jaeger, yager, ?

[6thtexas]

I read a lot of early Texas history. One type of rifle often spoken of from 1836 to 1860 is a "yager". Anyone have a clue to what exactly was meant by that term? I am thinking the term was used generically for about any short barreled, large bore rifle. I have seen 1841 Mississippis referred to by that term. Could the term originally come from the early German settlers in Texas? In the great book "The Texas Gun Trade" the majority of gunsmiths listed seem to have German surnames. I wonder what would constitute a proper "yager" for the Republic era (1836-1845).

 

[Grenadier1758]

@6thtexas, "yager" is the German pronunciation of "jaeger". By the 1840's any short barreled, large bored rifle could have been called a "yager" after the large bored, short barreled German hunting rifle of the 1750's. In German, jaeger means hunter.

 

[6thtexas]

Appreciate it. I guess what I'm asking is if anyone has ever seen an example of such a rifle that was actually used during the days of the Texas Republic. What specifically was a yager in that time and place? If one was to have a authentic rifle built, what would it look like and what features would it have (apart from, of course, a short barrel and a large bore)

 

[davidmc62]

Go to Google images and search for "jaeger rifle" or "percussion jaeger rifle" and be amazed at all the images that come up, originals and reproductions.

 

[6thtexas]

I've been looking. What I am trying to find is an image of such specifically documented to the Texas Republic days. It is starting to look like the term had by that time and in at least in that place may have become generic. In the time period after Texas became a state I have seen Mississippi rifles referred to as "yagers" in print. I wonder, too, with the influx of all the Germans starting in the 1840's if some of the arriving gunsmiths may have made jaegers like they did back in the old country.

If I have time this summer I am going to do a little digging and see what if anything I come up with.

 

[davidmc62]

You may be right with the "generic label" being applied to describe large bore "Germanic styled" short rifles, it would probably depend on who was doing the describing. Just guessing but the Terms "Kentucky" rifle, "Hawken" rifle or "Plains" rifle are terms used "TODAY" by the collector, non-collector, shooter etc. to describe a lot of similar but different rifles. It appears to me, folks "today" seem to place a lot more emphasis on a descriptor name rather than going by "makers" name when identifying these old pieces. So I would not worry or fret over the term as much as I would the gun, the gunmaker, the time and its place in history if that's what your after. BTW, have you seen this small but really cool page on Texas made rifles?
https://www.texasguntrade.com/texassportingrifles.htm

Lots of German gunsmiths, what a surprise.
Cheers

 

[Jaeger]

The term "jaeger" (or Yager, Yaeger, etc.) had become so generic in America by the 20th century that they started using it to name fighter pilots.

 

[6thtexas]

I have the book "Texas Gun Trade' that has those photos. I have been rooting around to see what else i can find photos of.

The book has a photo of a percussion rifle used in one of the last Indian fights in Texas which is neat.

Lots of German gunsmiths and and many other interesting tidbits. I liked the ad some gunshop in Brownsville had a couple of years after the war. IIRC the shop had 2500 "New Model Army revolvers" and 250,000 rds of Spencer ammunition. (Sorry for mentioning the unmentionables) As Brownsville is at the mouth of the Rio Grande, reckon where all that went?

 

[Rifleman1776]

In German, jaeger means hunter.

Correct, and the term can be applied to either the rifle or the guy who hunts.