The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > The Harley Nolden Memorial Institute for Firearms Research

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old March 4, 2013, 02:09 AM   #1
Nighthawk439
Junior Member
 
Join Date: March 1, 2013
Posts: 3
JP Sauer & Sohn, Suhl 16 gauge

I have recently perchased a JP Sauer and Sohn, Suhl, 16 gauge SxS shotgun. I am just looking for any information on when it was made and if I can still shoot it. I'll add photo's later but here is some information on it.
-S/N 103476
-Crown U stamp
-Crown S stamp
-288U
Not much else, some writing that I have found to mean "River Steal" and "Not for Slugs".

Like I said just looking for some information.

Thanks,
Brian
Nighthawk439 is offline  
Old March 4, 2013, 08:38 AM   #2
mapsjanhere
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 6, 2009
Location: Albuquerque
Posts: 2,832
Top of my head, pre-1939 from the crown stamps, the 288 might be Aug 1928, probably chambered in 12/65.
__________________
I used to love being able to hit hard at 1000 yards. As I get older I find hitting a mini ram at 200 yards with the 22 oddly more satisfying.

Last edited by mapsjanhere; March 4, 2013 at 03:32 PM.
mapsjanhere is offline  
Old March 4, 2013, 09:24 AM   #3
Navy joe
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 28, 2001
Location: VA, USA
Posts: 1,804
Ok, the Floss Stahl is literally river steel, taken to mean fluid steel though, ie not damascus. So, pending a gunsmith's check-out it should be ok to shoot. Now, the major consideration is chambering, it is 16ga, but pretty much guaranteed to be 2.5" chambering. In addition, the forcing cones were designed with roll crimp fiber wad shells in mind. So, a modern 2 3/4 16 ga may fit, but it is loaded to a higher pressure spec to begin with, the pressure will increase as the star crimp extends itself into the forcing cone and bad things may happen.

It is possible to have chambers lengthened if the gun has suitable metal. It is also possible that they already lengthened, only the gunsmith will know. Do not fire modern ammo unless you know. Easiest route is Gamebore cartridges produces 16ga 2.5 in shells, I picked some up at Cabelas for my pre-war drilling and my Win 1897 16ga. When I was a noob I fired a box of modern 16ga through the 1897 not knowing any better, the gun and me are still ok, but I'll try to keep it that way and not repeat the experiment.
__________________
FY47012
Navy joe is offline  
Old March 4, 2013, 10:14 AM   #4
SDC
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 23, 2001
Location: People's Republic of Kanada
Posts: 1,652
"Fluss Stahl" actually means "flowing steel", meaning that this gun was made with steel smelted using the Bessemer process, more uniform and stronger than wrought steel. "You've already got "Nicht fur Kugeln" ("not for slugs"), so that means this gun should be choked, probably tight like a typical hunting gun. The pictures might be able to add some more info.
__________________
Gun control in Canada: making the streets safer for rapists, muggers, and other violent criminals since 1936.
SDC is offline  
Old March 4, 2013, 10:18 AM   #5
BigD_in_FL
Junior member
 
Join Date: December 20, 2012
Location: The "Gunshine State"
Posts: 1,981
Somewhere on the barrel flats or water table will be the chamber length in MM - 65 is 2-1/2", 70 is 2-3/4

Remember hull length is the FIRED length, so unfired longer ammo will fit when dropped in shorter chambers, but it is not wise to shoot them. As previously mentioned, the pressures get raised to bad ju-ju levels for items like fingers and eyes
BigD_in_FL is offline  
Old March 4, 2013, 10:44 AM   #6
mapsjanhere
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 6, 2009
Location: Albuquerque
Posts: 2,832
Actually, the rule was that chambering for 70 length was marked with a 70 in circle, while no mark meant 65.
__________________
I used to love being able to hit hard at 1000 yards. As I get older I find hitting a mini ram at 200 yards with the 22 oddly more satisfying.
mapsjanhere is offline  
Old March 4, 2013, 02:56 PM   #7
Nighthawk439
Junior Member
 
Join Date: March 1, 2013
Posts: 3
I'm gonna guess well pre-39 my brother also has one and his serial number is 264xxx but also stamped 5/27 so I know mine was made before 1927. I also measure the chambers and they are 2 1/2 inch. I have measured the chokes and found then to be improved cylinder.
Thanks for all the info.

Brian
Nighthawk439 is offline  
Old March 5, 2013, 01:59 AM   #8
Nighthawk439
Junior Member
 
Join Date: March 1, 2013
Posts: 3
Please keep replying with more information. I want to know as much as I can about this gun. Thanks again for the info so far.

Brian
Nighthawk439 is offline  
Old March 6, 2013, 12:47 PM   #9
James K
Member In Memoriam
 
Join Date: March 17, 1999
Posts: 24,383
FWIW, the crown/U is the definitive proof mark, the crown/S the proof for smoothbore barrels.

Jim
James K is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:17 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.04028 seconds with 10 queries