1529B

NICELY RELIEF CARVED GERMAN JAEGER RIFLE.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
NICELY RELIEF CARVED GERMAN JAEGER RIFLE.
NSN. Cal. .610 Groove diameter. 7 deep rounded grooves. 30-1/2" Swamped oct bbl with flared muzzle, is not maker marked. There are remnants of old engraving at breech and muzzle. Bbl is fitted with V-notch rear sight, with filed sea serpent tail. Bbl has been converted to percussion with shaped drum and nipple. Deeply chamfered lock with flat plate mounts flat bodied serpentine percussion hammer. European walnut full length stock is nicely molded along ramrod channel, around lock, sideplate, and toe line, and is carved with relief scrolled acanthus around bbl tang at either end of nicely molded cheekpiece, at termination of thimble, and on sliding patchbox cover. There is a horn and bone inlaid star design above cheek rest. Brass hardware has acanthus finials with some well cut scroll engraving on shaped sideplate, and large buttplate top tang. Trying to identify transition Kentucky rifles from German Jaeger rifles is always a difficult task, but we believe that this rifle is a very fine example of a German Jaeger rifle made in North-western Germany; Hanover region and most probably made in the middle third of the 18th C. The bone star inlay on the cheek is a characteristic associated with North-western Germany (Reference an article by George Shumway in the May 1992 issue of Muzzle Blast magazine). The side plate is also characteristic of that region of Germany. The short bbl is also uncommon for transition rifles. CONDITION: Good. Iron parts show considerable cleaning over the years, removing most engraving, sharp edges rounded, now a dark brown patina. Stock retains most of its orig finish with many minor nicks, knocks, and dings, but has a lovely glowing patina. Brass is toned to a dark gold. Trigger guard, rear tang is shortened and repositioned. There is some loss to wood at muzzle end of stock, with 6" sliver missing on right, and 2" sliver on left. Ramrod fits well, but appears to be from a British shotgun. A beautiful old rifle that probably dates from the mid 18th century. 4-47560