Merkel Model 201E 28 Gauge 28 Inch Over Under Shotgun, Manufactured 1967 C&R

Archival record: Specifications and condition reflect the firearm as listed at the time of auction.
Final Auction Price: $2,760.00

The Merkel Model 201E is a finely built East German sporting shotgun from one of Suhl’s most enduring gunmaking names. Manufactured in 1967, this 28 gauge example pairs 28 inch Full choked barrels with a mechanical single selective trigger, individual ejectors, cocking indicators, and Merkel’s distinctive double Greener style cross bolt locking system. Despite emerging from Cold War East Germany, it reflects the traditional craftsmanship for which Suhl had been famous for generations and remains in Very Good to Fine condition.

Identification

MMA#: 260608SC005

Make: Gebrüder Merkel, Suhl

Model: 201E

Serial Number: 66052

Year of Manufacture: 1967

Gauge: 28 Gauge, 2 3/4 Inch Shells

Action Type: Over Under Boxlock Top Break Shotgun with Mechanical Single Selective Trigger, Double Greener Kersten Cross Bolt, Cocking Indicators, and Individual Ejectors

Barrel Length: 28 Inch Vent Rib

Choke: Full over Full, Fixed

Weight: 6 lb. 8.1 oz.

Sights / Optics

There is an ivory bead mounted at the front of the ventilated rib. The top surface of the rib is checkered to reduce glare and provide a clean sighting plane.

Stock Configuration & Condition

The stocks are checkered walnut with a capped pistol grip, straight comb with cheekpiece, and checkered hard rubber buttplate.

The forend uses an unusual three piece configuration with a detachable checkered lower section and smooth panels positioned above it on each side and secured by screws.

The wood shows scattered light nicks, scuffs, and scratches. There is light bubbling on the right side of the wrist, a couple of more notable compressions around the toe, and additional marks along the edge of the cheekpiece. The checkering remains generally well defined.

Length of pull measures approximately 14 1/4 inches. Drop at comb is approximately 1 1/2 inches and drop at heel approximately 2 1/4 inches. The buttplate shows minor wear while its checkering remains sharp.

Overall stock condition: Very Good Plus.

Finish & Overall Condition

Type of Finish: Blue and Coin

Finish Originality: Original

This shotgun retains approximately 90 percent of its metal finish. There is thinning along some edges and buildup along the upper barrel beneath the rib. The barrel set displays sparsely scattered small nicks and scratches.

The coin finished receiver shows infrequent minor discoloration from oxidation, while the action displays normal operational wear. Screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings remain clear.

Overall condition: Very Good to Fine.

Bore & Mechanics

Bore Condition: Both bores are bright with no erosion. In the original evaluator’s opinion, the bores rate 10 out of 10.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly and the barrels lock tightly to the receiver with no play. Both ejectors function properly.

Cocking indicators are positioned on each side at the rear of the receiver. The safety does not engage automatically when the action is opened but functions correctly when manually engaged. Barrel selection is controlled by a switch positioned to the right of the trigger.

The shotgun was not test fired. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be desired before use.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories

None.

Our Assessment

The Merkel name has been associated with the gunmaking center of Suhl for generations, and Gebrüder Merkel became one of the firms that carried the city’s sporting gun tradition into the modern era. The company survived two World Wars, the division of Germany, Soviet occupation, and decades of production under the East German state while continuing to manufacture sporting arms.

That history makes this 1967 Model 201E particularly interesting. It was manufactured in Suhl during the Cold War, when the city sat behind the Iron Curtain in the German Democratic Republic. Despite the radically different political and economic system surrounding its production, the shotgun retained many of the traditional features associated with high quality Continental sporting arms.

Its action is especially noteworthy. The Model 201E uses a robust boxlock design secured by the distinctive double Greener, or Kersten, cross bolt system. Cocking indicators flank the rear of the receiver, while individual ejectors and a mechanical single selective trigger provide the features expected of a serious sporting shotgun. The blue and coin finished metalwork is paired with traditional checkered walnut furniture.

The chambering makes this example even more appealing. At just 6 pounds, 8.1 ounces, this 28 gauge Merkel combines relatively light handling with 28 inch barrels and fixed Full over Full chokes. The bores remain bright and were rated 10 out of 10, while the action continues to lock tightly with no play.

There is also an intriguing unanswered part of this shotgun’s history. No import mark was noted on the firearm. The original assessment suggested that it may have entered the United States before federal import marking requirements changed in 1968, or potentially have been brought home by an American service member stationed in Germany during the Cold War. Without supporting documentation, its precise path into the United States cannot be established, but the absence of a noted import mark adds another interesting detail to an already historically distinctive shotgun.

Manufactured in 1967 and retaining approximately 90 percent of its original metal finish, this Merkel remains in Very Good to Fine condition. For the collector of German sporting arms, Cold War firearms, small bore shotguns, or traditional European doubles, the Model 201E offers an unusual combination of history, craftsmanship, and classic sporting configuration.

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