Pre War Engraved J. P. Sauer & Sohn Model 30 Drilling Sidelock SXS Over Rifled Barrel 25 ¾” 65mm Chambers, Flip-up Rifle Sight, MFD 1931 C&R

SOLD FOR:$2,105
LSB#: 160108GY10

Make: J. P. Sauer & Sohn

Model: 30 Drilling

Serial Number: 261224

Year of Manufacture: June 1931

Gauge: The shotgun barrels are 16GA with 2 ½” chambers. The rifle barrel is 8x57JR (.318 Bore with rimmed case)

Action Type: Top Lever Break Opening Sidelock

Markings: The bottom of the rifled barrel is marked “261224”, two Eagle proofs, a “Crown / U” proof definitive proof, “7,8mm / 57”, a “Crown / G” proof on rifled “Gezogen” barrel, “Crown / N”, St.m.G. / 13gr.” nitro proof for steel jacketed bullet, “6 / 31” date code and with a “SuS” logo. There is a standing rifleman engraved into the forward barrel lug and a “B” on the rear lug. The underside of the shotgun barrels are both marked with two Eagle proofs, “Crown / U” definitive proof, “Crown / S“ smoothbore proof, “Crown / W” choked barrel proof, “16”, “16” in a circle, an Eagle proof, “Nitro” and a crowned mark we can’t make out. The underside of the left barrel is also marked “Crown / U” and the underside of the right barrel with an Eagle proof. The top surfaces of the shotgun barrels are marked “KRUPP-LAUFSTADT” meaning that the barrels are made of fluid steel from Krupps. The top of the rib between the barrels is marked “8×57. J.R.”. The top surface of the forend iron is marked “224”. The left water table is marked “26+123245”. The right water table is marked with an Eagle proof, a “Crown / S” and a “SuS” logo. The sides of the receiver are marked “J. P. Sauer & Sohn, Suhl”. The underside of the receiver is marked with a large “SuS” logo and the lower tang is marked “261244”.

Barrel Length: The barrels are 25 ¾” in length and have a full-length solid rib.

Choke: The left barrel measures 0.647“ at the muzzle, or about Light Modified, and the right barrel measures “0.638”, or about Improved Modified.

Sights / Optics: This drilling is mounted with a brass bead front sight set into a fore and aft dovetail at the muzzle. The top of the barrel rib is finely serrated to reduce glare and provide a flat sighting plane. There is also a folding “U” notched leaf sight inset into the rear of the barrel rib that is marked “100” on its rear surface. The sight pops-up when the rifle barrel is selected for firing.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two piece checkered fancy walnut with a pistol grip that is capped with a rounded knob. There is a small European cheekpiece on the left side of the buttstock and ¾” wide sling swivels mounted in the belly and on a boss on the bottom of the rifled barrel. The butt has a black hard rubber buttplate attached that is serrated and has a “SuS” logo in its center. The wrist area of the buttstock has a fiddleback pattern in the wood, and there is a latch on the underside of the forend for removing it. The stocks appear to be refinished and shows light scratches under the finish in several areas. The buttstock shows several small dings scattered its surfaces with a larger ding in the middle of the right side and another near the bottom of the cheekpiece. There are only three very light marks at the rear of the forend. The checkering shows light wear without mars. The LOP measures 14 1/16” from the front of the forward trigger and 13 1/8” from the front of the rear trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate shows light wear at the heel and toe and is in about Fine condition. The stocks rate in about Fine overall condition.

Type of Finish: The barrels are blued and the receiver and trigger guard are case colored.

Finish Originality: All Original

Bore Condition: The rifle bore is bright with light wear in the rifling. The shotgun bores are both bright. There is no erosion.

Overall Condition: This drilling retains about 90% of its metal finish. There are two spots of pinprick surface erosion on the top of the right barrel, a spot on the top rear edge of the left barrel and a few more spots on the lower right side and underside of the receiver, with a small spot of solid erosion on the left side behind the recoil shield. . There is also light surface frosting sprinkled over the sides and under side of the receiver and on its tangs. There is thinning near the muzzles of the shotgun barrels with a tiny ding on the outside of the right barrel 2” from the muzzle. There are also a few light handling marks scattered along the barrels with a mar in the serrations of the rib about half way from the muzzle to the rear sight. The screw heads are sharp and engraved. The markings are clear. Overall, this drilling rates in about Fine condition.

Mechanics: The action functions works correctly. The safety is on the left side of the wrist above the triggers and blocks them when on. The selector switch for the barrels is on the upper tang, and when the switch is pushed forwards into the rifle position, the front sight pops-up. We have not fired this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

Our Assessment: J. P. Sauer & Sohn was first founded in 1751 in Suhl, Germany. They are the oldest firearms manufacturer still active in Germany. While they are known today for their Sig-Sauer semi-automatic pistols made in collaboration with Swiss arms AG, they were once well known for their fine European made rifles, shotguns and drillings. This drilling is their Model 30, made in 1931. It has two 16 GA barrels, choked Light Modified and Improved Modified over an 8mmx57 JR rifled barrel. The “J” was used to denote bullets made with a 0.318” diameter to distinguish them from the later rounds, which were 0.323”. The shotgun chambers are 2 ½” in length, meant for the old 65mm rounds, not the 70mm rounds made today. The barrels are blued and the receiver is case colored. A distinguishing feature of this gun is its rear sight, which pops-up when the rifled barrel is selected. The receiver and trigger guard are scroll engraved. This drilling is in about Fine overall condition with 90% of its original metal finish remaining. It shows thinning on the sides of the barrels at the muzzle, a ting dings on the right barrel and a mar in the serrations of the rib along with a several light marks scattered over the length of the barrels. There are two spots of pinprick surface erosion on the right barrel, another at the top rear edge of the left barrel, and a few more on the lower right side and underside of the receiver. The receiver and its tangs also show light surface frosting. This drilling is perfectly set up for someone who likes to hunt upland game as well as deer, but the shooters are never going to get a chance on this one. It is too well made and in too nice of a condition for the collectors to let get away.