POTD: The Unique Sjogren Inertial Semi-Automatic Shotgun
Sam.S 10.25.21
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! This is one of those shotguns on my list that I know in my heart I will never have. The Sjogren Inertial Shotgun. This goofy-looking shotgun shoots a 12 gauge 2 1/2″ shell unlike the modern 2 3/4″. The odd-looking nature of the gun is simply because that is how this gun operates. It features a large mas at the rear which reciprocates back and forth when shooting. The shells have to have enough inertia to push that mass backward. This gives the Sjogren a famous sort of back and forth recoil like an Auto-5 on steroids.
“This 12 gauge semi-automatic shotgun was manufactured during the first half of the 20th century (Sjogren patent 1900-1905) and was the first successful semi-automatic shotgun manufactured. The matching serial number is marked on the left side of the barrel, receiver ring and receiver. The upper left side of the barrel band is marked “168”. The left side of the receiver is marked “AUTOMAT/SYSTEM SJOGREN/PATENT” and the right side is marked with a crown over “HAANDVAABENVAERKSTEDERNE KJOBENHAVN”. Nitro proofed barrel with a number of proof marks as well as “2 1/2″ CHOKE” and “1 1/8 oz” on the left side of the breech end. The left side of the breechblock is marked “NOT ENGLISH MAKE”. Single bead sight and mounted with a checkered walnut forearm and pistol grip stock with a hard rubber grip cap and buttplate. Length of pull is 14 1/2 inches.”
Lot 365: Unique Sjogren Semi-Automatic Shotgun. (n.d.). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved October 25, 2021, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/60/365/unique-sjogren-semiautomatic-shotgun.
