In support of my “Week of Great Guns” on Shooting Sportsman Magazine’s Instagram page (@shootingsportsmanmag), here’s today’s featured double — a 20g Krieghoff made in 1928.
Krieghoff was founded in 1886 as “Sempert & Krieghoff”. By the time this OU was built, the company had dropped the “Sempert” and earned a reputation for building several unique types of drillings. In the late ’50s, Krieghoff started making the Remington Model 32-inspired OU that they’re famous for today.
The Krieghoff you see here is built on a type OU action created by Merkel in the 1900s. In the 1920s and into the early 1930s, German companies like Heym, Greifelt, and Krieghoff built their own versions of Merkel’s design and exported these guns to the US. These guns were expensive and cost as much — if not more than — most high-grade Parkers and Foxes when they were new. Today, they’re not cheap, but ones in good, original condition offer you a ton of quality at a very fair price.
I’ve handled a lot guns like this Krieghoff, and two things always impress me about them.
First: they’re beautifully made. Fit and finish is great, the stock and action are well shaped, and the guns function like double costing much more.
SecondL Even though they look clunky, they handle really well. Even though this Krieghoff looks like it would be heavy, it comes in at just 6lbs 4oz. With it’s 30″ barrels, I bet it handles great. I love its double triggers, too.
KRIEGHOFF 20 BORE 1928 SUHL BEST GRADE O/U- 99% ENGRAVING w/ GAME SCENES- 30″ V R Bbls.- 100% ORIG. 1928 FINISH- BEST 300 SERIES ACTION-EXC. BORE: #10838, A Krieghoff 20 Bore Suhl Made 1928 Boxlock Best Grade Over & Under Game Gun with 30″ Vent Rib barrels Imported to the U. S. by “B. H. Dyas Co. Los Angeles”, Built on their Best 300 series action body with double underlugs with double bite, A single extension Kersten hidden cross bolt, The 30″ Extractor Krupp steel barrels at .627 .013 & .017″ (Mod. & Imp.Mod), 2 3/4″ chambers, A neat Vent Rib with round posts, 3 piece forend with a horn tip, Bolstered frame, Scalloped action, Intercepting safety sears, Double triggers, Pistol grip stock at 13 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 2 3/8″ over a thin horn buttplate, We installed a 1″ pad without any alteration to the wood so the horn buttplate can go back on at anytime, It is 14 1/4″ LOP with the 1″ pad installed, Neutral stock for the right or left hand, 6 lbs. 4 oz. with the horn buttplate & 6 lbs. 5 oz. with the pad, 99% coverage of extremely nice pre-war Suhl engraving with 5 game scenes of birds and dogs with the balance in neat floral engraving, “B. H. Dyas Co. Los Angeles” in Gold inlaid on the top barrel, It has 2 retainer screws which secure key screws, This piece remains totally 1928 original from muzzle to butt, The original barrel blue remains at 88-90%, The original stock finish is at 85% with typical handling marks, The checkering is at 88-90%, The bores are excellent to near excellent plus. This is a doggone solid, tight, clean and well-made classic 1928 Krieghoff over & under game gun. Compare this Suhl made Sempert & Krieghoff to a current gun for the same price and Suhl in 1928 looks like a pretty strong value to me. Most current guns depth is a backyard wading pool; this Krieghoff’s depth is the ocean. The difference in liking a gun or loving a gun is in the details. This piece has all the solidity and majestic fit of closing a Bentley door. Price: $8,750
