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Paul Reuss Hammer Drilling 16x16x10.75-65R
https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-f...un_id=101295560

"Three barrels, 16 ga side by side over 10.75x65r (444 Marlin), manufactured by master gunmaker Paul Reuss, Kronprinzenstr 3, Stuttgart, Germany with 27” Gussstahl (fluid steel) barrels, flat matted solid rib, fine bead front sight and tang-activated rear sight -- also the selector for rifle or shotgun mode. Chokes are M (.013) right, and F (.029) left.

Nicely figured English walnut stock, carved horn pistol grip cap, Euro beaded cheekpiece, fluted comb, vacant nickel-silver oval, and Deeley-release splinter forearm with small Schnabel tip, Checkering is classic point-pattern with combination of single and double borders. Buttplate is steel with widow’s peak.

Action is a back-action hammer drilling with old Purdey-style under lever, rebounding hammers, double triggers, percussion fences, active doll’s head third fastener and extended receiver tangs. Serial Number 13752 manufactured with modern steel for Nitro powder in 1898 (all three barrels carry German proof marks). Sling swivels on rifle barrel and rear of buttstock. Weight 6 lb. 10 oz……comes with original canvas and leather trimmed case with maker’s label.

Barrels and underlever are blue; receiver is casehardened with fine scroll engraving. Dimensions are 13 ¾” x 1 ½” x 2 3/8” with 1/8” cast off for the right hand shooter. The gun is all original and in exceptional all-around condition with great wood color built by the German master craftsman, Paul Reuss, a best gunmaker in Germany active from 1881 to 1901.

This old gun is a great example of best gun from yesteryear, yet with two or three lifetimes of use left, having survived in this pristine condition for its age. Just imagine taking this fellow out in the woods for quail, chucker, white tail or black bear; or better yet, wild boar, with its two 16 gauge barrels and the proven 444 Marlin rifle barrel underneath. It is a fun gun to shoot and one to instill pride of ownership.

About the cartridge: While it shoots 444 Marlin perfectly, according to Cartridges of the World by Frank C. Barnes, the full name of the original round is the 10.75x65r Collath and modern ammunition is not made for it. According to that book, that cartridge had a .424 bullet diameter. For the original cartridge loading, Bruce Mashburn of Chandler Texas as well as Champlin Firearms, Inc. in Enid Oklahoma are sources.

However, Dave and Dan Moore of William Larkin Moore, both told me that they had one of these old guns in this caliber and found they could shoot factory 444 Marlin ammunition in it with its .429” bullet diameter. They said for the Marlin cartridge the rim is thicker than the rim on the original Collath cartridge by a few thousandths, so there were some inconsistencies in extracting the fired cases. After measuring this bore, my gunsmith (Matthew Roberts of MNR Custom in Vermont, member of the American Custom Gunmakers Guild), and I were pleasantly surprised to find that it measures .430” so we found we had no problem with the Marlin cartridge on bore size. Matthew then took a few thousands off the extractor and found 444 Marlin factory cartridges work perfectly and with no extraction problems. Since Matthew’s test, I have fired a full box of Hornady 265 Grain FN bullets and the performance was as if those rounds were made for it. However, we did not alter the gun beyond the point of originality, the original 10.75x65r ammunition will still extract as well."

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