By Larry B. Schuknecht
The Waldläufer (woods stalker) Drilling was a side by side shotgun with a small caliber rifle barrel built into the top rib. These were usually chambered for the 22 Long Rifle Rim Fire cartridge but some times they were chambered for the 5.6 x 35R Vierling Center Fire, a very close relative of the 22 Hornet. The earliest referance that I am able to find is an advertisement from the June 11,1891 issue of the Deutsche Forest Zeitung for a Drilling with the barrel in the top rib from Carl Gründig in Dresden. Perhaps this was a development of his. The ad states that it is new and protected by law.
Later the firm of Schmidt & Habermann in Suhl produced a hammerless drilling referred to as the Waldläufer (their trade name).
Following are images of a Vierling made by Gründig which incorporates a small caliber barrel in the top rib. Click HERE to read more about Carl Gründig.
Next we have images of a E. Schmidt & Habermann Waldläufer.
The following image was found on GunsInternational.com and shows a E. Schmidt & Habermann “Waldläufer”, the button on the top tang is not a safety but is the cocking button for the top rib barrel.
Next we have images of a outside hammer “Waldläufer” made in Austria by Benedikt Winkler in Ferlach, the rifle round being 5.6 x 35R.
