Pre WWI Alfa Drilling

[Nathaniel Myers]

I purchased this Drilling along with my Waffen Honold Mauser from the same elderly gentleman. I unfortunately did not get to meet the man that owned them, but I was told, he brought them home after WWII. From the research I have done it appears to be of pre-WWI construction. I would love to hear anything about the mechanics, action style (Roux under?), etc. I have done some work to it, I made a new firing pin and spring for the left barrel. The chamber is some form of 9.3x72r, but does not interchange with my JP Sauer drilling.

I'll start with the standard markings.


image.jpg

Now this is the marking I want to highlight and really hope someone can shed some light. This drilling has no makers marks other than the Alfa crest on the barrels. This marking however, I hope might be something.

image.jpg

If you see the script AH, that is what I am thinking might be a makers mark.

I'll post more tomorrow of the drilling, engraving, and workmanship.

[Nathaniel Myers]

[Nathaniel Myers]

I will get the remainder of pictures posted up tomorrow morning.

Any of the members have a ALFA catalog that would be willing to take a look and see if they can find anything?

Would love to determine year of manufacture (or narrow it down) and try to determine where possibly it was made.

Does anyone know the history of ALFA and how they procured those arms? I had always believed they were a distributor for smaller artisans and sold under a house name.

[ellenbr]

Yeah, the marks are mixed in time so I would hazard a guess it was made at the time of the rules change in 1912. Could be a year or so earlier or later.

Cheers,

Raimey
rse

[ellenbr]

Suhl circa 1912 - jagged encircled K tube mark on both.

Cheers,

Raimey
rse

[Nathaniel Myers]

[Nathaniel Myers]

Raimey,

I'd love to determine a possible maker?

I believe we agree it was built 1912/1913 era? You believe the Suhl region?

I don't see the jagged K stamp you are referring to, but it may be my eye sight. Any opinion on the AH? Makers mark?

If you have never seen the guts of one, here you go. Anyone want to tell me more specifically about the action? I am curious about if it has a specific type/name. Maybe who came up with the design, any patents, etc.

[ellenbr]

Yes, without a doubt Suhl. It is a Roux action drilling, a hold-over moniker due to the underlever, typically chambered in a lower pressure cartridge.

Cheers,

Raimey
rse

[ellenbr]

Should be on the other tube also. Axel gives one of three Klett fellas while Dietrich Apel gives Louis Kelber. Not sure that either are ultra confident but either way narrows the pool to 2 families of mechanics of Suhl.

Cheers,

Raimey
rse

[ellenbr]

It's a Blitz or trigger-plate action by the way.

Cheers,

Raimey
rse

[ellenbr]

Script AH, if that is what it is, then there's probably a sack full of names. Would have to wade thru & sort them but right off the top of my head I'd guess Alfred Hauche or Alfred Hellmuthäuser/Helmuthhäuser with the latter having the highest probability.

Cheers,

Raimey
rse

[ellenbr]

Any monogram on the standing breech or letters in the doll's head well? Let me see who might have been in the 14k range in 1912.

Cheers,

Raimey
rse

[Nathaniel Myers]

Raimey,

Thank you so much for your help so far. If you don't mind me asking, what are you using for references? I would love to add to my reference library.

I will look in the dolls head well tomorrow, I do not think there was any markings on the standing breech.

[ellenbr]

Nathaniel, there are many, many references and snippets I've stumbled across thru the years and most of this is just off the cuff. I'd say you could begin with The Greenhill Dictionary of Guns and Gunmakers by John Walter coupled with germanhuntingguns.com & littlegun.be would probably provide you with more reading that you desire. And then there's Heer Der Neue Stockel if you want to be consumed.

Cheers,

Raimey
rse

[Nathaniel Myers]

Raimey,

No luck on the standing breech or recess for the dolls head. I scoured the dolls head, took out the extractor, I may have missed SOMETHING, but it is well hidden if I did.

When you said "Let me see who might have been in the 14k range in 1912." what did you mean?

I ordered the Greenhill Dictionary this morning. Should be here Monday. I have quite an appetite for reading, so I will see what I can get my hands on. My wife is anxious to return to Austria, so I will have to speak with many of you to "delve" deeper into my research should that trip arise.

What would be of more interest for me to post next, a Mauser rifle marked Robert Schrader or one marked Waffen Honold?