I've been offered a Merkel O/U double rifle chambered in 9.3x74R (haven't actually seen it yet - just some photos) and I'd like some opinions on the quality and what you think it might be worth?

A closer photo of the receiver -- note it's a single-trigger.

A closer view of the receiver area.

The bottom of the receiver.

Year of manufacture? Is there steel in the butt stock to counter balance the bbl weight?

(Something that I personally think is not good. If the bbls are so heavy as to cause the rifle

to need such counter balancing, I'd say it's not the "right" way to build a DR.)

Mind you I am no expert, but I believe what I have said is sound input.

In a recent e-mail from Merkle I was told they put steel into the butt stocks of their SxS

rifles to counter balance the weight of the bbls, that is why I ask the year built, etc.

I'll sell you a Finnclassic (Valmet) that's a better gun for 1/4 of the money. Plain but very accurate and sturdy. And if you want fancy scratchings, we even have higher grade models with game scenes, gold inlays etc etc.

DB Bill,
Same question, year of manufacture?
If you want a scope in this double rifle, consider the cost of a proper claw mount or a pivot bridge mount. In Europe you can pick one of these without scope/mount up for about US$4000. Quality should be excellent, especially one of the older ones.

Vasa

Guys...all I've seen so far were the photos and an offer to show it to me if I was interested hence my request for commets etc.