Old Jaeger style Boar rifle has some history

D

DeeDubya

New member
It's new enough to be a percussion cap but without any marks or proof it will remain a mystery. The old German I bought it from was certain that it was made by a small shop riflesmith in Germany. It is approx 69cal, damascus, rifled with double-set triggers adjusted to 1oz.

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The stock and hand carved trigger gaurd both appear to be rosewood. Try not be distracted by the paint specks some idiot got on it at some time. Testimony to how an old gun was all but forgotten when metallic cartridge rifles took center stage.

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Double-set triggers still function like new.

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But finally, here is the most interesting feature on the gun. What do you think the 2 notches were for? Boars?

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You're right, that is a mystery. With that wooden guard, it seems likely that it was a gentleman's gun. The only other explanation for it was that the smith had no extra metal sitting around the shop. I think you're right, it does have some european style elements.
 
I don't think it was a "gentleman's" gun. Not a well do do gentleman, anyhow.

Looks like a low end working gun to me.
No engraving, no maker's mark, not even a proof mark.
No wedge escutcheons, tiny little lock screw plate.
Wooden trigger guard cheaper than horn, maybe.

That isn't necessarily BAD. A friend has a similarly plain Jaeger only modern made from commodity parts and he kills the dickens out of all manner of game with it.
 
The reason I say "gentleman" is because it just doesn't seem to be a run of the mill hunter's musket. There is some embellishment on the stock, the stock is contoured with a cheekpiece, nicely shaped hammer and lockplate, very nicely curved stock lines, and above all, double set triggers.

not knowing a lot about the era that thing came out in, those seem to me to probably be a few options above what Gunter tossed into the back of the cart when badgers were after his chickens. Certainly not the property of a duke, but maybe a well to do farmer. I don't know.

The guard is an absolute mystery. I'm inclined to think that it was a later replacement because of those round head wood screws. It was shaped a little like some of the scheutzen trigger guards.

Well, really, the whole thing is a mystery, I guess.
 
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