Looking for info on German Jaeger Rifle

[bingo1952]

It may have also been for hunting use as well. If you shot the boar and didn't put him down it could be used as a "Last Ditch" weapon to keep him off of you.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

This is the most likely use for it.

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

It would be useful to find out the rate of twist. This will determine whether it is meant to stabilize a ball or an elongated projectile.

 

[BobKrohn]

ff (Sorry, off topic but necessary)


I just looked at your profile.
I assumed you were a German now living in the US.
Your English language skills are so good.
Now I know you are living in the original Jaegermeisterland.

When I am communicating (writing or talking) I use a lot of slang, puns (intended double meanings and I hope comical :rotf: ), Old West terminology, colloquial expressions and just plain made up words (neologisms).

Is that ever a problem for you?
If so, let me know.
I hate to clutter this topic but not sure if it's considered good etiquette to just email someone out of the blue.

Maybe there are others that find some words used by myself and others in Buckskinning, Muzzleloading, Cowboy Action Shooting to be meaningless (or worse, have a mistaken meaning) and can't be found in any normal dictionary let alone an online translation program.

Shake it easy, ugh, I mean Take it easy

 

[romeoh]

I just looked at your profile.
I assumed you were a German now living in the US.
Your English language skills are so good.
Now I know you are living in the original Jaegermeisterland.

When I am communicating (writing or talking) I use a lot of slang, puns (intended double meanings and I hope comical :rotf: ), Old West terminology, colloquial expressions and just plain made up words (neologisms).

Is that ever a problem for you?
...

:redface: Well, thank you. I´m aware that I still make stupid non-navtivespeaker mistakes.
I just been on a course to train others in English in the future to be honest. :redface:
Well, I´m the one-eyed among the blind, huh? :wink: :grin:

And of course I got no problem with your English. :haha:
Just start babbling away and I try to fix my problems in understanding. :grin:
You´ll find out that the whole world comes together on this "forum-campfire".

Back to the gun:
Runnball is sure right, the main use for that blades was hunting.
But not so many rifles were prepared like the one in the auction AFAIK. I always thought the hunters sword was carried like any other sword and also used like one, especially for finishing wounded bigger game.
In this case I can imagine there wasn´t just the black or white way... :wink:
I googled a little, this page show some nice "Hirschfänger" as they are called in german:
Klick Me!

 

[BobKrohn]

OK here's the twist info:

3/4 turn (clockwise from rear perspective) in 28"
or
28/3*4 = 1 turn in 37" = fairly fast

8 grooves


re: knives, bayonets and slang

There is a term for these long narrow knives in the Old West.
"Arkansas Toothpick" and "Pig Sticker"
The latter being another valuable clue? :wink:

I think most Mountainmen carried some monstrously huge edged weapon like this that needed no cocking or reloading.

(At least that's what I have observed in all the movies, TV shows and modern day rendezvous I have seen. :grin: )

re: pupose of hook gizmo on end of auction gun.

I still think that developing a hook-on lever device (kinda like a detachable loading lever on a Colt C&B revolver) and a "car-dent-remover-hammer/loading-pressure-applicator" could be huge money makers for some motivated entrepreneur. :shake:
Write off all shooting and rendezvous trips as "business expenses" on Income Tax.



PS to romeoh:
Don't try translating "car-dent-remover/loading-pressure-applicator-hammer". I was just kidding.

 

[bingo1952]

Some very nice blades indeed but way too rich for my blood. Most of my guns don't cost what those do and the exchange rate for the Dollar vs the Euro is giving us a real beating at the moment.

 

[BobKrohn]

Just hit me.
37" is almost 1 meter (39.37")
Probably is more properly 1 turn per meter.

PS to romeoh:
Google Toolbar has an in-line translator.
i.e. place cursor over word...full dictionary listing for that word.
Also, page translation.
I used the page function to sign up on the German Auction site. Just discovered the word function accidentally when typing this. I had German in High School but am VERY rusty now.

 

[romeoh]

...
I think most Mountainmen carried some monstrously huge edged weapon like this that needed no cocking or reloading.
...

:grin: Take a look at rsblack´s new outfit in the photo-section of the forum.
On his left side - a Hirschfänger. :shocked2: :grin:

For translation I´d recommend dict.cc - no full text translation but the vocabulary gets improved by the users.

 

[Cato]

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I dont know if this info could be useful for you.I have a Norwegian built rifle with a German barrel.50cal.My barrel is also marked with Gusstahl. I also have the original bullet mould.The bullets are cast with rifling on it.The rifle is built around 1840.

 

[BobKrohn]

What does the base of the bullet look like?
Flat and solid or hollow?

It's hard to tell from the picture but it looks like there may be vertical (longitudinal i.e. along the axis) projections. I assume these are the cast rifling you mention. I'll bet the rifling grooves on the rifle are really deep!

I don't think my rifle uses these as the rifling is "normal" depth.

You are probably very lucky to have the mould! I'll bet that it would cost a fortune to have one made. That's if you could even find someone that could do it!

There were so many schemes to try and get bullets to spin reliably. Yours is very interesting and unusual.

Have you shot this rifle?

 

[Cato]

The base of the bullet is hollow,not very deep.You can see some pictures of the gun on this post, Post#580138 .I have shot it several times,but i have to find the right powder charge for it,its not very accurate.The barrel seems to have a twist of 1 round in 33 inches,not very deep rifling.

 

[BobKrohn]

I just looked at the pictures.
It looks very similar to mine and I like it.
How many other 150 year old things in this world can you really use and enjoy just like the first owner?
Musical instruments and that's about it.
It's a fantastic feeling.
Holding it and thinking about all the "experiences it had".
It would be really interesting if there are any old photographs of it. Look into that!
Your neighbor must be a very cool guy to let you use it.

 

[BobKrohn]

It just hit me

If the rifling is not deep, how do the projections on the bullet engage the rifling?

Maybe you can try roundball. If the bore is not one of the "standard" sizes then there are moulds available in lots of "odd" or uncommon diameters by companies like Lee and Lyman.


Try MidSouth Shooters Supply. (great prices)
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com

go (Lee moulds for example)
RELOADING
LEAD BULLET CASTING
LEE MOULDS

There's dozens of sizes.
Don't know for sure but they probably ship overseas.

I shot my rifle, which also has a "fast" twist, with patched roundball. Maybe just use a light charge?

Anyway, the target you posted looked pretty good to me. Unless you were only 15' away!