This is a highly desirable WWII J. P. Sauer and Son M30 Luftwaffe Survival Drilling. The M30 Drilling was standard Luftwaffe issue to bomber crews in North Africa and the Mediterranean Theater from 1941-43 that provided a high quality survival rifle in case of a forced landing. They are a three-barreled drilling/combination gun; double barrel 12 gauge shotgun, over a 9.3X74R rifle barrel. These Luftwaffe drillings were all hand fitted and exhibit the beautiful pre-war workmanship that consists of a high polish rust blue barrel finish with a beautiful color casehardened finish on the receiver, trigger guard, forend latching mechanism and grip cap, with a select grade European walnut stock and forend, all typical of the J. P. Sauer and Son factory. The top of the receiver tang has a sliding barrel selector catch, so that when the rifle barrel is selected the rear rifle sight is raised and engages the forward trigger for firing the rifle barrel. The sides and underside of the receiver, trigger guard, screw heads and forend attaching iron have all been beautifully factory engraved with a diminutive high quality scroll pattern. The bottom of the rear barrel lug has a single "eagle/2" Luftwaffe acceptance proof and the underside of each barrel and chamber area each have a commercial "eagle/N" proofmark. Additionally, each barrel is stamped with the bore and gauge/caliber markings "12/65" and "241". The shotgun and rifle barrels are marked "KRUPP-LAUFSTAHL". The right rear breech area of the shotgun barrel and the right side of the buttstock both stamped with a large prominent Luftwaffe "eagle/swastika" insignia. The barrels have a matte rib with the front sight being a raised brass bead type rifle sight with the standard raised rear sight. The rear portion of the rib has been fitted with a set of modern claw scope bases (scope mounts included; however, there is no scope). This drilling is fitted with the Greener type cross-bolt receiver/action that has a side mounted safety lever. The top left edge of the receiver rail, the rear of the lower tang and under side of the barrel set are marked with serial number "334733," and inside the forend it is numbered "4733". The underside of the receiver and right underside of rifle chamber have the intertwined "SS" logo of the Sauer & Son factory, and both sides of the receiver are marked "J.P. SAUER & SOHN SUHL". The stock and forend are both made from select grade European walnut and both have a beautifully executed hand checkering on the pistol grip and sides of the forend. The stock has the typical small European oval cheekpiece with a color casehardened grip cap and has been fitted with a presentation grade Pachmayr rubber recoil pad, with a 14 inch length of pull over the pad. These drillings were all housed in an aluminum carrying case. The inside lid of the carrying case contains a black stenciled listing of the original contents of the case. Included with this beautiful drilling rifle is an original leather sling and soft bore brush.
Very fine with 95% of the original blue on the barrels with only minor handling or rub marks on the breech ends from light use. There are non-factory installed claw mount bases on rib. The action/receiver and trigger guard all retain 95% of their original case colors overall, with some minor fading of the colors on the sides and underside of the action where it was carried, with more of a gray patina on the rear of the trigger guard and grip cap. The revarnished stock and forend are also both very fine with nice distinct checkering overall showing only minor handling marks mixed with a couple of slightly heavier pressure dents on the underside of the stock behind the sling swivel. The modified buttstock has had a custom installed recoil pad. The repainted aluminum carrying case is very good overall with 90% of the black paint remaining, a modified/repaired latch and broken leather handle. This desirable drilling was at one time on the NRA's museum website showcasing the Robert E. Peterson collection.
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