Help Identifying Imman Meffert, Suhl

[Tedro]

Greetings, All.

I need help Identifying My Inman Meffert, Suhl 16 Guage. Of Course, I would like to find out--All I can. I suppose I will start with the assembled gun --then I will post pics of the proofs and the inlay work. I appreciate any help and comments. I have detailed photos of the gold inlays and disassembled gun. I will add them later on. But I think this can get us started.20180928_121218.jpg

[Axel E]

Your shotgun is a rather upgrade and late example of Immanuel Meffert's "Hubertus ™ safety gun". This safety lockwork was invented and patented, DRPatent # 7142, in 1879 by the forester Franz Feist in Sommerschenburg, Altmark, Prussia. Feist transferred the patent to Meffert, who made such guns to the 1920s. The photo shows the lockwork of an early Meffert Hubertus gun with V-shaped mainsprings, still close to Feist's patent.

By 1893 Meffert designed an improved, Omega – shaped mainspring and protected the design by DRGM # 32200.

The Hubertus triggerplate "safety" locks work this way: The hammers are brought to full cock by opening the action, either by the opening lever or, later, by tilting the barrels. The underlever instead or under a pistol grip controls the locks. Up against the grip the mainsprings are fully cocked and the gun is on "fire". Releasing that underlever and it snap down puts the gun on "Safe": The mainsprings are patially released/decompressed and a slide on the triggerplate blocks the triggers/sears, at the same time rising the hammers off the firing pins (if uncocked) and blocking them. On mou nting the gun you press the lever up against the hand of the stock, where it is held by a small latch. This fully cocks the mainspring and withdraws the blocking slide. Releasing the lever again by depressing the latch sets the gun on "Safe" again, uncocking the mainspring and blocking the lockwork.

[Axel E]

Here is the page on the Meffert Hubertus guns from the 1912 ALFA export catalog:

As you see, the export price of a highly engraved toplever gun like your's was then US$ 360.- fob Hamburg. A Winchester 94 carbine was $ 90.-

[Axel E]

On the proofmarks of your Meffert "Hubertus": The circled 16 indicates it is chambered to take 16 gauge shells. As no case length is given, it is chambered for 65 mm = 2 1/2" shells only, not the "modern" 70 mm = 2 ¾" ones. Eagle = primary proof of the rough barrels. crown/B = proofload fired. crown/U = inspected for defects after proof firing, crown/S = proofed for shot, crown/W = choke bored, amount of choke not indicated, crown/N = nitro/smokeless proof for a sevice load of 2 g = 31 gr Schultze Pulver Neuer Art = Schultze powder new kind or improved Sch.P., an early nitrated wood smokeless powder. and 27g = .95 oz lead shot.

[Tedro]

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Axel, Thank you --you have already answered with images and more many of my questions. Theses are some more detailed images of the engravings. I will post some more soon!These are some more detailed images of the engravings.

[Tedro]

Here are a few more.20180929_151814.jpg20180929_152031.jpg20180929_151801.jpg20180929_114412.jpg20180929_151750.jpg

[Tedro]

Axel, Your the man! Thank you so much. Have you viewed the S/N? What are you thinking in terms of dating this work?20180929_114301.jpg20180929_114921.jpg

[Tedro]

One More proof stamp on the side of the barrell Nitro--I hope this picture shows that well enough?Nitro.jpg

[Axel E]

There is another thread here on Meffert serial numbers, see
http://www.germanguns.com/upload/sho...ffert-Registry
But there is a quirk: apparently Meffert numbered their "Hubertus safety guns" in a separate series, as their numbers simply don't fit into the much higher numbers of other Meffert guns. But there is another hint to the dating of your gun: The word Nitro is in script, which points to the Zella - Mehlis proofhouse. Meffert, as a Suhl gunmaker, usually had his guns proofed in Suhl. Now there are two possibilities: Either the gun was Suhl proofed in 1912, when the nitro proofs were installed , but the new marking habits were still not firmly entrenched. Or the gun was proofed in 1919 - 20 when the Suhl proofhouse was out of business because of the revolutionary turmoils. Many Suhl made guns were then proofed by the working Z-M proofhouse.

[Tedro]

Axel, I thought that script Nitro proof might be a factor and honestly, I had not noticed it until this morning. I apologize pictures are not very good. So, Incredible--Thank-you. I have a few more of these in similar condition and I may need some trigger group parts--in the near future. I like my things to be functionally perfect--as they were built that way!!
Where, might one locate those parts! The gun in question is also a "triggerplate safety".

Tedro

[Tedro]

Axel,

Again, Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and expertise.

Tedro

[Axel E]

I have a few more of these in similar condition and I may need some trigger group parts—
Where, might one locate those parts!

Nowhere! Such parts have to be hand made and fitted, just as the originals were made.

[mike ford]

Tedro,
You are lucky to have a working example. This gives you samples of parts you will need. It is much easier to make a part with a sample to copy.
Mike

[Tedro]

Axel,

As you said, Here is a Pic--It has the Omega Spring__ as do the others.OmegaSpring.jpg.

[Tedro]

Beuatiful inside , as well.