Hamm Carl Eisleben rifle with unusual action

[PatBig]

receiver triggers.JPGstock right.JPGbarrel right.JPG
I have little more details, this gun is for sale on a French auction site for about $600. One trigger is broken, dioptre is missing. Barrel is supposed to be clean. The markings are on the barrel. The seller professes to have inherited it and says he knows nothing about guns. It could be a good project, but I'd have to buy without actually seing it. Any comment or information about the rifle and its maker/reseller?
Thanks, and a happy new year to all,
Patrick

[mike ford]

You will have to decide whether to buy it or not, yourself. The action is not really "unusual", it is an Aydt, which is more or less the "Classic" action for this type rifle. A "clean" barrel is a good sign, a broken trigger can be replaced. Missing sights(dioptre) are very common, since they were usually stored separately and not "turned in"with the rifle.If you can post photos of the markings( including those under the forearm)some of us can offer additional information.
Mike

[PatBig]

Thanks, I was not actually asking whether to buy it or not, obviously it's my call, but rather looking for infos to help me with the decision. I am not an expert by far, just have one Gebert I bought by chance, and I love shooting it. Is there any place where I could find a replacement dioptre, either directly compatible, or modifiable to fit?
Patrick

[mike ford]

Pat,
In the US, there is Dixie Gun Works, that has or at least had had some that one of my friends modified to fit his rifles. I would guess that there would be some German or Swiss firm that would be easy for you to deal with, rather than Dixie.They may be more precise as well.Maybe Axel or someone else has a suggestion for a source. With good photos, we should be able to provide additional information.
Mike

[PatBig]

Thanks Mike, the seller is not very cooperative so I am afraid better photos would have to wait until I buy the rifle. I have a second one in my sights, I expect to buy either one in the next couple of weeks. The other one is the Imman Meffert I mentioned before, it is in a much better shape but more expensive. The problem I have dealing with German firms is my total lack of German, just locating them is tough if they don't have a web site in English.

[ellenbr]

I believe you have this cat's name & place mixed. The firearms merchant is Carl Eisleben of Ritterstrasse 28, Hamm/Westfalen. I"m sure he was active by the mid 1880s. He had a son by the name of Carl Junior who was also a a Büchsenmacher/firearms merchant at Brüderstrasse 56. Then he may have had a son named Heinrich Eisleben who was at the helm at the same address.


Cheers,

Raimey
rse

[mike ford]

Pat,
Often, even if they have a web site in English, it's not much help. The sites that have an automatic "machine" transtation wind up with one that isn't understandable. On the other hand, if it is actually written in English, it is usually ok.
Mike

[PatBig]

Many thanks, you're absolutely right. Hamm appears to be engraved on one side of the barrel, the rest on the other, based on the rather poor pictures I got from the seller. Was he just a merchant or also a gunmaker? I am contemplating a purchase more seriously now as a project, since there's work to do, and I enjoy doing it. The action isn't working, one trigger is broken, the diopter is missing, though thanks to Mike I can find a workable solution. On the other hand there does not seem to be much rust, if any at all, the stock is pretty good and I like the shape, with a thumb rest on the right. Though I am no expert the rifle looks rather ancient, as you confirm, so more likely 9.5X47R than 8.15X46 which suits me better since I am reasonably familiar with the caliber.

[PatBig]

Hi, I followed Mike's suggestion and I found a German site starting from a thread in the ASSRA forum, though they did not have diopters for sale it gave me the German words for what I was looking for. I googled and I did find a couple of sites in Germany selling original diopters. Price is steep, around €200 to €250 but they are the real thing. Here is one if it can help somebody.
http://www.gebu-waffen.de/ger/produk...5&p=73&n=0&l=1

[PatBig]

I just bought the rifle, I should receive it within a week. I'll post more pics once I receive it.

[Axel E]

Hi, I followed Mike's suggestion and I found a German site starting from a thread in the ASSRA forum, though they did not have diopters for sale it gave me the German words for what I was looking for. I googled and I did find a couple of sites in Germany selling original diopters. Price is steep, around €200 to €250 but they are the real thing. Here is one if it can help somebody.
http://www.gebu-waffen.de/ger/produk...5&p=73&n=0&l=1

That is the price for a new-made, still in the white Diopter. As you live in the EU, IMHO you should watch EGUN Internet auctions for an original like this one: http://www.egun.de/market/item.php?id=5262583
Go to www.egun.de and type diopter into the search box on top left of Startseite = starting page.

[mike ford]

Pat,
I quess when you recieve it, you will know,but I really don't think it is 9.5x47R. Most of the 9.5s I have seen were different type actions, and except for a relined 22LR,the Aydts I have seen have been 8.15. I don't own an Aydt to measure, so I don't
know if the barrel tenon is large enough for the 9.5x47R.
Mike

[PatBig]

That is the price for a new-made, still in the white Diopter. As you live in the EU, IMHO you should watch EGUN Internet auctions for an original like this one: http://www.egun.de/market/item.php?id=5262583
Go to www.egun.de and type diopter into the search box on top left of Startseite = starting page.

Many thanks, I went to Eguns but did not spot this one, probably not using the right keywords. It's the real thing! I have an account with Eguns, I'll put in a bid.