This is a beautiful engraved example of a Merkel over/under shotgun. The left side has deep relief engraving of a male auerhuhn in a tree overlooking a meadow with three hens, and mountains in the background. The right side has three rabbits running through a wooded draw. The tangs, bolsters, forearm hardware, sides of the barrel at the breech and underside of the receiver have pine cones and coniferous branches. The underlug has the initials "D.R.P." and there is a sling swivel on the bottom of the barrel. There are cocking indicators on each side plate, a tang mounted safety and a barrel selector on the right side of the single trigger. The underside of barrel is marked "544" indicating manufacture in May of 1944, and also has the matching serial number, "BOHLER STEEL" and "eagle/N" proof mark. The front sight is a white bead, barrels are choked extra full/extra full and 2 3/4 inch chambers with lengthened forcing cones and ejectors. Mounted on a nicely figured, multi-point checkered three-piece walnut forearm and pistol grip stock with horn grip cap, raised cheekpiece, rear sling swivel and checkered horn buttplate. Length of pull is 14 3/8 inches. With a leather bound takedown hardcase with brass corner protectors lined in green felt with an Abercrombie & Fitch label inside.

Excellent, 99% original blue finish with some high edge, safety and break lever wear. The coin finish receiver remains bright with traces of original case colors on the interior. The wood is also excellent with some scattered light dings and scratches. The horn buttplate has a small area of chipping. The case is very good with some scratches and scuff with a name tag absent on the lid. Mechnically needs work as the trigger does not reset for the second barrel. It could take years of searching to find another example similar to this!