This is an elaborately engraved example of a pre-war, factory engraved Nazi Presentation double rifle as manufactured by the Berlin-Suhler Waffen und Fahrzeugwerke (BSW) factory. Circa 1936/37. This exceptional rifle was presented by Franz Sauckel, Gauleiter of Thuringen (from 1927-45) to Hinrich Lohse, who was the Gauleiter of Schleswig-Holstein (from 1925-45). Fritz Sauckel was a very powerful Gauleiter during WWII and was an early Nazi party member joining in 1921 and was a favorite of Hitler all the way to the end of the war. He was tried at Nuremberg and found guilty of Nazi war crimes and crimes against humanity and hanged in 1946. The history of the BSW company has always been clouded in controversy, as the company was original started in the late 1800s, as the Simson and Company, Suhl Germany. They were a prime albeit smaller producers of weapons and replacement parts both prior to and after WWI. After the rise of the Nazi regime the company was confiscated in 1933 with some equipment used to manufacture Luger parts, was sent to the new Mauser factory with the remaining equipment designated for making sporting/hunting rifles and shotguns. The company was renamed the BSW company and did make K98 rifles, during the war. This beautiful O/U double rifle features a full, master level, deluxe engraving that covers 95% of the receiver, upper tang and trigger guard bow. The engraving itself is beautifully executed, that features an extremely tight English scroll type engraving with a beautifully executed geometric pattern on all the boarders and edges. All the main and locking screws heads are properly indexed and also beautifully engraved on their heads. Both side of the receiver are deep relief engraved that depict two game scenes; one on each side, that show a pair of European Boars in a woodland scene on the left side, with a pair of European Red Stags also in a woodland scene, on the right side. Both barrels are chambered in 7X57mm and the top barrel has a solid matte finished sighting rib with a set of factory installed double claw bases. The left and right side of the upper barrel is factory inscribed; "BSW" encircled by "BERLIN SHULER WAFFEN UND FAHRZEUGWERKE" with "SUHL" on the outside. The lower breech area of the left barrel is marked "7 X 57 R" and the matching serial number "42220" is stamped on the underside of the bottom barrel, the side of the left lug, the left edge of the receiver and inside the forend hanger assembly. This beautiful double rifle is fitted with a the typically small European oval cheekpiece and both the buttstock and split-forend are made from select European walnut with beautiful figure on both side that has factory checkering on the pistol grip areas sides of the forend. As noted this is a presentation rifle and the underside of the pistol grip has a small steel blued presentation plate that is inscribed in old German: "Kg. Gauleiter Lohse/ gewidmet zum julfest/1937/ (signed) Fritz Sauckel"; loosely translated this means: "Presented/Dedicated to Gauleiter Lohse during the winter festival of 1937 by Fritz Sauckel". This rifle is accompanied by the original factory installed Zeiss "Zielklein" small/target scope. The top of the scope body is correctly marked, "CARL ZEISS/JENA/ Zielklein/Nr.55481", and include the original leather scope covers along with an article on the Simson family and history of the factory. The original horn buttplate was removed and an American White-Line rubber pad has been added to the butt, however the LOP is still 14 1/4 inch, so it doesn't appear to have been shortened.

Extremely fine with 98% of the original rust blued finish on the barrel and scope bases, with the receiver remaining in the slightly faded coin finish. The stock and forend both retain most of their varnish with minor handling marks in some areas, with fine checkering overall showing light wear across the tops of the checkering. The inscription plate is in excellent condition with a very nice clear inscription. The scope retains 95% of its blued finish with clear optics. The scope mounts and bases are all tight and rock solid. An exceptional example of a scarce pre-war factory engraved Fritz Sauckel Nazi presentation BSW double rifle.