Schattenburg Drilling?

[Todd Kirkby]

I picked up a German drilling this weekend as I was leaving a gun show. I have always wanted a German drilling or maybe even a Rook rifle and this one had my name on it. The engraved art is charming with Red Stag, Fox, Rabbit and Roe Deer. The condition is a little rough and with the Damascus shotgun barrel, I will not shoot it. The manufacturer appears to be A. GRALENER A SCHATTENBURG. It is a 16 gauge with a 62/78 or .420 rifle. The markings are several of the old style eagles, U, W, S crowned. 11835, RG and G.

Do I have the manufacturer correct? Was this gun completed on January 18, 1935. It does appear older. I have seen other types for around $2000. Is this about the correct value? Will upload some pics.

Thanks in advance. Todd

I was able to upload pics to an album under my member name. If you want to see them, click on my name and then look at bottom left for the album.

[Jim Cate]

Hi Todd, I have no idea who made your Drilling as I cannot pull up the photos you made. However, the 118,35 indicates that the rifle barrel is 9mm with a land diameter of .864. The Crown U is the Nitro proof; the Crown W indicates the barrel(s) are choked (probably full and modified); Crown S indicates the bore is smooth. A crown over G indicates a rifled barrel. I am sure that having Damascus barrels that the chambers would be "short" chambers, probably 65mm. I would estimate that your Drilling was made between 1894 and 1912 based on the proofing. Jim Cate

[Todd Kirkby]

Jim, I appreciate your reply. This is good information. I am having a little bit of a challenge getting the photos attached to the post. This may work. If you cannot click on the link, you may have to cut and paste it into your browser. If this still does not work, please let me know and I can email you any pictures. Thanks, Todd

http://www.germanguns.com/upload/alb...ttachmentid=55
http://www.germanguns.com/upload/alb...ttachmentid=56
http://www.germanguns.com/upload/alb...ttachmentid=57
http://www.germanguns.com/upload/alb...ttachmentid=58
http://www.germanguns.com/upload/alb...ttachmentid=59
http://www.germanguns.com/upload/alb...ttachmentid=60
http://www.germanguns.com/upload/alb...ttachmentid=61
http://www.germanguns.com/upload/alb...ttachmentid=62
http://www.germanguns.com/upload/alb...ttachmentid=63
http://www.germanguns.com/upload/alb...ttachmentid=64
http://www.germanguns.com/upload/alb...ttachmentid=65

[chapmen]

Made before 1912.
Interesting point: Schattenburg is in Austria.
So it is possible that the rifle is made in germany and sold by Gralener, because it have full german proof.
But - the pics are showing an double shotgun, not an Drilling ?

[Todd Kirkby]

You have an interesting theory about where this was made. Do you know of Gralener? This is a drilling as the left barrel is the damascus 16 gauge and the right is 9mm. There is a hatch-plate on the stock end which has two of the very old bullets in it.

[Axel E]

You have an interesting theory about where this was made. Do you know of Gralener? This is a drilling as the left barrel is the damascus 16 gauge and the right is 9mm. There is a hatch-plate on the stock end which has two of the very old bullets in it.

Sorry, but such a combination gun with one rifle- and one shot barrel is not a drilling, but a Buechsflinte, cape gun in English. As the name indicates, dri = three, a Drilling always has three barrels. If there are two or four, it is not a Drilling. The gun was proofed in Suhl or Zella-Mehlis pre-1912 (the bore diameter is still given as the old gauge number), so it was made there for the trade. As usual with European guns, the name on the top rib in most cases is not the maker , but merely the retailer. As the only placename "Schattenburg" is in Austria, it was sold by an unknown country gunsmith/-dealer named Gralener there. The gauge number 62,78 indicates a bore diameter, not rifling or bullet diam., between 10.67 and 10.92 mm, .420" and .430", at the time of proof. The crown/U mark does not stand for smokeless/Nitro proof, but for Untersuchung = Inspected for defects after proof firing. Regarding the Damascus shot barrel and the .44 to .45" rifle caliber, it was certainly only proofed for black powder. So IMHO it was made between 1893, first use of the proof marks, and 1900. As there are also crown/R marks, indicating reproof after a major repair or rework, and the gauge number 118,35 for a 9.3mm barrel, the rifle barrel was sleeved or lined to either the 9.3x57R/.360 or the 9.3 x72R. The liner inserted into the bored out original rifle barrel is clearly visible in your photo #=57. At least, this alteration was done in Germany before 1912 too.

[Todd Kirkby]

Thanks Axel,
This is very good information. It adds to the whole mystery which will probably never be solved. Do you know what the rework or major repair was typically done in those days? Is this item worth less or more? Do you know approximately what it may be worth? The cartridges are stamped 9.3x72R and seem to fit perfectly. Todd

[Todd Kirkby]

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=282464475

Seems to have a lot of similarities

[Axel E]

Main repairs that required a reproof are rebarreling, reboring, rechambering. In your case it is the relining of the barrel from some old .44 - .45 cartridge to 9.3x72R.

[hendrik]

Hello;
I read on The barrels- "A.Griebner Aschaffenburg"
Aschaffenburg is a city in bavarian.

Please see ttp://www.aschaffenburg.de.

This cape gun is make and engraved in suhl .
A. Griebner was only the dealer.

Best regards
Hendrik

[Axel E]

Hendrik has better eyes than me! Albert Griebner in Aschaffenburg is mentioned in 1906, but certainly was active for a longer time.

[Todd Kirkby]

Excellent information. So I assume this is a rare gun which in itself may not be rare. I really enjoy the carving on this gun. Does anyone know who may be the engraver?