Stutzen by Emil Kerner & Sohn, Suhl, Germany

waterwolf

waterwolf

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Not sure if this rifle is pre- or post-WWI. Ideas?

Stutzen by Emil Kerner & Sohn, Suhl

- "Zielvier" Jena Zeiss scope Nr. 6339 (with the rifle maker's name and address inscribed on turret: Gewehrfabriken, Emil Kerner & Sohn, Suhl I. Thrg.)
Reticle is German post with dot. Clear and bright. Claw mounts have matching rifle serial number.
- Horn forend tip, horn and steel trigger guard, carved horn pistol grip cap and horn buttplate.
- Half-octagon/half round barrel with full length integral barrel rib
- Open rear sight with one standing and one folding leaf
- Fine checkering
- Adjustable double set triggers
- Greener-type Safety
- Buttstock trapdoor cartridge carrier
- Leather muzzle covers, scope covers and scope carrier.
- Extensive light engraving. Red Deer stag and hind scene on floorplate.
- vg bore. Calibre is 6.5x57 Mauser

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That's some amazingly high quality work, especially the metal engraving. Wow.
 
Work of art.. I think Biggymu is thinking of the Brunn1 commercial rifle I posted. This is a prewar masterpiece done by a small firm in Suhl.
 
www.k98kforum.com

Date for Zeiss scope?

Can anyone give me an approximate date for this scope? It is marked "Zielvier Nr. 6539 Carl Zeiss Jena"
www.k98kforum.com www.k98kforum.com

This is the thread. Some of the pictures have been removed. The scope picture is identical and originally ( if you read the thread) there was a picture with the rifle showing the same leather muzzle cover) If it’s not the same rifle, it’s the twin. Rifle is resting on same wooden railing.
 
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Did you also forget you had another account here under the name robinpeck? It wasn’t that long ago. Strange.
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Still a beautiful sporting rifle!
 
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sorry.. biggymu.. you have a much better memory than I.......... :ROFLMAO: I didnt recall this at all.. must have missed and the OP posting...
 
This rifle is post 1912 by the proofing showing bullet weight only, it’s very likely 1912-14 timeframe. However it could be up to 1919 at which point, Kerner was a joint venture, “Kerner & Funk” and I would presume labeled as such after that point. It’s much tougher and probably about impossible to tell unless you get ahold of records in the Suhl archives, whether or not Kerner continued any commercial production wartime. Commercial weapons were built throughout WW2 so I don’t doubt this could be the same in the WW1 era, but it’s near impossible to figure out for a certain maker. I can’t comment on the scope as I’m not familiar with serial ranges etc but it was rather common for prewar rifles to be retrofit with optics in the 1920’s and 30’s.
 
I’m honestly not positive how they marked guns after their merger, perhaps they continued with the same? Usually around 1923 proof houses started adding a date which yours doesn’t have. That’s usually about the best you can do on Suhl guns, just take from the clues what you can, besides **some of the** bigger makers which sometimes have existing records.
 
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Many custom builders used Oberndorf actions. Not saying this one of those but that 12xxx serial number falls in the Oberndorf 1905/06 range. Can't tell much, if anything from shop marks on the receiver underside as they are individual craftsman mark to indicate completed processes.

It is a truly great example of the highest level of craftsmanship.

The action could have been held in stock and assembled into a rifle some time later.
 
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This one is not built on an Oberndorf action, those actions which were sold to the trade will have their serial number on the lower receiver flat along with the Oberndorf internal inspection. This one is simply a reclaimed Gew98 receiver, which many makers did, most did actually.
 
I would have to agree now that I see they continued using the Emil name after their merger. It “could” be built off a prewar Gew98 receiver but it looks more wartime to me the more I look, so I would then shift my guess to about 1919 to about 1923, and if the scope serial puts it in that timeframe it’s more than likely factory original to it.

I would expect less internal process stamps on the receiver if it was a rejected receiver which is how many Suhl makers ended up with parts to build on.
 
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