Here is a pair of Miller and Val Griess of Munich 16 Gauge game guns. They are straight grip splinter fore end 27” barrel 6 lb. numbered 1 and 2. They have beautiful deep chiseled game scene engraving and we’re proofed in late 1925 and early 1926. They have all the bells and whistles of a best quality pair. They have a scalloped and reinforced frame, automatic ejectors, side clips (which are machined on the barrel rather than the frame ) intercepting Sears, third fastener, and cocking indicators. I’ve got quite a few pictures so bear with me. I’ll start with gun number one.
Here are more pictures of number one. Did you notice how the screws on the frame are engraved into the game scenes so that they disappear?
Bill
Beautiful shotguns!
Scalloped actions w/ reinforced frames.
Deep relief work like that takes twice the time and more sometimes as non-relief cutting.
Love that Auerhahn on the bottom of #1 shotgun
Beautiful pair of shotguns. I’m more impressed with the Jack Rabbit on his hind legs than the Auerhahn. I got me a Savage 24 that has a Auerhahn and a fox both.
Stunning "old world" style shotguns. I really like the unique scalloping ( like you pointed out-machined into the barrel instead of the frame ). Congrats on ownership and thanks for posting.
Thanks for showing them they are beautiful, every body likes s/s shot guns those you should insure for a good bit. No telling how manyhours weere spent on making these. Jeff
Those are "best" guns. I normally don't care for that type of engraving, but those are the nicest example of deep relief engraving as I have ever seen. Go out and shoot them a bunch and enjoy them!
PS: It‘s thin after 1890, but apparently the firm under different ownership was in business until WW II and as your guns show still employed fine gunsmiths and engravers.
I’m sorry for all the photos but I couldn’t help myself. I wanted to show the guns next to each other as a number 1and 2 pair. Notice how the hares on the trigger guards face in towards each other. Bill
With a beautiful pair like that, you simply must have a gunbearer to load for you on a shoot.
I've watched Treasury class engravers work up close, and I never ceased to marvel at their skill. Think about it; most of us couldn't draw that pattern on paper, and those guys (and gals nowadays) cut it into steel!
Last batch I promise . Note the type of steel used in the barrels which is Boehler Anti nit which is a premium anti corrosion steel. Bill
Böhler was a premium steelmaker, originally founded by German brothers who moved to Austria in the 1870s.
They patented and produced several high-quality steels that were used by gunmakers. Ferlach gunsmiths used Böhler Blitz steel a lot. The Böhler Antinit was a chromium-molybdenum steel that became available around 1900 and is considered by many to be the best old European barrel steel combining toughness and corrosion resistance. Modern versions are still available.
Bracebeemer, as others have stated those are works of art. I am always fascinated when I see guns like that if their prior history is known. Did they come in a trunk case ?
Maybe ordered by a well heeled shooter in the US just prior to the stock market crash in 1929 ? Possibly a war trophy brought back after WWII ?
It would be interesting if their provenance is known and how they fit within the events of the last 90 years.
Those are beautiful shotguns. What do you suppose the price was the first time they were sold?
I would expect the pair to have sold for the equivalent of 80,000 - 120,000 of todays USD. Quality at this level has NEVER been cheap and this is a truly exceptional pair of shotguns.
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