Description
Item Description
Click here to view our other Live Auctions!
If you have missed out on this auction or are looking for a particular firearm, contact us. We have 100s of Collector Grade firearms (not on auction) in our inventory and available for immediate purchase.
Click here to let us know what firearms you are searching for!
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.
Model: German Drilling
Serial: 60304
Caliber: Left Barrel 16 Gauge / 7x57R Bottom Barrel / Right Barrel 16 Gauge w/ .22 Hornet Barrel Insert
Finish: Blue
Barrel Length: 23 1/2"
Optics/Sights: White Dot Blade Front / Folding Rear / Swarovski-Optik 2.2-9x42 Scope
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 and game scene engravings on both sides
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
Drilling is the German word triplet. The development of breech-loading centerfire guns made it possible and practical to make guns with three barrels. Although Drillings were made in several 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 in 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.
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 to know 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 gauge 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 $70.00
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
Our #1 priority is customer satisfaction. We want to build a lasting trust in the relationship with our customers, so that you will always look to us for all your firearms needs. If you have any issues with your transactions please contact us, and we will work with you to resolve any issues you may have. We greatly appreciate your trust in us and we look forward to fulfilling all your future firearm needs.
Bryant Ridge also reserves the right to cancel any sales that may occur while gunbroker.com is experiencing technical issues that affects the entire site or a complete site outage, within an hour of the auction ending.
We have an amazing inventory of classic and collector firearms that we are adding to Gunbroker daily. Stay up to date on all of our latest auction by adding us to your favorite sellers list.
About Us