MERKEL / COLLATH 16GA SIDE BY SIDE

WE HAVE JUST LOWERED THE PRICE SUBSTANTIALLY ON THIS GUN, AND WE WELCOME ANY SERIOUS OFFERS, AS THE OWNER IS LOOKING TO MOVE IT SOONER THAN LATER. WE HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS GUN, AND ACCORDING TO THE NRA DOPE BAG, THEY BELIEVE IT WAS MADE PRIOR TO 1898. FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND, IT WAS APPARENTLY MADE BY COLLATH FOR E.A. MERKEL, PERHAPS CUSTOM MADE FOR ONE OF MERKEL'S CUSTOMERS, WHICH THE CURRENT OWNERS STATEMENT BELOW SEEMS TO VERIFY. IT HAS DAMASCUS STYLE BARRELS. THE LETTER FROM THE NRA IS PICTURED AND SAYS THAT THEY DATE IT TO ABOUT 1880. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT WAS GIVEN TO ME BY THE GUNS' CURRENT OWNER: My great grandfather, Louis C. Arps (1875 – 1964), owned this gun. My older relatives told me that it was custom-built to the specifications of my great-great grandfather to be presented as a gift to my great grandfather upon his becoming old enough to hunt. His initials are engraved on the decorative plate on the gunstock. The family owned a hardware store that specialized in hunting and fishing equipment in Tigerton, Wisconsin. This connection probably greatly facilitated the order of a custom firearm in the late 19th century. The gun has been stored in a gun cabinet for about 100 years and has only been removed on occasion for a touch of gun oil and admiration. Due to its age and the Damascus barrel, shooting the gun now is not recommended. However, the condition of the gun is exactly as it was over a century ago. THANKS FOR LOOKING AND YOU ARE WELCOMED TO CALL US WITH ANY QUESTIONS. ************