The following images show a 16 ga. Vogelbüchsen with a Wilhelm Brenneke Kipplauf Pirschbüchsen below it for comparison. The Vogelbüchsen was proofed in May 1927 and is 52 inches long with a 31 inch barrel and weighs 16.5 pounds. It has no makers name or trademark anywhere. It was brought home by Technical Sergeant Jackson “Whip” Fraser who served in Co. C of the 56th Signal Battalion of the U.S. Army from June 6, 1944 to May 8, 1945.

102_5407
102_5408
102_5409
102_5419
previous arrow
next arrow

102_5410
102_5418
102_5416
102_5411
102_5413
102_5415
previous arrow
next arrow
On the right is Jackson “Whip” Fraser in Nueweid, Germany on March 25, 1945 “East of the Rhine”.

One known maker of Vogelbüchsen was Karl Bauer of Zella-Mehlis. Known rifles by him are seen with no pistol grip but a finger rest trigger guard. It’s not known if he made them both with and without pistol grips.

Above is a picture of Karl Bauer and his workers from circa 1920, two of which are holding Vogelbüchsen. The image is from the 2nd Vol. of “Alt Scheibenwaffen” by Tom Rowe and others and is courtesy of the well known gun maker Jörg Schilling of Zella-Mehlis.

Click Here to read about the history of the Vogelschiesen events.