Another 16ga in need of identification.

[Tim W]

I looked around the net and saw one old serial number chart that ended in 1924 and my serial number falls in range just after that so I assume a 1925 mfg date but cannot be sure. There is no date stamp on the flats or the water table. It does say NITRO in block letters across the ends (no picture of that though) of the barrel flats.

This is my first J.P. Sauer and I no virtually nothing about them. What I am trying to conclude it the date it was likely made and what model It is. After describing it over the phone to a friend who collects these, he seems to think it is probably a model 8. On the underside rib it is stamped that is was Imported by Thad Scott and then something after that maybe a city state? it is pretty smeared and hard to read for this newbie. More pics to follow.

[Tim W]

5 more

Here are 5 more

[Tim W]

Last ones

The last of the batch.

[mike ford]

Tim,
Our member Jim Cate is the acknowledged Sauer expert, maybe he will chime in soon.
Mike

[Tim W]

I don't know what the sides are supposed to look like but if there was any engraving or name, the gunsmith I got it from must have stoned it off. There is some light engraving here and there and that may be all it ever had. That's part of what I'm trying to find out. I bought it with the intention of hand engraving this in a traditional black leaf scroll design of my own making. There is a little English scroll and outside work on the trigger bow but it would all look much better if it were a Belgian or German Black leaf style. Haven't decided about game scenes yet...

[John]

The receiver looks like it was buffed/polished, hence removing most of the engraving. But if you want to engrave it anyway, then that's not a big deal.

[mike ford]

In my opinion, it had border (randstich?)engraving, most of which was buffed off(not stoned)when it was refinished.
Mike

[Tim W]

The fellow I got it from said he's Dad was a custom gunsmith who used to "buy projects, fix em' up and flip em". He was working on this one when he died. I think he had it with him hunting pheasant when he had a heart attack retrieving the bird. If I had a choice I'd like to go like that… Anyway, the son didn't know if he got it that way or if he had sanded the frame and it has screw in chokes.

I took one look thinking it was a perfect foundation for an engraving canvas and traded an M4 carbine for it. Mike, what is randstich? Do you mean that zig zag (properly called Wriggle cut) border pattern like on a VH grade Parker?

[Tim W]

The fellow I got it from said he's Dad was a custom gunsmith who used to "buy projects, fix em' up and flip em". He was working on this one when he died. I think he had it with him hunting pheasant when he had a heart attack retrieving the bird. If I had a choice I'd like to go like that… Anyway, the son didn't know if he got it that way or if he had sanded the frame and it has screw in chokes.

I took one look thinking it was a perfect foundation for an engraving canvas and traded an M4 carbine for it. Mike, what is randstich? Do you mean that zig zag (properly called Wriggle cut) border pattern like on a VH grade Parker?

It looks in the hand like it was sanded all over practically but done properly as there are no rounded sharp edges or wallowed out screw holes like a buffer in the wrong hands will produce.

[mike ford]

Tim, that is just the term for modest engraving around the borders, it could be most anything; but would not have any hunting scenes, complicated scroll or oak leaf patterns. It would likely have plenty of straight lines and "wiggle cut" borders, as you surmised.
Mike

[Axel E]

According to Jim Cate's book "J.P. Sauer & Sohn" your model 8 was made in 1924, just before proof dates were marked. S&S numbers 223812 and 223821 are the first 1924 dated ones listed by Jim.

[Jim Cate]

Tim, I feel certain your Sauer was made in 1924. It is a Model 8, European/German designation, having upper sears. I now have in my database serial number 223437 that is Proof-house dated 4/24.That is close to the serial number of your gun. It may well be that dating actually started between 2232292a nd 223437. If that is the case, and I believe it was, then the barrel dating procedure started in March or April which has been suggested in past correspondence with other Sauer collectors. Hope this helps! Best regards, Jim