Noble and limited -
Damascus rifl e K120
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Merkel
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In historic times, the city of Suhl carried the name
‘German Damascus’ and in regards to a special edition
of a very special rifl e, this has been in Merkel’s thoughts
for some time.
For its 120th anniversary, the company from Suhl
launches a single-shot rifl e with a bascule made of
Damascus steel. Th e characteristic pattern of this steel
gives the jubilee edition a very special look but the rifl e
also off ers a whole lot more in regards to features –
functionality and handcrafted aesthetics are paired here.
Damascus steel is compound steel, which is made
up of diff erent steel types that are then corroded and
polished to give it the characteristic surface that shows
the diff erent layers of the various original materials. For
more than 2,000 years, this steel has been manufactured
in Europe and is also appreciated for its decorative
qualities.
Th ere is, however, an important question to ask: Can
this steel be made into a rifl e bascule? Th e search for a
fi tting raw material was not easy and led all the way to
Sweden. Th ere, the Merkel engineers found a specialist
who could supply suitable Damascus steel – en bloc. For
Merkel this meant the system has to be milled out of the
solid block. Technical director Lutz Morgenroth said, “A
wonderful material – but for this use a complete luxury,
as for one bascule a third of the steel block is reduced to
shavings.”
120 PIECES: LIMITED WITH A GOLDEN NUMBER
Th e jubilee rifl e is limited to a small series of 120 pieces;
the serial number is placed on the gun as a fi ne gold inlay.
Th e small series is made by a specially qualifi ed team in
the Merkel manufacturing facility with a high percentage
of the gun handcrafted – this includes a fi ne, selfdeveloped
gun case, which allows for transport befi tting
the rifl es high standards.
When a consumer invests into this hunting rifl e,
the connoisseur does not only get the Damascus
steel bascule, but also the fi nest wood and technical
refi nement. Th e stock, in wood class 6, comes with a
Bavarian cheek piece, double fold and hog’s back comb
as well as dark ebony fi nishes on the fore end and pistol
grip. Furthermore, the forefend locks with a classical
patented release, which is usually only used in the fi ne
masterpieces of the manufacture.
Another part where the Jubilees did not make any
compromises is the barrel: Th e 560mm long barrel is
designed with an octagonal profi le with a quarter rail
and prepared for a swing mount. Th e calibre options are
8x57IRS, .30-06 Springfi eld, .308Win. or .270Win. Th e
barrel is locked by a detachable, golden tilted block – a
genius locking mechanism for drop-barrel rifl es that has
been developed by the Suhl gunsmith Franz Jäger, at the
end of the 19th century.
Th e gun is meant, not only as a limited collector’s
edition, but also for actual hunting, especially for the
precision shot from the high seat, while stalking or in
the mountains. Th e Damascus steel rifl e is operated by a
golden fi nely-tuned trigger and a modern hand cocking
system at the top of the bascule. Despite the steel bascule,
the rifl e only weighs approximately 3,1 kilograms at a
handy overall length of 97cm.
www.merkel-die-jagd.de
For its
company
jubilee,
Merkel off ers
the trade a
Damascus
steel /
single shot
rifl e with
a special
bascule.
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