When comparing the two rifles , 1737 Edward Marshal rifle to the standard Jager rifle , The Marshal rifle is considered a "Transitional Rifle" by modern collectors. The "Standard Jaeger" is recognized as the 28 " to 31" barrel large cal. gun , .50 to around .75 cal. . The copies of "Transitional rifles" seen today , possess barrels around 37" , and up. The 37" barreled E. M. trans. rifle , is as it is , due to the movement away from the faults of short barreled hunting rifles in the very early 18th century America. From what I have read , many European Jaeger rifles , were used to harvest wild game from elevated box blinds , with bait set at known ranges. Large calibers were the norm to prevent wounded game. Sounds logical to me. I've hunted deer in the Pa. late flint lock season, with .69 cal. and , .62 cal Jaeger type rifles. I had limited success due to needing a longer sighting plain. I stuck to the .62 cal. , but the 38" Transitional length barrel , made the Trans. length a real powerhouse for Pa. deer in open woods conditions. About five years ago both my hunting buddy and I had to transition back to light wt. .50 cal. rifles due to old age. He's 80 something , and I just turned 75. The last close copy of an Edward Marshal rifle I built was presented to it's new owner , ironically,he died 2 months later. You never know when? Thats' a possible explanation of the differences between the two schools of thought , as I know it. Hope this helps........oldwood
