Gebrüder Merkel Luftwaffe Double Barrel Shotgun

[flynaked]

I’m sure you already know Ryan but the M30’s have it as well.

Really interesting that the work cards are missing in that timeframe, although it would be hard to imagine they only made 100. The m30’s were certainly made in many batches that are dispersed all throughout serial production. The cards are very interesting, here’s an example of one in this thread.

https://www.k98kforum.com/threads/early-xmas-gift-merkel.44427/

 

[Mikegermany]

Be kind with me- but what means "BAL"? I have never heard this term in germany.

 

[Mikegermany]

Really interesting that the work cards are missing in that timeframe

They are missing for 100 rifles, thats not much in the Merkel production in 1939 and 1940.

 

[Mikegermany]

although it would be hard to imagine they only made 100.

With three manufacturing companies it is very simply calculated 300 pieces, quite sufficient for training purposes.
But these are assumptions, nobody knows whether the non-existent Merkel work cards belong to this type of shotgun!

 

[RyanE]

I’m sure you already know Ryan but the M30’s have it as well.

I suspected as much, but if the Sturgess gun is considered "out of sequence", I was just curious if was also marked. No BAL acceptance would be suspicious if it were also externally Luftwaffe marked.

Be kind with me- but what means "BAL"? I have never heard this term in germany.

Bauaufsichten des RLM. The Luftwaffe equivalent of the Waffenamt.

 

[Mikegermany]

I just had an closer look at the Sturgess Merkel, which is linked in the first posting in this thread.

Two interesting points on it:
Proof date November 1940- later than the ones i know, include the one shown in this thread.
Kind of sign (Gebr. Merkel (Suhl)) on the release of the forehand wood, i have never seen this one in this shape on civil hunting rifles.

 

[flynaked]

I suspected as much, but if the Sturgess gun is considered "out of sequence", I was just curious if was also marked. No BAL acceptance would be suspicious if it were also externally Luftwaffe marked.



Bauaufsichten des RLM. The Luftwaffe equivalent of the Waffenamt.

I see your train of thought now Ryan.

 

[flynaked]

I just had an closer look at the Sturgess Merkel, which is linked in the first posting in this thread.

Two interesting points on it:
Proof date November 1940- later than the ones i know, include the one shown in this thread.
Kind of sign (Gebr. Merkel (Suhl)) on the release of the forehand wood, i have never seen this one in this shape on civil hunting rifles.

I’ve never seen that either, that is interesting, usually it’s just a trademark. It’s curious that Merkel appears to be the only maker that supplied them simply plain and blued. The other makers still had them cased with at least base level engraving, but perhaps not all examples are like that. Here’s another interesting shotgun and drilling shot off of ebay, of what all appear to be private weapons. Check out what Galland has!

 

[Amberg]

Browning auto-5

 

[flynaked]

Yep, thought that was pretty neat! Looks like maybe a Stendebach on the right too.

 

[Mikegermany]

Yes, its documented that Galland owned at least one Auto 5.
The rifle on the right ist quite interesting, looks an little bit like an Behr or Stendebach action.

 

[Absolut]

Thanks to all the replies, especially for the documents and pictures. Learnt a lot on these rifles and very happy to have been able to show it here. Seems that shotguns weren't this uncommon at all.

 

[Amberg]

BTW: the survival shotguns are said to be 16 gauge.
A Ju88 in Africa with four crew members had a K98k, a shotgun and a Drilling on board. The K98k and the shotgun were stored in rifle scabbards behind the seats.
I'm waiting for the documents to make sure.

 

[Fal Grunt]

Late to the party, this got lost in the Bermuda triangles of email. From Jon Speed:

over on 98k site from Bruce was talks with photos of an Over and under Shotgun used to train German fighter pilots and bomber side gunners on how to lead targets so here is another orignal shows German Shooting over and under shotgun during practice. I also have one of Pilots shooting MG from special training turret etc. Please add this to the talks as this came from a Pilot training photo album I have from one of First Austrian pilots in German airforce back in 1938-39. Thanks , Jon

 

[flynaked]

Here’s a pertinent document I came across this week, thought it might be of interest.

 

[Amberg]

A nice shot that arrived today.
Unfortunately not very clear/sharp.
Waffen-SS, Heer and Luftwaffe soldiers with shotguns.
Likely a prewar competition for ......?
Thanks
Wolfgang

 

[Guillaume d'Orange]

A nice shot that arrived today.
Unfortunately not very clear/sharp.
Waffen-SS, Heer and Luftwaffe soldiers with shotguns.
Likely a prewar competition for ......?
Thanks
Wolfgang
View attachment 420313

Fellow members of the Deutsche Jägerschaft ?

DEUTSCHE JÄGERSCHAFT | Forestry

www.forestryofthethirdreich.eu

I look forward to somebody researching one day hunting as a favorite pasttime of the Wehrmacht soldiers.
For the Luftwaffe, everyone knows that Göring was the "Reichsjägermeister" and that Carinhall was located in the Schorfheide, the hunting ground of Kaiser Wilhelm II.
I research paratroopers and folks like Ramcke and von der Heydte were known to be hunters.

 

[Amberg]

I look forward to somebody researching one day hunting as a favorite pasttime of the Wehrmacht soldiers.

Not only Wehrmacht soldiers.
One of my great-uncles (captain) had his own hunting grund in the Vosges in WWI

 

[Amberg]

Talking about hunting ......
Not a shotgun, but ......
The attached photo shows lieutenant Gerhard Löbenberg from JB10 with a shot chamois in the Dolomites in early/mid 1915.
Löbenberg was a well known war correspondent and painter.
Please note the scoped rifle and the Gibraltar cuff title.
Thanks

 

[Amberg]

Two more shots from WWI.
A bear shot in the Carpathians and an interesting hunt from France.
Pheasant, rabbit, hare, fox, wild cat, marten and a ?? partridge or quail or snipe??