Merkel 28 gauge 203

[Brian Patton]

203 , no bites for underlugs

[Ken Hill]

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

[Jim McKee]

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!

[Larry the Gun Guy]

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.

[Bill Murphy]

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.

[Jim McKee]

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.

[Larry the Gun Guy]

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.

[Bill Murphy]

The buttplate needs an oak and leather trunk case.

[Byron Whitlock]

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