POTD: Morgenroth Lever Action – Germany’s Winchester Alternative
Sam.S 05.08.25
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! This bizarre rifle represents one of the rarest German sporting arms ever made – a Teutonic reimagining of the American lever-action that somehow manages to be both familiar and completely alien at the same time. Created around 1900 by Adolf and George Morgenroth of Gernrode, this rifle claimed improvements over the “American repeating rifle M. 1895” according to German patents DRP Nr. 113379 and 123903. While it looks superficially like a Winchester 1895, the loading system is pure German ingenuity – it feeds from the same 5-round en-bloc clips used in the Gewehr 88 “Commission Rifle,” ejecting the empty clip through the bottom when fired. The rifle features a simplified bolt with side-mounted rails that locks via a crossbolt, and an unusual safety switch on the receiver tang that requires manually pushing the hammer further down to engage. All this complexity might explain why it failed commercially in Germany, where hunters were largely unfamiliar with lever-actions to begin with. What makes this specimen particularly special is the fine craftsmanship. The receiver showcases elegant scroll engraving surrounding the “MORGENROTH’S GEWEHRFABRIK/GERNRODE, I./A.” marking, and the walnut stock features European-style carved and checkered tip on the forearm with matching checkered wrist and horn buttplate. German commercial crown proofs on the bolt, receiver, and barrel confirm this as a legitimate civilian sporting arm rather than a military prototype. The octagon barrel sports a ramped dovetailed bead front sight paired with a flip-up notch rear sight. This represents the only example of this exceptionally rare German lever-action ever offered through Rock Island Auction, making it a remarkable find for collectors interested in those oddball European attempts to adapt American designs for their own hunting traditions.
“German Morgenroth Lever Action Rifle.” Rock Island Auction Company, https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/4094/1470/german-morgenroth-lever-action-rifle. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
