Anyone ever seen a Nazi shotgun like this??

[Rampager]

I was surfing GB and came across this :
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=67212630

Anyhow, I thought it was pretty cool to look at as I'd never seen anything like it. Am I correct in thinking this has 3 barrels (rifle and double barrel SG)? I wonder why the Luftwaffe would issue such a gun (shotgun) to Afrika Korps aircrews instead of something like a MP40?

Not my auction (I wish) and I know nothing about it....just thought it was super cool. Hefty price for sure!

[Rampager]

After I thought about it, I guess it made sence to issue these in that region. I'm thinking it's more of a "survival" gun then anything. Something to hunt game, birds, rabbits, etc. in case you're are stranded in the desert maybe rather than a fighting weapon.

[Player]

that's one of the coolest things i've seen all day!!!!

[hunter_la5]

my friend's grandfather owned a few shotguns that were like that, 2x 12 gauge barrels and a single rifle barrel. I wonder if it was the same type? I had no idea these types of guns were issued to the military

[k98k792]

Drillings were always pretty popular in Europe.Alot of them were brought back as souvenirs by returning WW2 vets. I never knew that they were issued as survival weapon. Pretty dang neat.

[wonderwolf]

sure beats our M6 and A7 in surviving with class

[Norton]

I saw one in a book about JU 87 crews at least some of them got them in Africa. Those were in 9.3x7 which was a popular European hunting round.
The Army Air Corps gave some of its pilots in the Pacific a Savage over and under 22./ 4.10. Believe it or not they thought long and hard about what ammo to use as the Japs might shoot you on the spot for having 22. hollow points or any sort of shotgun. In the end the sent 22.FMJ and 7 1/2 birdshot and the geneva convention (which Japan did not sign, but sometimes abided) said it was ok. The combo broke down into a leather sheath. We were not as cool as the Germans when it came to boxing up weapons. Maybe we got the idea for a cool survival weapon from the Luftwaffe.

[cimmaronkid]

+1 for Norton. Drillings were a common form of sporting gun in Germany as they hunted a lot by driven shoots where the "guns" were stationed along a line and "beaters" went through the forest and drove the game past the "guns" and then they would move and have a lunch in the field (massive lunch with waiters, crystal, china, etc) and then move to another location for an afternoon "drive". Any game animal was fair game and that is why the three barrels so you could select shotgun or rifle. Drillings came in various barrel styles and each style had a specific name. The gun pictured was the most common type of drilling. A couple of things jump out at you when you look at the picture. First, since it is a military gun, is a lack of high grade wood. Secondly, the factory just couldn't bring itself to doing a sub par finish and the cyanide, bone and charcoal case colors and the hand done "Prussian" (rust) blue show their pride in workmanship. Each of these were hand built and hand asembled by a little old gun maker in the Black Forest region of Germany and close like a bank vault. Very few of these "survival" guns ever surface, let alone one that is complete in the case.

[drhall762]

As with most German Drillings of the period, beautiful. With a start bid of $10K and reserve not met, I wonder what price he had in mind?

Dave :sniper:

[Rampager]

I think what amazes me the most out of seeing this is the amount of beauty and craftsmanship that when into a gun that was of military contract. The metalwork is that of a true craftsman...the amount of detail looks like something meant for an aristocrat hunter rather than military survival gun.

[cimmaronkid]

Most of the drilings and the German guns built before things were going bad for the "Hitler gang" were like this. The gunmaking system of Germany at this time was a guild system where you would start sweeping floors and work your way up. As you progressed, you would specalize either as a stock maker or metal smith. Probably no more than 4 men built that gun and most likely it was 3. The stockmaker, the metalsmith that hand chisled and filed the action and made and soldered the barrels and the finisher that was a master of doing case colors and the Prussian (rust) blue that probably took a week to get that kind of color on the gun. At some point it went to an engraver to have what you see on the gun hand chisled into the steel. Guild members were required to show proof every so often that they could still do their job. That is why you will see various sxs shotguns with no makers mark and only proof marks on the barrels as these were built by apprentices in the trade.

Dave, I bet he is trying to get somewhere around $12-$15K for this gun and this is only my guess based on auction results from the last two years. I would also bet that the shotgun barrels are adjusted to the point of impact at about 35 yds and will center both patterns there unlike what we shoot today.

[CrossFire]

I've seen several drillings and all were expensive. A relative has one his Dad brought home after WWII and a local shop, owned by a older German immigrant, has several on display. I've never seen one with NAZI markings and I'd have to wonder if it was some type of presentation gun. The $10K bid does not surprise me. Kittery Trading Post upin Maine had a drilling set a few yesra back that was a cased set with 12 ga over large bore rifle and 20 ga over a small bore. The set sold for well over $30K and was not in as nice of condition as the one you pictured.

[Longhorn789]

WOW....ten smackers for that shotgun....

Too rich for my blood...

Very cool however!!

[SteelCore]

I've never heard of these...mighty spiffy Sauer& Sohn build!

[okie shooter]

I dont understand why, but there were two, three and four barrel verisions with many different configurations of the barrels too. Interesting how the germans looked at their sport/hunting compared to the US where we devloped our weapons from hunting to eat, they seem to have devloped the hunting as sport.

[Perro]

that is a very very nice piece. Ive heard of them, but never really looked until just now. What craftsmanship.

If you look at a mg34 - i mean REALLY study the thing, you will also be amazed at the quality and craftsmanship. At the time, the germans were keen on showing off there ability to machine stuff. The 34 is so complicated its ART. The mg42 is also complicated, but MUCH less so than the 34.

if you ever get a chance to go to a museum that has a mg34, spend a long time on the 34 and look at it, and the quality, detail, and what had to be done to make it. While not in the same league as that hand built shotgun, it is amazing in its own right.

I once had a 69 mercedes benz - it too was overengineered compared to any american car.

The Germans are known for there firearms quality, and that shotgun does not suprise me, although it is shockingly beautiful. One thing about the markings though - just cause it has waffenamts on it, doesnt mean it was issued to soldiers. The symbols are symbols of a political party affiliation really. the gun may have been presented to a politician and not a soldier?

[M1 Tanker]

I'll bet this was a custom drilling for a Luftwaffe officer or was a presentation gun....definately nothing issued.

If ya'll didn't know what a drilling was, back to firearms 101 for you :) The europeans make some very high quality custom fitted drillings if ya got the duckies to throw down on one. They usually come with multiple barrel sets also....12 gauge down to 28 gauge.

[Seattlefungus]

The German and Austrian master gunsmiths still make drillings. 10K to 20K, Gold inlay, Hunting scenes hand engraved. Works of art. I'll tell you one thing about a German who buys a Drilling like that... He hunts with it, It's not a wall hanger...

[cimmaronkid]

Could be a gun for an officer but definately not one that was a presentation gun. Wood is not up to the presentation standard and the checkering contains some flat and uneven diamonds, definately not presentation grade checkering and the pattern is too simple. I even think that this gun has had the wood refinished as there are spots that show open pores in the grain and on the forearm next to the barrels. Still a beautiful gun and probably worth the money with the right docs.

[CrossFire]

Sauer & Company made some of the finest drillings and Eurpean double rifles. Browse thru a copy of the Double Gun Journal and you may need your heart pills ready when you read the price tag on those 3 & 4 barrel cased sets. I've seen them well into the six figure range.
We have to remember, the Europeans did not hunt like we did. Game was the property of the Royalty and poaching was a capitol offense. Guns were the provance of the Nobles and were works of art as where the early Americans viewed them as tools.
I'm content with my A.H.Fox and Parker, I should have bought more when I had the opportunities.

[Norton]

Crossfire
can you post a picture of your Trench gun? I have thought that one of the best pumps ever made and long been a favorite of mine. My mother had a Model 97 duck gun and her friend blew a bunch of holes thru her closet messing with it.

[Fido Dog]

I'll bet this was a custom drilling for a Luftwaffe officer or was a presentation gun....definately nothing issued.

If ya'll didn't know what a drilling was, back to firearms 101 for you :) The europeans make some very high quality custom fitted drillings if ya got the duckies to throw down on one. They usually come with multiple barrel sets also....12 gauge down to 28 gauge.

That's what I was thinking. It's too pretty for issue.

That's one of the most BEAUTIFUL twice pipes I've seen.