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Drillings Expert Needed

MFIMFI Member Posts: 7,899 ✭✭✭
edited June 2002 in Ask the Experts
We have a Drilling here in the shop ,two shotgun barrels on top and rifle underneath. Gun has H. Westphal. Peine inscribed on several places on the gun. It has a under lever on the forend that opens and closes the action. The barrels slide forward to insert shells. The number 780 is on the buttplate and it has a trapdoor for holding 4 rifle cartridges. There is engraving on the breech and other places. The safety has the letter B on the top and F on the bottom. The letters D.R.G.M. #119** are on the bottom underneath the safety and only visible when you slide it upwards. We have no idea as of yet of the calibers. Guessing .16ga / 8mm.
If anyone can help us with any information on this one we would appreciate it.

"I saw that at Walmart for $5.00 less"
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Comments

  • AntiqueDrAntiqueDr Member Posts: 691 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Westphal is the gunmaker, Peine is the region of Germany (near Hannover). The DRGM number is the German patent number.

    Value on these drillings are gauged by the reputation of the maker, ornamentation, usability, and uniqueness. Westphal is certainly not in the same league as Sauer or Kreighoff, but I'm believing this gun is fairly early 20th or late 19th century. You dont mention anything about hammers or hammerless. Is there a rifle sight that pops up when you select the rifle barrel?

    The sliding action you describe is intrigueing. Of course, sliding action shotguns are more closely associated with Darne, a French gunmaker that first patented his action in the 1890's. The forend underlever is not quite as desireably as the top lever or the Jones style underlever, but that can be overcome by the overall uniqueness of the action.

    Considering that the quality of the wood, the checkering, materials used (horn buttplate or grip cap?), case-color or not, quality of engraving, overall condition and actual gauge/caliber make a HUGE difference in money and saleability on these guns, you should really get a hands-on appraisal by someone versed in this style of firearm. If you are anywhere in SE Texas, I'd be happy to help.

    Also, you might write the German Gun Collectors Association:

    German Gun Collectors Association
    P.O.Box 385
    Meriden, NH 03770

    Good luck!



    We buy, sell and trade quality guns and scopes!Master Dealer for Kimber, Wilson Combat and Dan Wesson.Visit our website at www.ApaxEnterprises.com

    Edited by - antiquedr on 06/08/2002 12:41:30
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  • MFIMFI Member Posts: 7,899 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Antique Doc thank you so much for your timely answer. The gun is hammerless. A customer brought it in because he had been given this gun and had no clue what he had. I thank you for your help. We are in Upstate NY so unfortunately I cant bring it to you.

    "I saw that at Walmart for $5.00 less"
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  • Guns & GlassGuns & Glass Member Posts: 864 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Calibre, guage, length, and steel orgin can be determined by the proof marks under each barrel at the lump.
    Slide actions are more complicated to make, not as easy to load, and never really caught on. But have nice style lines.


    Happy Bullet Holes!
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