A FINE QUALITY RAISED-CARVED COLONIAL PERIOD GERMANIC FLINTLOCK JEAGER RIFLE, ca. 1750: In overall fine original flintlock condition. Deeply, rifled, octagonal, pin-fastened, 25″, swamped, iron, .68 caliber barrel with a fixed iron-base rear sight and a brass blade-type fore-sight. Retains generally smooth, untouched, gunmetal-gray, steel surfaces with light scattered discoloration and fine scattered salt & pepper pitting. Molded and finely relief carved, nicely figured, walnut fullstock with a pronounced comb to the butt and a flared horn fore-end tip: adorned with large raised-carved teardrops behind the lock and sideplate mortises. The sides of the buttstock with finely incised and raised carved vines and acanthus leaf designs; and the barrel tang with a matching floral carved apron. Rounded wooden patchbox cover with incised line borders. Retains approx. 85% finish with some scattered light handling marks, minor abrasions, signs of expected use/wear, sharp contours and tight hairlines. Associated/Remounted, flat, bridle-less lock with beveled edges, gunmetal/steel-gray age patination, strong mechanics and fine timing. Retains generally smooth surfaces, en suite with the barrel and complete with its flat gooseneck hammer and its matching frizzen with chiseled back: engraved under the pan with a “MACZ” maker’s signature. The barrel with sharp contours, a very good bore with deep-groove rifling and some expected light scattered pitting and patches of discoloration. Sculpted and finely crafted, plain, brass mounts of traditional Germanic Jaeger Rifle form. The trigger-guard with a sculpted, acanthus leaf forward finial and the bow with a Military type rear finger-spur, the buttplate with its original screw fastening and matching upper finial. A flat openwork type vine-scroll sideplate with sculpted contours; and two (2) faceted barrel-form ramrod pipes. Retains a fine untouched, mustard-toned age patina with some light wear and an old/working-period brass repair to the sideplate– at the forward-most sidebolt. In overall fine original flintlock condition. Complete with its horn-tip wooden ramrod, both of its sling swivels, its functional double-set triggers and its sliding patchbox cover with its original spring. A very nice example of a classic, Colonial Period Large Bore German Flintlock Jaeger Rifle, ca. 1750. The type of Rifle first brought to American Colonies by the early German/Swiss Immigrants, ie., the Pennsylvania Dutch; and which served as the inspiration for the Pennsylvania/Kentucky Rifle. Overall length 40″. For similar examples, please see G. C. Neumann’s: “Battle Weapons…”, pg. 213, 214 & 226.
Images and description courtesy of Paul’s Antique Arms & Armour at: http://www.ambroseantiques.com/flongarms.htm