Simson Suhl East German 12 GA/7x56mmR Drilling Combination Gun, 1978

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Sold for $1956.56

LSB#: 220802CC001

Make: Simson

Model: Drilling

Serial Number: 986886

Year of Manufacture: November, 1978, re-proofed July, 1998

Caliber/Gauge: 12 Gauge, 2 3/4″ Shells over 7x56mmR (rimmed). A .22 Magnum (WMR) barrel insert is installed in the right shotgun barrel.

Action Type: Boxlock Drilling With Extractors, Wrist-Mounted Safety, Tang Mounted Selector and Cocking Indicators

Markings: The top of the left barrel is marked “MADE IN GDR / SIMSON SUHL”, the top of the right barrel is marked “SPECIAL-GEWEHRLAUFSTAHL”, found again on the left of the rifle barrel, under the forend. The shotgun barrels’ flats have East German proof marks. The left of the rifle barrel at the lugs is marked “7x56R”, “7 98” and with an Ulm antler proof. The right has an East German proof and “1178” date code. The bottom of the rifle barrel is marked “5840”. The left of the barrel lug is marked “986886” and with a “1Q” First Quality marking. The inside of the forend iron is marked “6886”. The left shoulder of the receiver is marked “986886”, the right has an East German proof mark. The inside of the trigger plate, visible through the water table, is marked “6886”, the bottom of the trigger plate is marked with a Simson logo over “SUHL”. The receiver has decorative engraving.

Barrel Length: 24 3/4”. The .22 Magnum insert is approximately 17 1/2″.

Choke: Left: Full, Right: Improved Modified, Both Fixed

Weight: 8 lb., 2.5 oz. without scope, 9 lb., 14.9 oz. with scope.

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade in-line dovetailed to the front of the rib. There is a folding “U”-notch rear sight which is flipped up and down when the rifle-selector lever is activated/deactivated. There are two bases for claw-type optic mounts installed on the rib. Matching mounts are on the included Zeiss Diavari-Z 2.5-10×52 scope with German post reticle. The scope body has scattered light wear, the glass is clear.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with capped pistol grip, curved comb with cheekpiece, ventilated brown rubber recoil pad and a sling swivel mounted in the belly (there is another swivel mounted to the bottom of the rifle barrel in front of the forend). The stocks have some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches and some wear in the belly toward the toe. The foren has a patch of more notable wear on the left toward the rear with some bruising. There is a tiny crack at the rear of the top tang. There are no chips. The checkering is generally well defined with the most notable wear on the left of the forend. The LOP measures 14 7/8? and 13 7/8? from the fronts of the triggers to the back of the recoil pad, 13 7/8″ and 12 7/8″ to the back of the wood. The pad has light wear and is still fairly supple. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Refinished

Bore Condition: The left shotgun bore is gray with scattered erosion and pitting. The right shotgun bore is bright back to the front of the barrel insert. Behind the insert there is what appears to be stubborn fouling, but which may include oxidation or erosion. We were not able to remove the insert to better inspect the shotgun bore. The .22 insert is semi-bright with sharp rifling and some scattered light erosion. The 7×56 bore is gray with well defined rifling and scattered light erosion.

Overall Condition: This drilling retains about 90% of its metal finish. The finish is generally strong with some handling wear on the barrels over the forend and on the bottom-front of the receiver. There are a few light nicks, scuffs and scratches, most notable on the guard. There is some minor erosion under the finish, mostly on the receiver. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings range from clear to worn, but legible. Overall, this drilling is in Very Good condition as refinish.

Mechanics: The 7×56 barrel’s cocking indicator does not move when the action is cocked or fired. Otherwise, the action functions correctly. The barrels lock up with no play to the receiver. There is a lever on the top tang which is pushed forward to select the rifle barrel, also flipping up the rear sight automatically. The front trigger is used for the rifle barrel and is a single set-trigger, pushed forward to set. NOTE: With the rifle barrel selected, the front trigger will fire the rifle barrel AND the rear trigger can still fire the left shotgun barrel. The front trigger can be set whether the rifle or shotgun barrel is selected and will fire the right shotgun barrel if set with the shotgun barrels selected. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This shotgun comes with the installed scope and barrel insert as described.

Our Assessment: Combination guns have been a popular “do-all” gun for generations, with some still being produced today. The combination of a shotgun for fowl and a rifle for terrestrial game allows the hunter to become familiar with one gun for all their trips to the field. This example was produced by Simson, an East German gunmaker in Suhl. It is chambered for 12 gauge shotgun shells and the 7x56mm rimmed rifle cartridge, going a step further in its combination of features with a .22 Magnum barrel insert on the right shotgun barrel. The rifle has iron sights but also comes with a quick-detachable Zeiss 2.5-10x scope. The gun was originally made in 1978, but was re-proofed post-unification in 1998. In its condition and with its interesting origin and configuration, this would make a great piece for drilling or fine European firearms collectors. If it gets past the collectors, it will also be a great hunting gun which can hunt just about anything in North America on the ground or in the air. Please see our photos and good luck!