Jurgen Kreckel custom rural flee market find

Searching small flee markets in deep PA finally paid off, got this nice 12ga
Not 100% positive about author of this shotgun. Found few links online related to matchlock builder Jurgen Kreckel.
If you guys have any info on this builder or recognize components all comments appreciated

Love it!!

bornintheussr said:

Searching small flee markets in deep PA finally paid off, got this nice 12ga
Not 100% positive about author of this shotgun. Found few links online related to matchlock builder Jurgen Kreckel.
If you guys have any info on this builder or recognize components all comments appreciated

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I don’t think it is a very old gun, probably made in the mid to late 1900’s.
Very, very nice gun, nonetheless.
If you don’t mind my asking, what did you have to give for it?

smoothshooter said:

I don’t think it is a very old gun, probably made in the mid to late 1900’s.
Very, very nice gun, nonetheless.
If you don’t mind my asking, what did you have to give for it?

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from what i was reading about this gun builder it looks like he was active in 1990s
i actually did pay nothing for it, traded Italian repro dragoon revolver and spanish kentucky for it.

Congratulations on getting a great deal!

Amazing flea market find. Kreckel was a respected builder of early style guns. Clay Smith recently had a matchlock by him for sale.

BoomStick said:

Amazing flea market find. Kreckel was a respected builder of early style guns. Clay Smith recently had a matchlock by him for sale.

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yes that matchlock along with other flint is the only 2 guns I could find online along with info that Dixie GW use to sell some of his guns

I was just reading a few threads on the forum with a search on his name. Most are discussions of matchlocks but certainly makes sense he would have built other guns as well.

BoomStick said:

I was just reading a few threads on the forum with a search on his name. Most are discussions of matchlocks but certainly makes sense he would have built other guns as well.

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that's his flintlock

https://www.proxibid.com/lotinformation/76410656/kreckel-flintlock-black-powder-rifle-50-caliber

Juergen was a top notch builder. He is famous for his matchlocks.

I’ve used a few Kreckel matchlocks - we had a number at the museum. Pretty handy and well-balanced, fun to shoot. Nice find!
Jay

Great find and great all around smoothbore.....shoot ball, patched ball, bird shot, buckshot, you name it! Not easy to come out on top...but you did it!

great combo smoothbore and well figured wood. beautiful.

XVIIc Wheelock said:

Great find and great all around smoothbore.....shoot ball, patched ball, bird shot, buckshot, you name it! Not easy to come out on top...but you did it y

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You sure about shooting balls in this barrel? Few people who looked at it said it's strictly shotgun barrel. That to say non of these folks shoot BP so I don't know if to trust what they said. Is there any way to define shotgun barrels?

Balls with the same powder charge as a shot load, less pressure So why would a ball be unsafe.
Any smoothbore is a shotgun no matter the look.

bornintheussr said:

You sure about shooting balls in this barrel? Few people who looked at it said it's strictly shotgun barrel. That to say non of these folks shoot BP so I don't know if to trust what they said. Is there any way to define shotgun barrels?

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Can't speak about another person's gun but I put everything through my shotguns (bp and smokeless) shot, slug, buckshot, and ball. the historic problem was using smokeless powder in Damascus barrels. I believe the point of the trade gun was a flintlock shotgun so one needed only flint ignition and powder and one could fire whatever they needed in the moment - shot, buck shot, ball, slug, or handful of nails as appropriate.

-Mike

You must have felt like you hit the muzzleloader lottery, that gun is a pure TOB… (thing of beauty) congrats!!