The target shows 3" high at 50 yds, which is dead-on at 100 yds. This is really a fun little double.





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And .... I found out that the "Strange Cat with a fluffy striped tail" that is engraved on the left side, is actually a European "Wild Cat". And they were actually hunted in Germany back in the Day.



Here is what Wikipedia had to say;
The European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) is the wildcat nominate subspecies that inhabits forests of Western, Southern Central and Eastern Europe.

[Diz]

I was wondering how this was going to shoot and it looks like it does very well. Interesting that you use a half jacket for the bullet base as I have not seen them in years. Where are you buying them? I think you did very well with this one as it does shoot as good as it looks. Thanks, Diz

[mike ford]

Buckstix,
That makes me feel silly offering you any advice, clearly, I should ask for yours. A great job.
Mike

[buckstix]

....... Interesting that you use a half jacket for the bullet base as I have not seen them in years. Where are you buying them? Thanks, Diz

Hello Diz,

Thanks for the reply.

I wouldn't have a clue where to buy them. I've had 500 of these for over 40 years and seldom use them.

Buckstix,
That makes me feel silly offering you any advice, clearly, I should ask for yours. A great job.
Mike

Hello mike ford,

Thanks for the reply.

Suggestions are always welcome.

[Diz]

Buckstix,

Your reply is what I expected and thought you were working from "old stock". However, it made me go searching and I found short pistol jackets at Dave Corbin's site that might be of use. I generally use Berger's for my rifle swaging but they don't make a pistol style jacket. Here is the link to Corbin's:

http://www.corbins.com

Didn't know about the wildcats either. Thanks, Diz