Ed Kettner Drilling?

[Dusty Gonzalez]

I hope this is ok to post here...

The gunstore I frequent has a very good condition Ed Kettner Drilling for sale. Its a hammer gun without much engraving and tagged as being 16x16 and 9.3x72. The stock and fore-end have a few dings and scratches but no cracks, wrist is checkered. Shotgun bores are shiny, rifle bore is a little dull probably from sitting on the shelf forever.
Price seems reasonable, but the catch is that you cant handle the guns because "the current state of things". They'll let you inspect them once you agree to buy them. Yes its stupid, this store also has 3 people check your 4473 before you walk out.

what should i look for while inspecting it? Ring the barrels/ dryfire?

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Bass Pro pulled that same crap when they took over Cabelas. I knew several people working there, and they were frustrated by the policy. Eventually they wised up. I would walk in, wave a wad of cash under their nose, and tell them if you like it and can agree on price, you'll buy it, if not, it can sit there for another 10 yrs. Imagine trying to buy a car, but they wont let you drive it or even sit in it. You have the right ideas on checking it out.
Sounds like a neat little gun, if you get it, post some pictures.

[Dean Romig]

There wes a pretty nice gun store on the south side of Concord, NH that I visited about 15 years ago. Behind the counter on the wall hung a very nice looking graded Fox small bore... but I wasn’t sure if it was in original condition or nicely restored. I asked the owner/partner if I could examine it more closely... same thing - he said “Unless you’re going to buy it it’s not coming off the wall.” I walked right out the door.

Kathy and I drove by there about this time last year and I was tickled to see the place was occupied by another unrelated business.





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[Brian Dudley]

It sounds like your business should be taken elsewhere.

[charlie cleveland]

the 9.3 by 72r is not a real stout round about like a weak 30-30 round...but they are very accurate guns to about 200 yards....charlie

[Joe Dreisch]

If it is a hammer gun look for definitive Nitro proof markings as well as the actual bullet diameter/length markings. A few years ago I was surprised to find out there are a few varients in size for the 9.3x72R, some of which will not chamber in older guns. Check chamber length on the shotgun barrels and look carefully for any bulge evidence on any barrels. With a purchase such as this I can understand that they may wish to defer any tire kickers but if you approach them with the proper personal protection (mask/rubber gloves) and they still will not allow you to properly examine the gun- leave and don't look back..

[Kevin McCormack]

I wouldn't waste your time with them - find another gun/gunstore. This elitist/pecksniff response is a surety factor in them going out of business, per Dean's comments above. With the current economic/political/social stranglehold on guns and gun-related items at a fever pitch today, their posture is that of true morons - among a pathetic few who can't recognize the potential for some type of prosperity in all of this. They don't deserve your business.

[Jim McKee]

Dusty,
I hunt with a Merkel 16b/ 9.3X72 Rimmed. Very adequate for deer here in Ohio. Check if you can the proof makings on the barrels to help make certain it is a the 9.3X72 R normal- Joe D is correct there were different sizes of this cartridge before it was normalized in Germany. You can get more info about this on the German Gun Collectors site or the German & Austrian Sporting Guns @ doublegunshop.com site.
Ask if they have snap caps to check if each barrel can be fired (most likely they will not have snap caps)
But it sounds like you need to look elsewhere.
Good luck!
Jim

[Dusty Gonzalez]

Dusty,
I hunt with a Merkel 16b/ 9.3X72 Rimmed. Very adequate for deer here in Ohio. Check if you can the proof makings on the barrels to help make certain it is a the 9.3X72 R normal- Joe D is correct there were different sizes of this cartridge before it was normalized in Germany. You can get more info about this on the German Gun Collectors site or the German & Austrian Sporting Guns @ doublegunshop.com site.
Ask if they have snap caps to check if each barrel can be fired (most likely they will not have snap caps)
But it sounds like you need to look elsewhere.
Good luck!
Jim

The biggest hang up i have is that this store catches A LOT of oddball stuff so, I frequent it very often. They always have very good prices on more niche guns as well. I'll see if i can persuade them to let me do a more thorough inspection

[CraigThompson]

Two questions ! First what’s a 4473 ? Second will they hold the gun in front of you open it etc let you look close up as long as you don’t touch it ?

[Dean Romig]

This is Form 4473


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[Harold Lee Pickens]

I see Dean beat me to it as usual, but dont feel bad I had to google it to find out, never knew it by it's official name

[Dusty Gonzalez]

I'll get some pics up

[David Noble]

Two questions ! First what’s a 4473 ?

I’m not sure if you were being facetious, or just had a momentary brain fart, but I’m a gun store owner too and I still habitually call it a “yellow form” lol.

[Dusty Gonzalez]

Dusty,
I hunt with a Merkel 16b/ 9.3X72 Rimmed. Very adequate for deer here in Ohio. Check if you can the proof makings on the barrels to help make certain it is a the 9.3X72 R normal- Joe D is correct there were different sizes of this cartridge before it was normalized in Germany. You can get more info about this on the German Gun Collectors site or the German & Austrian Sporting Guns @ doublegunshop.com site.
Ask if they have snap caps to check if each barrel can be fired (most likely they will not have snap caps)
But it sounds like you need to look elsewhere.
Good luck!
Jim

https://i.imgur.com/dGO31Lcl.jpg

[Erich Bretschneider]

Older German drillings are marked by bore diameter not grove diameter so a 9.3x72R will actually be stamped 8.7/8.8 and the dimensions can be all over the place. Mine(1907) is Groove .364 bore .344 tall narrow lands and I know of a couple that are Groove .358(handy though). There is also a 9.3x72R Sauer that dimensionally more like a 9.3x74R although usually not constructed to handle the power of the 9.3x74R.

I really like them and use them a lot. One of my favorites is a 1926 16ga/16ga/6.5x58R Sauer & Sons that I use for coyote hunting in heavier cover. It is only marked by the vendor(Wilkes) not the manufacture.

My 9.3x72R is a unmarked hammer drilling and is a great bird gun,

[Jim McKee]

Dusty
What did you decide to do?
Jim

[Dusty Gonzalez]

Dusty
What did you decide to do?
Jim

I went ahead and picked it up. There is a nicer one at another shop. Its even nitro proofed :banghead:

David responded to the E-mail, Thank you for helping me out