Laufstahl means fluid steel, not damascus. Krupp is the steel mill that made the steel in the barrels, but they did not make the gun. A lot of German guns are marked Krupp Laufstahl.

Geco was/is a sporting goods distributor. They put their name on guns made by a lot of different makers.

What you have is likely to turn out to be a "guild gun". The maker may never be known. Some guild guns are very good quality, but you have to judge each one on its own merits.

 

Here is a bit more:

GECO is an abreviation for Gustav Geschow a firearms and ammuntion supplier from 1887 until 1937 in Berlin,Germany. I believe that the company was taken over by the Nazis because the owners were Jewish.

 

I appreciate all of the information from both postings !! Is there anyway to figure out a ballpark figure of what this gun may be worth?? Are there other markings on the gun/stock that I should look for to help with identifying it further?? Also, I am not exactly sure what was meant by it being a guild gun, can someone explain further? Thanks so much for your time and information John

 

A guild is a union of gunmakers, whereas on may be a stocker, another an actioner, and yet , another, a barrel striker. Your gun, if it's totally unmarked as to maker, could have had as many as half a dozen workers take part in the building of it... Guild guns can be worth nywhere from $300 to $4000.. However with the Geco logo, i'm not sure it can be classified as a Guild gun, I believe, some with that name was built by J P Sauer..Bushrod

 

Would there be markings to indicate that it was manufactured by J P Sauer?? Does the serial number help with that or determining it date of manufacture? I really do appreciate all of the information that has been provided thus far.

John

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Because the serial number is so high, I would suspicion, that the maker did the numbering. Also, the proofing. It could very well be made by Sauer or one of the other big companies. I would question a retailer in the early part of the century selling anywhere near the amount of guns.

Depending on when it was made, there might just be a set of either 3 digit or 4 digit number that would signify the month and year of manufacture.

424 would be April, 1924. See if you can find marks like that on the barrel.

Fred

 

Fred,

The lastest information that I have received (good/bad) is that the proof marks identify it as being made after WWII and in the early 50's. My source states that this makes it worth less especially since it is not in great condition. I do have to say that this gun was exceptionally made, especially the extra tight action. Unfortunately I do not like the splinter style forend and will be getting rid of the gun. Thanks for your input. John

 

I would question if your source is accurate in his assumptions of a 1950 gun. I do not think Geco was still in business after WWII. Look for the dating on the barrels/action. You will need to take the barrels and forend off as those marks should be underneath the barrels or on the action flats.

Fred

 

I do not think Geco was still in business after WWII.

Actually, Geco is still in business today, as a subsidiary of Dynamit Nobel. http://www.dnrws.com/products.html

However, it my well be that Geco did not make or distribute shotguns after WW2. The company is best known as a manufacturer of ammunition, and that is what the brand name is used for today.

 

Could the so called serial number mean May 19, 1934?? (#290534) Any ideas/input for this hypothesis?? Thanks for everyone's helpful input. The person that identified it said it would be worth $400-$550. Not sure if that is even close.

John

 

I meant May 29, 1934. John

 

No, that is the serial number. As required by German law, after the early 20's, they used a 3 or 4 digit number to tell the month and year. I have a guild gun that was made in 1924 and so marked.

Condition is everything and if yours is in fair condition, then the price quoted is probably close.

 

Hi there.This theme is a little old now,but I had a similar gun,marked Geco with Krupp Laufstahl on the barrel;serial number #329745,which was stolen from me.I desperately want to find a similar or the same model,because I was very satisfied with it.Does someone have any information on how to find such a shotgun?

 

There are usually a few on gunbroker.com or auctionarms.com. also watch guns international.. they're not scarce.. Bushrod

 

Thank you for your reply,but so far I haven't had any luck finding such a shotgun on the Internet.prkranger69
if you could tell me what you have found out about the shotgun and the maker and any relevant info that might help find one?

 

GECO was still in business after WW II as evidenced by the S&W "Victory" pistol in my possesion. Evidentially The US forces ordered the German Police to turn in all Lugers,P38s etc. and they were issued S&W Model 10s(Victory) instead. I have been told this was done for control purposes. My Victory pistol is stamped GECO and I have been told the the US Forces used this firm to distribute these to the various police departments. I'd post pictures but that's difficult to do here.
Jim

 

This is really late based on earlier posts but just came across the 16 ga that I hunted with back in the1950's
It matches all the markings discussed and I wondered if anyone had come up with any additional info.
The serial number found on the bottom of the barrel and on the action flat is 323892. Also, the number stamped on the forend is 3892.
The gun was brougt back after the war by a neighbor who was in the Air Force and was purchased for me to hunt with. The stock and barrel has been drilled for a sling and the trigger guard was a hard plastic. I say was because it was broken in a fall and replaced with a piece if flat steel.
Would appreciate any additional info if any.

 

If your gun, #290534, was made and serial numbered by JP Sauer as suggested, it would have probably been made in 1928 or 29. Remove the barrels from the action and look on the barrel flats for that 3 or 4 digit number ending in 28 or 29. Photos would certainly help to identify/evaluate it.

Bob

 

I have one. It's a 16 ga. with a cheek piece. Hammer gun. Nicely made gun with Krupp barrels.

 

I have a 20 gauge double barrel with serial number 309971 made by Geco with Krupp Laufstall on the barrel. Approximate age and value?

 

B HOOV,

I suspect that the broken trigger guard on your SxS was buffalo horn which was commonly used, not plastic. I've never seen a pre-war German SxS with a plastic trigger guard.

DF

Montani Semper Liberi

 

I also have a Krupp Laufstahl, it's a 16 .ga double barrel with a 7mm rifle barrel underneath. It is extensively engraved, with hunting scenes on both sides of the reciever. The barrels are only lightly enngraved around the chanber ends. It's in remarkably good condition, no rust. Heavy checkered stock and bone caps on butt and pistol stock. Has an engraved 4 cartridge capacity holder for the rifle underneath the stock. I have posted 4 photos on my website, please feel free to look at them http://community.webshots.com/album/581835585MHrshg - It has a serial number of 1128, which I assume means it was built in Nov 1928. It has a whole bunch of marks on the bottom of the barrels, which I assume are markers from various people who created the gun.

I need values so I can properly insure this fine shotgun, as well as any additional info about the gun. The lower barrel is a 7mm single shot. Everthing is controlled by the switch that pops up the sight for the rifle (the sight has to be up to break open the action, and if the sight is up, the forward trigger will fire the rifle, but the sight must be down before the dual triggers will fire the 16 ga barrells). It is a very neat weapon. My uncle brought it back after WWII as a trophy.

 

Once again: There is NO such gun named "Krupp Laufstahl" !

Krupp = a German steel mill
stahl = German for "steel"
lauf = German for "barrel"

Krupp Laufstahl = a feature, Krupp steel barrels.

FWIW, a SxS shotgun with a rifled bbl underneath is not a shotgun - it is a Combination gun, referred to as a Drilling.

(There are several different combination gun configs)

.

 

I'm sorry. I understood that the name of the maker was not Krupp Laufstahl, but since there is no one gunmaker, that is as close as any to narrow it down. I believe that it was a Guild gun, as there are several makers marks under the forearm.

I'm just trying to get an esitmate of the value based upon it's uniqueness, as well as the extensive engraving and great condition of this old piece.

 

Remove the forearm and separate the barrels from the frame, then take and post some clear, close-up photos of all proof marks, date codes and (hopefully) maker's marks which appear on the barrel flats and watertable of the frame. You may also wish to post this on the SGW German Gun forum. There are a number of folks on that forum who are very knowledgeable about German guns and may be able to help you I.D. the maker.

DF

Montani Semper Liberi