** 20th Century German Drilling Gun by Emil V. Nordheim (1859-1938)

16 gauge/7.65mm. 27.5" barrel lengths. SN: 2087. Blued metal finish to barrels and possible case hardened frame and fittings. Two piece walnut stock has checkering to semi pistol grip and Schnabel forend, as well as carved cheek rest to left side. German drilling gun with side by side shotgun barrels over a rifle barrel, as well as flip up rear notch sight that is engaged with toggle on wrist and blade front sight. Item features a horn triggerguard, matted rib, double triggers, double spur hammers, double sling swivels, and a cartridge compartment to bottom edge of stock. Markings include Prima Krupp Stahl marks to both shotgun barrels and EMIL V. NORDHEIM , ZELLA-MEHLIS to flat of barrel rib. Stock appears to be carved Ernst Lubke/Schwarzenmoor5/uber Herford on right side of butt. Frame is heavily engraved with black leaf scroll overall that surrounds game scenes of elk and birds (possibly partridges) on left side, and game scenes of stag and pheasant to right side. Cartridge compartment cover is also engraved with black leaf scroll and a vignette of a stag head. Other engraved details include fish fin sections to both sides of frame, rosette screws, neoclassical hatch motifs to lugs, and egg and arrow details to barrel.

Emil V. Nordheim (1859-1938) was a master gunmaker and gunsmith from the town of Mehlis in Thuringia, Germany. This gun was most likely made post-1919 after the cities of Mehlis and Zella were united as one city, Zella-Mehlis, as is marked on the barrel rib of this item.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.