SCHILLING-SUHL-PRUSSIA Sporting Rifle

[robinpeck]

Yesterday I bought this Schilling M-88 Sporter for $450 (US) at a small local gunshow. It seemed a good price. The rifle is in good condition and will only need a good cleaning and oiling. The bore is in good shootable condition. It has a (used but not abused) integral front sight ramp and a rear sight with one standing and one folding leaf. The bolt, barrel and action are all marked with matching serial numbers (28686) and the various small pieces are marked with the last three numbers of this serial number. Also, the barrel , bolt and action are marked with yet another serial number (5738). The barrel right in front of the action is marked KRUPP STEEL. I don't understand why this is in English? Why not STAHL? Is this a rifle intended for the English market? In front of the rear sight it is marked V (Y?) CHR. SCHILLING-SUHL-PRUSSIA. Is there away to date this rifle from the various stamped numbers under the stock? I don't know what any of the stamped numbers, etc. mean.

I have a collection of Mannlicher-Schoenaer and other fullstock rifles but I know very little about these M-88 sporters.

[sharps4590]

robin, your pictures didn't come through, at least on my computer

[robinpeck]

[robinpeck]

[Steve Whitley]

Could the "5738" refer to the proofhouse ledger number, with 38 being the year?
Steve

[ellenbr]

Prussia & Steel indicate export. All the marks are pre-1912 & the SS is more than likely Stephan(Str.) Schilling.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

[mike ford]

Steve,
At this time Suhl didn't mark with ledger numbers(they never did, except a couple years,in the 20s).Whichever of the two numbers also appears on the reciever would be the serial number.
robinpeck,I wouldn't blindly load .318" bullets. Slug the barrel, you will likely be able to use 32 Win.Spec bullets.This seems to be a great rifle to have fun with.
Mike

[robinpeck]

Steve,
At this time Suhl didn't mark with ledger numbers(they never did, except a couple years,in the 20s).Whichever of the two numbers also appears on the reciever would be the serial number.
robinpeck,I wouldn't blindly load .318" bullets. Slug the barrel, you will likely be able to use 32 Win.Spec bullets.This seems to be a great rifle to have fun with.
Mike

Mike, The problem with guessing which of the two numbers is the official serial number is that they both appear once on the barrel, action and bolt. However, the small parts are stamped with the last three digits of the longer number so I'm calling the longer number the official serial number. The buttplate is also stamped with the whole long number. Thanks for the tip about .32 Win bullets...I was going to slug the bore anyway. I'm looking forward to all sorts of fun loading and shooting this rifle. Sincerely, Rob

[robinpeck]

Thank you for the help. However, I was wondering specifically what is it about the marks that indicate pre-1912? Could you please expand on this just a little? Sincerely, Rob

Prussia & Steel indicate export. All the marks are pre-1912 & the SS is more than likely Stephan(Str.) Schilling.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

[ellenbr]

3,67 grams of G.B.P. powder is a military flake powder over S.T.M.G. - which was a voluntary stamp prior to 1912. Some were stamped with a service load, some with a proof load, led to confusion & issues and it was changed to a bullet type & weight. The 172/28 is a plug gauge diameter also used pre-1912 and was later converted to mm.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

[robinpeck]

Thank you very much for this information.

Sincerely, Rob

[mike ford]

robinpeck,
I agree with your assessment of the serial number. I'm also curious about the second number, since it is on major components. Maybe Axel will jump in with the answer.
Mike