Carl Paubel 10 gauge

[Ghostrider]

I am looking for as much information gather on a recent gun purchase. My understanding that it was made prior to 1893 because it does not have proof marks. In fact besides the SN and a set of letters on the barrel of SM or WS depending which way it is facing, nothing else is marked in the usual places such as the barrel flats or the water table on the receiver. The gun is marked C. Paubel as well as Carl Paubel. Also it is engraved Suhl Porussia, not Prussia.

[Ghostrider]

[Ghostrider]

[Ghostrider]

[sharps4590]

Ghost, first off welcome. Secondly the only thing I can say about your 10 bore is....wow!!! Very, very nice!

[Axel E]

Carl Paubel, Pfarrstrasse 3, Suhl, was mentioned 1886 as a member of the Suhl City council, so he must have been an established and respected citizen then. He is last mentioned 1920.
Obviously the gun was intended for Export because of the "Porussia" inscription. Here we have a mixup of several lanuages, reflecting an uncertain engraver. English the kingdom is "Prussia", but "Preussen" in German and "Borussia" in Latin. The engraver mixed up the English and Latin spelling.

[Steve Whitley]

"Porussia" could indicate a Slavic influence, with "po" meaning "near" as in the etymology of the word "Prussia."
Steve

[Diz]

Ghostrider,

Welcome and that is a great looking 10 gauge. I am particularly fond of old Damascus hammer 10's and have worked up some very low pressure nitro loads in order to keep them shooting. I would imagine the chamber is 2-5/8". Are the bores as nice as the rest of the gun? Best of luck with it.

Diz

[Dan Patch]

My grandfather had a Carl Paubel 12 gauge double that was clearly brought to the U.S. by a serviceman returning from Europe post-1945. I had assumed this gun was made perhaps 1920-1935, but Axel's comment suggests it was a bit earlier than that. Haven't seen it in years but recall it was a quality gun of trim dimensions. A cousin still has it, I hope, so maybe I could get a look at it sometime as I'm more nearly conversant with German commercial proofing now than I was when last I handled it. This is only the second time I've encountered the name Carl Paubel in an arms connection. Dan

[Ghostrider]

Thanks for the complements and comments on my 10 gauge. Too made there is little known of the manufacture, but the guns quality speaks for itself. As far as the bores they too are very nice. Barrel length is close tom33"

[Axel E]

"Porussia" could indicate a Slavic influence, with "po" meaning "near" as in the etymology of the word "Prussia."
Steve

Sorry, Steve, but here you are wrong, the name is not related to a Slavic word. "Borussia" or "Prussia" are relatively new, 17th century creations, when "learned" people preferred to express anything in upnose Latin. Prussia, Preussen in German, was not named so as it was close to Russia, "Po Rus" maybe in Slavic languages, but after a not Slavic, but Baltic language speaking heathen people who called themselves Prusai, "many people". They inhabitated the land that was to become East and West Prussia before the German Order colonized and made them Christians in the Middle Ages. The earliest Latin mention, 9th century, wrote "Bruzi". German spellings developed from Prusse and Priuze to Preussen. One version of the latinised spellings, Prussia, was taken over into English. The other one, Borussia, was quite popular in Germany from the 19th century to WW1. Many clubs, social and sporting, still have "Borussia" in their name. "Borussia Dortmund" f.i. is a soccer team in the top German league.

[sharps4590]

Fascinating....the things one learns on here!!

[Ghostrider]

I failed to mention that the chambers are actually 2 7/8" using my bore gauges.

[Büchsemann]

Ghostrider,

Welcome to the GGCA and thank you for sharing pictures of your exceptional 10 ga SXS. The history lessons that come out of many such posts are priceless.

Regards,

Mark

[Diz]

Axel, I am always curious about the origins of words and your lesson was great! Thanks,

Ghostrider, 2-7/8" chambers are even better as it gives more room in the case for wad. My experiments show this is what helps keep the pressures low. It is a great looking piece.

Regards, Diz