Sixteen-gauge O/Us are tough shotguns to find, especially ones made on true 16-gauge frames. Many of the 16g over-unders made in the last couple decades were really 12 gauge actions with smaller-gauge barrels mounted on them. That doesn’t appear to be the case with the Merkel you see here.
This double must have been made on a 16g frame. That’s the only way Merkel could have pushed the weight so low. The gun also has double triggers – a feature that makes it even more special.
If you like what you see, act now. This gun is on Gunbroker.com and the auction ends later today at 7:40:59 PM ET. Here are the vitals on it: 26 3/4″ bbls, 14″ LOP, weight just over 6 lbs. Appears to have ejectors and seller is saying that the bores are clean.
I have a Merkel 200E in 16 gauge that I purchased new through
Cabelas back it the early 90’s. Although it’s an East German gun made on contract for the American market, the quality is quite good.
It has a straight grip, is built on a 20 gauge frame, and weighs
6 pounds & 4 ounces. I had Briley choke tubes installed and a leather pad added to increase the LOP.
Some people don’t like the Germanic styling, but with the decreased frame depth, I think it’s a pretty sweet looking, naturally pointing little gun. With the right loads, it’s equally at home on a Georgia quail
plantation or the grasslands of South Dakota.
Congrats on a nice sounding double. If it can do all that, it’s a nice gun.
Thanks for the post.
Gregg