While in the North Carolina mountains this weekend, an old timer pulled out a gun he brought back from WWII and asked me to find out some background on it...and I have no idea where to start.

One side is chambered in 45/70 and the other in 16 gauge. It has one line of inscription in German but it is very, very faint. I finally took some pics with a Canon 30D and hope to be able to zoom in enough letter by letter to get a decent translation.

There is some decent engraving on the gun including a pheasant on the bottom of the trigger guard.

Any ideas wher I should go to study the gun and maybe even find a little history once I make out and translate the inscription?

There is no serial number, manufacturuer mark, etc. other than that single line of inscription...

Thanks guys!

Try a repost in Double Rifles They'd be able to handle it.

Thanks, done.