Shotgun Sauer caliber 16

GmbH Sauer & Sohn is a firearms company founded in 1751 by Lorenz Sauer in the city of Suhl, a place that has long been one of the historical centers of gunmaking. It is the oldest firearms manufacturer in Germany. It is difficult to find a hunter who has not heard of the hunting shotguns produced by J. P. Sauer & Sohn. Sauer firearms are often credited with special qualities, although it should be noted that some design solutions were borrowed from well known gunmaking workshops and applied to Sauer models with only minor modifications.

Even the famous so called “four lug lock”, a locking system with four locking points, was largely a marketing concept. It was based on the pear shaped extension of the rib entering the action body. This fourth element did not actually strengthen the locking system but created an impressive visual effect. Nevertheless, this does not diminish the high quality and craftsmanship traditionally associated with firearms produced by the German brand J.P. Sauer & Sohn of Suhl.

The J.P. Sauer & Sohn Suhl double barrel shotgun in 16 gauge features horizontally arranged barrels. The right barrel is choked, while the left barrel has a half choke. The locking system is double: the upper lock uses a Greener cross bolt with the characteristic Suhl style extension, while the lower lock engages two underlugs. J.P. Sauer & Sohn Suhl marked the ribs of their shotguns with distinctive Sauer factory proof marks.

Such shotguns are often referred to as “Sauer three rings”. This mark belongs to the metallurgical company Fried. Krupp of Essen. To the right of the three interlaced rings appears the company name and location, while to the left is the designation of the barrel steel grade. The three rings themselves represent the steel mark, the famous Krupp “Three Rings” barrel steel, known as Special Gewehr Lauf Stahl, which was used by J. P. Sauer und Sohn.