Stahl 3 barrel shotgun / rifle - any info ?

jeanders

Looking for any information and value on aStahl 3 barrel shotgun (28 gauge) with a 30cal (est) rifle under the S x S shotgun.The receiver is ingraved and looks like silver, a lever on the stock pop up a rearrifle sight. This is a hammer gun.

Herschel

The gun you have is commonly called a Drilling. The word Stahl stands for steel in German and is most likely not the maker's name. Many German guns will have Lauf Stahl stamped on the barrels. The value of the gun will depend on the condition, cartridges it shoots, and the quality of the gun. I have owned several drillings. Probably 90% of them have 16 ga shotgun barrels. A 28 gauge would be very rare. One caution, it is probably an old gun and will likely be chambered for shorter shells than are common today. Have it checked by a gunsmith before shooting. The rifle barrel is most likely not a .30 bore. It is very likely chambered for a rimmed cartridge and could possible be chambered for a .30-30 Winchester, but not likely. Sometimes the caliber can be determined by stampings on the receiver. If not identifiable that way, a chamber cast would be necessary. Things that enhance the value are, amount and quality of engraving, special features such as cartridge traps in the stock, chambering for a rifle cartridge that is available at reasonable cost, an action with lever on the top for opening it, and horn trigger guard.Things that detract, reblued gun, shortened barrels, replaced wood, pitted bores, chambering for rare cartridge and underlever release for opening the action. I suspect that it is a very light gun if chambered for a 28 ga. The lever that raises the rifle sight probably switches one of the triggers to make it fire the rifle barrel. Most will have a set trigger for the rifle barrel. It is not uncommon to find a drilling with no makers name as many gunsmiths made them. Value could be as little as $500 and as much as $4,000 if it is in excellent original condition and of top quality. Hope this has helped. It would be very difficult to give a valid appraisal without seeing the gun.

jeanders

Thank You...it is good people like you thatmake this a great site. Again, thank you Herschel.

Guns & Glass

By German law all guages(bore), guage length, proofmarks,and calibers must be stamped underside the barrel/barrel lump.There is no guesswork in their system.If there is not a maker's name, you have what is commonly called a "cottage gun".In Europe, especially the Germanic area, families did specific jobs, ie., one would do woodwork, another engraving, metal work, and so on.A four barrel'er is called a "vierling". Usually considered scarce if four or more barrels. A maker would buy actions, lumps, barrels etc. from a companies like FN, Mauser, Merkelfarm the components/work out, then do final assembly, sell retail, or to a wholesaler-exporter.Overall quality was often equal, sometimes better than name brands, but at a considerably lower cost. A "no namer".You might have to do a major breakdown to find a name or insigna mark. If it's there.

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Happy Bullet Holes![This message has been edited by Guns & Glass (edited 11-04-2001).]