Good day all. I’m having a heck of a time ID’ing this shotgun and was hoping to get some help. I’ve brought it to my local antique firearms dealer and he seemed to think it was German based off the proof mark but couldn’t tell me much more than that.

It’s unique for sure with the offset stock and the combination barrel but I’d really love to find some history on it.

Hello

There are more markings on the barrel set. Post images of them.

The Drilling was Nitro-proofed in Zella St Blasii/Mehlis post circa 1911, after WW1 Zella St Blasii and Mehlis became Zella-Mehlis.

Kind regards
Peter

More markings. Apologies for not posting them the first time around. Appreciate any help anyone can give. There is no mfg. name on it anywhere I can find.

...and the last two.

Hello

I read 4.18, if so, passed proof in April 1918. 325, if so, a ledger number which tells that the Drilling was gun number 325 to pass proof for the month of April, 1918, at the facility in Zella St Blasii/Mehlis. 8,8 m/m, if so, bore diameter is 8,8 mm which points to some nominal 9,3 cartridge. Shotgun tubes are 16 gauge and chambers of these are not shorter than 65 mm and likely not longer than 65 mm.

Kind regards
Peter

Great info Peter & yes a Z-M tradegun that is probably chambered in 9,3X72R?

The offset stock you note is probably for a hunter that lost an eye in a War and that is reason for the odd Bavarian cheekpiece style stock. Could you pleasure us more w/ a better image of the stock?

Any marks on the standing breech or on the buttplate?


Serbus,

Raimey
rse

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Welcome to SGW. Jeff ! !

Although the others here seem to have better vision than do, IMO your camera flash seems to be washing out some of the marking details, so I would respectfully suggest rubbing some white chalk into the marks prior to taking pics to make them more visible.

As suggested above it looks like a "trade gun", which can be found w/o a maker's mark - a mystery within an enigma.....

Due to the special stock, it may very well have been made to order for one specific individual by one of the hundreds of small gunmakers that abounded there, at the time it was made.

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