Hitler's Gun...Going..... Going........ Gone!

A Krieghoff drilling presentation gun purported to have belonged to Adolf Hitler has sold for $140,025 on Gun Broker.

This particular style of gun is known as a "drilling" which consists of a double barrel 12 gauge shotgun affixed to the top of the unit, coupled with a 8 X 57JR caliber rifle barrel attached to the bottom of the upper shotgun barrels. The gun was designed and manufactured by the Krieghoff Gun Company, located in Germany. The serial number inscribed on the gun is 15450, which identifies the gun as having been originally proofed in 1931, and then likely stored by the company before being later engraved for presentation. This particular model is called a "Neptune" and is covered by elaborate engravings done by a master engraver of the time. On either side, the receiver is covered in its entirety by high relief engravings, depicting woodlands with deer and stag. The gun sports cocking indicators, a pop up rifle barrel sight, and a single set trigger for the rifle barrel. The metal finish is estimated to be 90% plus, and the beautiful walnut stock is also in the 90% range -- however some of the checking on the stock could stand to be re-grooved (the checking has developed a "flat" look, but is still easily visible). The gun appears to be in excellent mechanical condition, and has excellent bores. Most interestingly, the bottom of the trigger guard is engraved with the initials "AH".

According to the gun's owners, the weapon was seized as a war trophy, by a U.S. paratrooper, from Hitler's mountain hideaway in the Bavarian Mountains. This hideaway, known as the Eagle's Nest was captured in May 1945 by the U.S. Army's 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, made famous in the HBO mini-series "Band of Brothers". The paratrooper later sold the gun to an Army lieutenant who was unaware of the connection to Hitler. The lieutenant settled in Illinois and kept the gun under his bed for years, taking it out only occasionally to hunt. He died more than a decade ago, and his family no longer wanted the gun.