J. P. Sauer

[Jeff S]

Today was a beautiful day in West Michigan so I decided to shoot a round of clays. Even though I’ve had this gun for a few years, this would the first time I fired Grandpa’s 1907 Sauer. The story goes that back in the 1940’s, a prominent businessman passed away and that he had owned a nice partridge gun (please withhold partridge vs grouse discussions. That’s what they’re called in Michigan). Gramps waited a couple of months, then paid the widow a visit, and returned home with this fine gun.

While the gun has seen a lot of use over the years, it’s probably been fired only a half dozen times during the last half century. Grandpa lost his left leg in 1974, and hadn’t partridge hunted for a long time. Dad inherited it in the early 1980’s, but only took it out once. I’ve had it a couple of years and I figured it was time to pull the trigger.

This little 12 ga. is by no means a clays gun, but it’s perfect for Michigan thickets. It weighs 6 lbs., 6 oz. and has 26” barrels choked .015” and .023”. A pervious owner must have converted it to a single, selective Infallible trigger, in the rear position, putting the LOP at a short 13 1/4”. I’m not sure I’m a fan of the trigger, the left barrel always fired first, and it cut the heck out of my finger.

It broke clays pretty well, and I’m glad that took it out. I certainly won’t be shooting it at events, but hopefully, sometime this Fall it will connect with a woodcock or a partridge and I’ll know that Grandpa Steg will be smiling.

[ROMAC]

Good story Steggy. I’d like to find a nice Prussian Sauer someday myself.

I’m never in the right place at the right time.

[Researcher]

To my folks, both raised in Minnesota, they were partridge.

[Hilltop]

I think it’s the history and stories behind all of these older shotguns that I appreciate the most. Too much history is forgotten. Thanks for sharing.

[DarylC]

I've heard you mention that gun before. It's nice to get them out and blow the cobwebs off now and then. Even better if you can score a partridge or a duck.

[eightbore]

The Infallible trigger does not have to fire the left barrel first unless it is defective. Move the selector slide.

[Jeff S]

The Infallible trigger does not have to fire the left barrel first unless it is defective. Move the selector slide.

Thanks, I fired it 50 times and I don’t “think” the right barrel ever fired first. I moved the slide several times. I’ll fiddle with it some more. Unfortunately I loaned my snap caps to my daughter down in Orlando.

[Foxnut]

Jeff, I know a dog that would be happy for you and your Grandpa’s gun to tag along on a “Pat” hunt anytime this Fall!

[Jeff S]

Let’s do it. I just don’t want to let Rosie down.

[eightbore]

The Infallible trigger is maddening, especially for a trapshooter. Every time you fire one barrel, it sets for the "other" barrel the next time you close the gun to fire it. If you fire both barrels, you are OK, and it returns to the original selection. It definitely takes some getting used to. The advantage I have found in the Infallible trigger is that all of mine work, unusual for single triggers.

[Jeff S]

That may explain a few things. Thanks for the tip. Jeff

[Silvers]

I hope Jeff will assent to me adding this vignette on partridge versus grouse. Sometimes their name boundary can be pretty distinct ..... grouse or partridge, rarely both. I've hunted in PA since I was twelve and never heard anyone call them partridge. Many years ago my friend Scooter and I wanted to hunt the New York Catskills for deer. I was in college at the time and with limited time to hunt. Sunday deer hunting was allowed in NY and not here in PA. We drove in my Ford ragtop out to the Catskills across the Delaware River and just about 60 miles from home to ask farmers for hunt permission and to scout for deer while hunting small game. One backwoods farm looked pretty good and we stopped to ask for permission (try that today with posters on every tree). The farmer was working out in the machine shed and after chatting he readily gave it. I asked if there were many grouse and he replied "he hadn't seen many but there were plenty of partridge". frank

[Jeff S]

The Infallible trigger is maddening, especially for a trapshooter. Every time you fire one barrel, it sets for the "other" barrel the next time you close the gun to fire it. If you fire both barrels, you are OK, and it returns to the original selection. It definitely takes some getting used to. The advantage I have found in the Infallible trigger is that all of mine work, unusual for single triggers.

Bill, it will be a week before I can fiddle with the infallible, but I sure do appreciate your comments. Since you seem quite knowledgeable, allow me to ask a question. Does it matter when I slide the selection lever? When the gun is open, closed, safety on, safety off?

[eightbore]

I would move the selector to the preferred first shot position when the gun is closed and ready to shoot. The selector is slid forward to shoot the right barrel first. An almost invisible "R" will be at the rear of the slide. If you fire only one shell, the slide will be in the rear position when you open the gun to reload. There will be an almost invisible "L" at the front of the slide. If you want to shoot the right barrel first, you have to move the slide back to the forward position. If you have fired both barrels, the selector slide will return to the original position, which would be the forward position. This is a good system for live bird shooters who are required to empty their guns each time they shoot. Others may find the Infallible system confusing. Apparently, the safety has to be in a certain position to move the slide. Is it safety off to move the slide or safety on? I can't remember.

[Jeff S]

Thanks!