How much is a Merkel 96K Drilling worth today?

As of June 2026, new Merkel 96K Drilling models start around $4,829, with used and collector examples ranging from roughly $5,250 to over $19,995. The spread comes down to engraving extent, wood grade, and rifle caliber. Always confirm current pricing with a dealer before budgeting for one.

What calibers does the Merkel 96K Drilling come in?

It pairs a 12 or 20 gauge shotgun barrel set with rifle calibers including .223, .243 Win, 7x57R, 7x65R, .308, .30-06, or 9.3x74R. The buyer selects the rifle caliber at purchase, since it's matched to the specific hunting application the gun is built for.

How much does the Merkel 96K Drilling weigh?

The Merkel 96K Drilling weighs approximately 6.83 pounds with its 23.6-inch barrel set and walnut stock. That's close to a standard double-barreled shotgun, which is part of why the gun handles and swings naturally despite carrying a third rifle barrel underneath the shotgun barrels.

What locking system does the Merkel 96K use?

The 96K uses a three-position Blitz triple-lock system, controlled by a cocking slide on the stock tang. Depending on where that slide is set, the hunter can fire either the shotgun barrels or the rifle barrel underneath, switching capability without a separate safety or selector to manage.

Is the Merkel 96K Drilling a good first gun?

No, the Merkel 96K Drilling is not a good first gun. It's a specialty, premium-priced combination firearm built for an experienced hunter who specifically needs both shotgun and rifle capability in one gun. A new shooter is better served starting with a dedicated, lower-cost shotgun or rifle first.

Where was the Merkel 96K Drilling made?

The Merkel 96K Drilling is made in Suhl, Germany, a town with a long-standing reputation for fine gunmaking. Merkel has produced drilling-pattern combination guns for close to a century, and the company maintains an in-house team of hand engravers who finish each gun before it ships.

Why do prices vary so much between listings?

Price varies because a drill's cost is driven less by the base action and more by three factors: hand engraving, walnut grade, and rifle caliber rarity. A plain-grade gun in a common caliber sits at the low end of the range. A heavily engraved gun in a rare caliber sits well above it.

Who is the Merkel 96K Drilling actually built for?

A drilling makes the most sense for a hunter who routinely encounters both bird and big game in the same outing and wants one gun instead of two. If you only hunt one category of game, a dedicated shotgun or rifle will outperform a combination gun for the same money.

How does the 96K differ from other Merkel drilling models?

The 96K is the standard entry point into Merkel's drilling lineup, built as a basic two-barrel shotgun with a single rifle barrel attached underneath. Other Merkel configurations, like the Doppelbüchsdrilling, add a second rifle barrel instead of a shotgun pairing, changing both weight and intended hunting application.

What should I check before buying a used Merkel 96K Drilling?

Confirm the rifle caliber matches the ammunition you can actually source, inspect the engraving and wood grade against the asking price, and verify the locking system and barrels are in proper working order, ideally through a dealer inspection. Because pricing varies so widely, get a current appraisal rather than trusting an old listed price.

Merkel 96K Drilling Price Guide: Proven 2026 Value

Merkel 96K Drilling | Gun Carrier Rifle Reviews

Quick Look

The Merkel 96K Drilling is a German made three barrel combination gun pairing a 12 or 20 gauge shotgun with a rifle barrel in calibers like 7x65R, .308, or 9.3x74R. New models start around $4,829, and used or collector examples range from roughly $5,250 to $19,995 depending on engraving and condition. It’s built on the Blitz three lock system and remains a benchmark German hunting gun for shooters who want shotgun and rifle capability in a single barrel set.

This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for guidance from a licensed firearms dealer or legal counsel. Always verify current pricing, availability, and applicable state and federal law before purchasing or transferring any firearm.

What Is the Merkel 96K Drilling?

The Merkel 96K Drilling is a three-barreled hunting firearm built in Suhl, Germany, that combines a shotgun and a rifle barrel into one gun.

Drillings solve a specific field problem: carrying two completely different gun types on the same hunt without carrying two completely different guns. The 96K pairs a 12 or 20 gauge shotgun barrel set with a single rifle barrel underneath, so a hunter who jumps a deer while working a bird field doesn’t have to choose which gun to bring. The 96K is one of several drilling configurations Merkel produces, sitting alongside the Doppelbüchsdrilling and Bergstutzen variants, but it’s the standard entry point into the drilling category.

Merkel has produced these guns for close to a century, and the company’s reputation rests heavily on its in-house engraving program. Each gun passes through hand engravers before it ships, which is part of why pricing varies so widely between a base production model and a fully engraved example.

How Much Does the Merkel 96K Drilling Cost New and Used?

New Merkel 96K Drilling models start around $4,829, while used and collector examples run from roughly $5,250 to over $19,995 depending on engraving, condition, and caliber configuration.

As of June 2026, a Merkel Drilling 96K in 7x65R was listed new at $4,829.30 through Guns.com, with comparable used pricing around $4,346. On the higher end of the secondary market, a 96K Drilling chambered in 12x12x9.3x74R, engraved by Gerhard Liebsher and fitted with a Leupold 1.75-6×32 scope, was listed at $9,250 through Steve Barnett Fine Guns, a price point that closely matches what this model has historically commanded for a well-equipped, lightly used example. Listings on the secondary collector market range more broadly than that, with basic examples appearing closer to $5,250 and heavily engraved or rare-caliber pieces reaching $19,995 or more.

The spread exists because a drill’s price is driven less by the base action and more by three variables: engraving extent, wood grade, and rifle caliber rarity. A plain-grade 96K with a common caliber pairing will sit at the low end of that range. A heavily engraved gun with premium walnut and a less common rifle caliber will sit well above it.

Pricing on guns like this moves. Always confirm current listings with a dealer before budgeting for a purchase.

What Are the Merkel 96K Drilling’s Specs?

The Merkel 96K Drilling has a 3-shot capacity, a 23.6 inch barrel, and a Blitz three-lock locking system, with an overall weight of 6.83 pounds.

Spec	Detail
Action	Blitz triple-lock system, three-position cocking slide on stock tang
Shotgun gauges	12 or 20 gauge
Rifle calibers	.223, .243 Win, 7x57R, 7x65R, .308, .30-06, 9.3x74R
Barrel length	23.6 inches
Sights	Pivot-style rear, blade front
Stock material	Walnut
Overall weight	6.83 lbs
Trigger	Front trigger fitted with a set trigger for precision shots

The locking system is the mechanical heart of the gun. The Blitz locks are controlled via a three-position cocking slide on the stock tang, and depending on the position of that slide, either the right barrel or the lower rifle barrel can be fired. That single control point is what lets a hunter switch between shotgun and rifle barrels in the field without fumbling a separate safety or selector.

How Does the Merkel 96K Drilling Perform in the Field?

The Merkel 96K Drilling balances like a dedicated 12 or 20 gauge shotgun despite carrying a third rifle barrel, making it genuinely usable for small game hunting rather than a novelty combination gun.

That balance is the 96K’s biggest practical strength. A lot of combination guns feel front-heavy or awkward to swing once you add a third barrel, but the 96K carries and points like a standard double gun. It’s a basic two-barrel shotgun with a rifle barrel attached underneath, not a heavier four-barrel drilling variant, which keeps the overall weight and handling closer to a conventional field gun.

The tradeoff is the one inherent to every drilling: you’re carrying a rifle capability you may not always need, in exchange for never having to leave the truck to swap guns when game changes mid hunt.

Is the Merkel 96K Drilling Worth Buying?

For a hunter who genuinely needs both shotgun and rifle capability in one field gun, the 96K Drilling is a well-built, German-made option backed by nearly a century of production history, but it’s a specialty purchase, not a budget one.

The engraving and hand fitting that make these guns collectible are the same things that make them expensive relative to a standard production shotgun or rifle. A buyer who wants a pure shotgun or a pure rifle will get more gun for the money by buying either one separately. A buyer who specifically hunts terrain where both bird and big game opportunities show up in the same outing, and who values the one-gun solution, is the actual target customer for this firearm.

Is the Merkel 96K Drilling Worth the Price?

For a shotgun and rifle combination, the 96K Drilling earns its premium price tag by genuinely working as both guns, not just one gun pretending to be two.

Expert and casual hunters alike get real value out of carrying a single firearm that handles bird hunting and big game without a swap. That convenience isn’t cheap. As of June 2026, new models start around $4,829, and used or collector examples run anywhere from roughly $5,250 to over $19,995, depending on engraving and condition. This isn’t an impulse purchase. It’s a gun for hunters who’ve already decided they want the combination capability and are willing to pay for it.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in September 2015 and has been updated for accuracy and current pricing as of June 30,2026.

Top 5 Vierlings: The Rarest & Most Expensive Hunting Rifles In The World (5:32 Merkel 96K Drilling)

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a Merkel 96K Drilling worth today?

As of June 2026, new Merkel 96K Drilling models start around $4,829, with used and collector examples ranging from roughly $5,250 to over $19,995. The spread comes down to engraving extent, wood grade, and rifle caliber. Always confirm current pricing with a dealer before budgeting for one.
What calibers does the Merkel 96K Drilling come in?

It pairs a 12 or 20 gauge shotgun barrel set with rifle calibers including .223, .243 Win, 7x57R, 7x65R, .308, .30-06, or 9.3x74R. The buyer selects the rifle caliber at purchase, since it’s matched to the specific hunting application the gun is built for.
How much does the Merkel 96K Drilling weigh?

The Merkel 96K Drilling weighs approximately 6.83 pounds with its 23.6-inch barrel set and walnut stock. That’s close to a standard double-barreled shotgun, which is part of why the gun handles and swings naturally despite carrying a third rifle barrel underneath the shotgun barrels.
What locking system does the Merkel 96K use?

The 96K uses a three-position Blitz triple-lock system, controlled by a cocking slide on the stock tang. Depending on where that slide is set, the hunter can fire either the shotgun barrels or the rifle barrel underneath, switching capability without a separate safety or selector to manage.
Is the Merkel 96K Drilling a good first gun?

No, the Merkel 96K Drilling is not a good first gun. It’s a specialty, premium-priced combination firearm built for an experienced hunter who specifically needs both shotgun and rifle capability in one gun. A new shooter is better served starting with a dedicated, lower-cost shotgun or rifle first.
Where was the Merkel 96K Drilling made?

The Merkel 96K Drilling is made in Suhl, Germany, a town with a long-standing reputation for fine gunmaking. Merkel has produced drilling-pattern combination guns for close to a century, and the company maintains an in-house team of hand engravers who finish each gun before it ships.
Why do prices vary so much between listings?

Price varies because a drill’s cost is driven less by the base action and more by three factors: hand engraving, walnut grade, and rifle caliber rarity. A plain-grade gun in a common caliber sits at the low end of the range. A heavily engraved gun in a rare caliber sits well above it.
Who is the Merkel 96K Drilling actually built for?

A drilling makes the most sense for a hunter who routinely encounters both bird and big game in the same outing and wants one gun instead of two. If you only hunt one category of game, a dedicated shotgun or rifle will outperform a combination gun for the same money.
How does the 96K differ from other Merkel drilling models?

The 96K is the standard entry point into Merkel’s drilling lineup, built as a basic two-barrel shotgun with a single rifle barrel attached underneath. Other Merkel configurations, like the Doppelbüchsdrilling, add a second rifle barrel instead of a shotgun pairing, changing both weight and intended hunting application.
What should I check before buying a used Merkel 96K Drilling?

Confirm the rifle caliber matches the ammunition you can actually source, inspect the engraving and wood grade against the asking price, and verify the locking system and barrels are in proper working order, ideally through a dealer inspection. Because pricing varies so widely, get a current appraisal rather than trusting an old listed price.