Merkel 28 gauge 203
 

I was lucky enough to come across this little 28 gauge Merkel with game scene engraved hand detachable sidelocks. It's in 95%+ condition and it has 28" vent rib Bohler steel barrels. It was made 7/1967. It is choked SK/IC and it has a single selective trigger. The LOP is 14-1/4" to factory butt plate. Nice crisp semi-deep engraving of Short haired pointer on flushing game birds and running Hare on left of receiver. Right side has Fox stalking/flushing 4 ducks off a river. Has the Suhl gunsmith on the bottom of the receiver. It weighs 6 lbs 2 oz and it has a 3 piece forend. I'm not positive it's a 203, but that's the best I can come up with. Maybe there a Merkel expert that can verify the model. Anyway, it's still snowing out here like it was January and I can't do much else, other than shovel snow, so I thought I would post some pictures of it. This is kind of the opposite of that massive Ithaca 10 gauge.
X
X

That is a beautiful gun. At 6 lbs. 2 oz., that is a very shootable weight in my opinion for a 28 ga. The 28" barrels are a good length to aid swing and reduce whippyness. I love the engraving and the fact that it is a side lock. It also lacks the cheek piece that most dislike. I can't see any negative with this gun, other than perhaps the length of pull being a bit short. However, that is easily correctable if you need too. Great find and I hope that you shoot that gun in good health for a long long time.

Very nice Merkel, I have owned a 16ga o/u Merkel with 29 1/2 barrels for 35 years, great guns, good luck with that beauty.

The Kersten breech and the 3-piece forend make me want to smoke a fine imported cigar.

How about that German Shorthair? This is a great gun. If I can find a Merkel catalog of that vintage, I'll check out the models.

Nice Merkel. This link may help with the model ID https://www.hallowellco.com/traditio...kel_grades.htm

Ken

Merkel model
 

Thanks Ken; That's the first time I've seen the models laid out that well.

I believe the 303 action has two lumps protruding through the bottom of the action.
Best Regards,
JBP

A side view of the action with the gun open will tell you and us whether the underlugs have bites. Bites, 303, plain underlugs without cuts for bites, 203.

Additional pictures
 

Here are a couple more shots of the barrels and the action. :corn:
X
X

203 , no bites for underlugs

I think it is a 203 because it uses a lever for for the hand detachable lock. The 303 uses a hidden thumbnail to remove the detachable locks.

Ken

I have both a Merkel 201E and a 302E.
The 201E (12B) has no bites and the 302E does.
I will post a photo of the 302 when Brain Dudley returns it to me after refinishing the stock.
The 302 has two barrel set 16/16 and 16/9.3X72R. The later is now my Ohio deer gun (we are a straight wall rifle cartridge state).

Larry your Merkel was made 767 (July 1967).

It is often possible to get the Merkel build card for the gun. My 302 was made in 1933.
I really like the game scene engraving.
The photos of the two guns is from the 1930s Merkel Catalog.
Enjoy!

Merkel model
 

Thanks Jim, I look forward to the pictures of your Merkel. It's baffling to me how the Germans stamp the month and year of manufacture on the gun, but not the model number. Maybe they thought it would be more fun (for them) this way.:)

My 60s vintage Glaser (Zurich) color folder shows 203s with game scenes and the 303 with all scroll engraving. No pictures of the lugs and no prices.

Larry here are the pictures of my just returned Merkel from Brian Dudley. As usual Brian worked his magic to bring out the wood's figure.
Proofed 1133 (November 1933).
If only this Merkel could talk.

Merkel
 

That is a beautiful gun Jim. Thanks for the photos of it and I do see the bites. Brian certainly did a wonderful job of preserving that beautiful wood.

The buttplate needs an oak and leather trunk case.

A dandy gun for sure. I am not an O/U fan but that one would tempt me, since I could use another 28.