Description
Item Description
Bryant Ridge Auction Company is pleased to present this eccentric three barrel combination gun today for a penny start auction, this is the German Drilling!
A Drilling, which is German for triplet, normally consists of two matching smoothbore barrels and a rifled barrel but may possibly cover a much broader range of shapes and configurations, such as two rifled barrels and one smoothbore, three smoothbores, or three rifled barrels.
Though this gun is unmarked, there are several strong possibilities on who the manufacturer was, including Sauer & Sohn, Merkel, Simson & Company, and several others. Since many drillings were made by small manufacturers, each maker would pick whichever layout they preferred, or whatever layout the customer ordered. The most common layout was like this one, a side-by-side shotgun with a centerfire rifled barrel centered on the bottom.
A Drilling, which is German for triplet, normally consists of two matching smoothbore barrels and a rifled barrel but may possibly cover a much broader range of shapes and configurations, such as two rifled barrels and one smoothbore, three smoothbores, or three rifled barrels.
Though this gun is unmarked, there are several strong possibilities on who the manufacturer was, including Sauer & Sohn, Merkel, Simson & Company, and several others. Since many drillings were made by small manufacturers, each maker would pick whichever layout they preferred, or whatever layout the customer ordered. The most common layout was like this one, a side-by-side shotgun with a centerfire rifled barrel centered on the bottom.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Manufacturer: German
Model: Drilling
Caliber: 16 Gauge (Left & Right Barrels) with either 9.3x72R or 8x57JR (Bottom Barrel)
Finish: Blue
Barrel Length: 25 1/2"
Optics/Sights: Dovetail Blade Front with Folding V Notch Rear
Stock/Grips: Checkered Walnut Round Knob Stock with Cheekpiece and Forearm
Action: Break
Markings: Features German Proof markings on the bottom of all three barrels. The receiver is engraved with floral scroll engravings on both sides with a hog mid run on the right and deer mid run on the left.
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Model: Drilling
Caliber: 16 Gauge (Left & Right Barrels) with either 9.3x72R or 8x57JR (Bottom Barrel)
Finish: Blue
Barrel Length: 25 1/2"
Optics/Sights: Dovetail Blade Front with Folding V Notch Rear
Stock/Grips: Checkered Walnut Round Knob Stock with Cheekpiece and Forearm
Action: Break
Markings: Features German Proof markings on the bottom of all three barrels. The receiver is engraved with floral scroll engravings on both sides with a hog mid run on the right and deer mid run on the left.
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
Drilling is the German word triplet. The development of breech loading center fire guns made it possible and practical to make guns with three barrels.
Although Drillings were made in quite a few countries, they were and are still most popular in Germany and Austria. Overlapping hunting seasons give the hunters and foresters a versatile gun for hunting a great variety of game animals with one gun.
The first really practical Drillings came on the market in the second half of the 19th Century and were breech loading hammer guns. They were made in gun making centers like Suhl and Zella-Mehlis in Germany, Liege in Belgium and Ferlach in Austria. But they were also made by many small gun makers all over Europe. Their quality and their prices varied greatly, and many times the actual maker can’t be identified because many guns are marked with the dealer’s name or not at all. Hammer Drillings were popular well into the 1930s and are still made on special order.
Most of these guns had two 16 Ga. shotgun barrels with 2 9/16” long chambers and the 9.3x72R or 8x57JR rifle caliber. Factory ammunition is still available.
They usually have a built in set-trigger for the rifle barrel. A small adjustment screw protrudes from the front trigger and the trigger can be set as a hair trigger by pushing it forward.
Early guns have a locking lever under the trigger guard, later models a top lever. Very early guns have the locking lever under the forend (Lefaucheux action). The front trigger fires the right shotgun barrel or, when selected, the rifle barrel. The selector is operated by a small lever on the top tang or a slide button on the top tang that looks like a safety. On better guns the rear sight is automatically elevated when the rifle barrel is selected.
Early guns have a locking lever under the trigger guard, later models a top lever. Very early guns have the locking lever under the forend (Lefaucheux action). The front trigger fires the right shotgun barrel or, when selected, the rifle barrel. The selector is operated by a small lever on the top tang or a slide button on the top tang that looks like a safety. On better guns the rear sight is automatically elevated when the rifle barrel is selected.
Since these guns date back to a time when cartridges had much lower pressures than modern ones and proof laws did not yet exist, great care must be taken in determining whether a gun is safe to shoot and what ammunition is suitable for it. Unless you feel qualified, inspection by a good gunsmith is advisable. The steel used for the barrels on early guns or very inexpensive guns did not have the strength of the barrel steel used today. Damascus steel barrels demand extra caution. Although good Damascus steel can be as strong as fluid steel, there is no test other than proof testing for knowing the difference.
The shotgun chamber length must be measured and light load 2 ½” shells may have to be used. If the rifle caliber is not obvious, a chamber cast should be made and measured in order to determine the caliber accurately. Chamber inserts for the use of smaller gage shells and re-manufactured rifle ammunition can make it possible to shoot and enjoy the use of these old guns, but in some cases it is too risky.
In Europe a gun like this would have to go back to a proof house but, since we don’t have proof houses in this country, the liability is yours. Play it safe! A hammer gun is not necessarily safer to carry than a hammerless gun, especially when the back action locks do not have rebounding hammers with half cock or safety notches.
The shotgun chamber length must be measured and light load 2 ½” shells may have to be used. If the rifle caliber is not obvious, a chamber cast should be made and measured in order to determine the caliber accurately. Chamber inserts for the use of smaller gage shells and re-manufactured rifle ammunition can make it possible to shoot and enjoy the use of these old guns, but in some cases it is too risky.
In Europe a gun like this would have to go back to a proof house but, since we don’t have proof houses in this country, the liability is yours. Play it safe! A hammer gun is not necessarily safer to carry than a hammerless gun, especially when the back action locks do not have rebounding hammers with half cock or safety notches.
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Shipping Details
Handgun Standard Shipping $50.00
Long Gun Standard Shipping $65.00
We strive to ship orders within the close of the following business day after payment and documentation is received.
Payment Details
We accept all forms of Payment including Personal Check, Business Check, PO Money Orders, Certified Check, Etc.
Please note we place a 7 business day hold on shipment, for all non-certified payments.
Return Policy
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Additional Details
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