triple barrel 20 gauge and 8mm from where?

gun ho · December 2, 2001, 09:48 AM

i have acquired a drilling from my grandfather and his memory is not quite as good as it used to be. So i am trying to research it as best i can to find out as much as possible about it. I have found bits and pieces of info about it like i know it's german and i know it's
manufacture ended in 1939 under the order of hitler. see posted photo;s
serial # b 8599

BADSBSNF81 · December 2, 2001, 03:17 PM

Try asking over at gunshop.com. They deal in high end shotguns and might be able to help.

Cougar · December 2, 2001, 04:27 PM

The proper term for the firearm you have is called a 'Drilling'. Why? HellifIknow! Many ga/cal combinations are possible.

This type of gun is more popular in Europe, thus I would suspect that yours is European in origin. With the long tradition of the firearms industry there, and the multitude of manufacturers through the years, it would be next to impossible to guess as to maker/ timeframe. Maybe one of our European members would be of more help.

**4V50 Gary** · December 2, 2001, 05:19 PM

It's called a drilling because ein is one, tvei (sp) is two, dri is three. My spelling is off, but drilling is three barrels.

Give us some proof marks on the barrel so we can at least try to ID the make for you.

DFBonnett · December 3, 2001, 06:36 PM

Believe the correct name is "dreiling", as in ein, zwei, drei,........... one, two, three. Usually pronounced "drilling" over here.

James K · December 4, 2001, 12:38 AM

Hi, Gun Ho and guys,

No, the correct German word is "drilling", and pronounced just as we do. The German words for 1, 2, 3 and 4 are ein, zwei, drei, and vier. "Zwillinge" means "twins" and the term is not usually used for guns, doppelbuch (double barrel) being used instead. However "drilling" and "vierling" are used for guns. A drilling has two shotgun barrels, and a rifle barrel in the middle below them. A vierling (pronounced "fearling") is the same, but with a small bore (usually .22 LR) barrel in the top rib.

A German 20 gauge would be uncommon. I think you might find that the shotgun barrels are 16 gauge and probably for short shells. The bottom barrel might be 8mm, but it would likely be for a rimmed cartridge, not the German 8mm military rifle cartridge.

I suggest taking the gun to someone familiar with those guns before shooting it and getting advice on the caliber and how it works.

AFAIK, Hitler did not ban drillings (why?) and in fact many were bought by the Luftwaffe for "survival" guns for shot down pilots. Obviously, few were made for the civilian sporting market after the war began, but I know of no "ban".

Incidentally, there were drillings made in this country, by a Hollenbeck company in West Virginia, now long out of business.

Drillings in any kind of good condition bring some very nice prices today, so definitely don't do anything to it you might regret later.

Jim

**4V50 Gary** · December 4, 2001, 11:33 PM

Thank you Bonnet for the counting lesson. Thankfully, the Germans haven't gone to the phonetic "drying" as of yet.

James K · December 5, 2001, 12:52 AM

A note: The German Luftwaffe used a four barrel 20mm FLAK (Fliegerabwehrkanone) that they called (surprise!) a vierling. In the Wehrmacht, anti-aircraft defense was an Air Force mission, maybe on the idea that if you could fly planes, you could also shoot them down.

Jim

JNA_Klappe · December 26, 2001, 04:48 PM

Please tell me the markings on the drilling so I can help you

email me at:
[email protected]

December 2, 2001, 03:17 PM	#2
BADSBSNF81 Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2001 Posts: 386	Try asking over at gunshop.com. They deal in high end shotguns and might be able to help. __________________ All stations stand by for flash traffic...

December 2, 2001, 05:19 PM	#4
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,833	It's called a drilling because ein is one, tvei (sp) is two, dri is three. My spelling is off, but drilling is three barrels. Give us some proof marks on the barrel so we can at least try to ID the make for you. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

December 4, 2001, 11:33 PM	#7
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,833	Thank you Bonnet for the counting lesson. Thankfully, the Germans haven't gone to the phonetic "drying" as of yet. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

December 2, 2001, 04:27 PM	#3
Cougar Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2000 Location: N.E. Ohio Posts: 637	The proper term for the firearm you have is called a 'Drilling'. Why? HellifIknow! Many ga/cal combinations are possible. This type of gun is more popular in Europe, thus I would suspect that yours is European in origin. With the long tradition of the firearms industry there, and the multitude of manufacturers through the years, it would be next to impossible to guess as to maker/ timeframe. Maybe one of our European members would be of more help.

December 3, 2001, 06:36 PM	#5
DFBonnett Junior member Join Date: November 1, 1998 Posts: 109	Believe the correct name is "dreiling", as in ein, zwei, drei,........... one, two, three. Usually pronounced "drilling" over here.

December 4, 2001, 12:38 AM	#6
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Hi, Gun Ho and guys, No, the correct German word is "drilling", and pronounced just as we do. The German words for 1, 2, 3 and 4 are ein, zwei, drei, and vier. "Zwillinge" means "twins" and the term is not usually used for guns, doppelbuch (double barrel) being used instead. However "drilling" and "vierling" are used for guns. A drilling has two shotgun barrels, and a rifle barrel in the middle below them. A vierling (pronounced "fearling") is the same, but with a small bore (usually .22 LR) barrel in the top rib. A German 20 gauge would be uncommon. I think you might find that the shotgun barrels are 16 gauge and probably for short shells. The bottom barrel might be 8mm, but it would likely be for a rimmed cartridge, not the German 8mm military rifle cartridge. I suggest taking the gun to someone familiar with those guns before shooting it and getting advice on the caliber and how it works. AFAIK, Hitler did not ban drillings (why?) and in fact many were bought by the Luftwaffe for "survival" guns for shot down pilots. Obviously, few were made for the civilian sporting market after the war began, but I know of no "ban". Incidentally, there were drillings made in this country, by a Hollenbeck company in West Virginia, now long out of business. Drillings in any kind of good condition bring some very nice prices today, so definitely don't do anything to it you might regret later. Jim

December 5, 2001, 12:52 AM	#8
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	A note: The German Luftwaffe used a four barrel 20mm FLAK (Fliegerabwehrkanone) that they called (surprise!) a vierling. In the Wehrmacht, anti-aircraft defense was an Air Force mission, maybe on the idea that if you could fly planes, you could also shoot them down. Jim

December 26, 2001, 04:48 PM	#9
JNA_Klappe Junior Member Join Date: January 24, 2000 Posts: 4	Please tell me the markings on the drilling so I can help you email me at: [email protected]