MERKEL O/U NEED HELP

[Researcher]

I don't know much about Merkels but a long-ago president of the Seattle Skeet & Trap Club, Peyton Autry, did an interesting article in the July 1975, The American Rifleman, pages 19-21, about his getting top of the line Model 303E and 304E Merkels made when Merkel was in East Germany.

In the article Peyton describes the pre-war boxlocks as the Model 200E and Model 201E with finer engraving. The Model 203E, the Model 303E and Model 304E as hand-detachable sidelocks.

[Jim McKee]

Another way of determining if a 200 or 300 series Merkel - if there are bites shown in the 300 series below

[J. A. EARLY]

In my photos one will notice the fore end wood does not latch flat against the top wood. I wonder if this is a problem that goes beyond looks and affects function? Everything worked well with strong ejectors, cocking indicators work, and tight as a bank vault but I don't want to put money into a gun that needs work (which I seem to do every time).