My Jaeger Big Bore Rifle

[Ralph Meisse]

Here are some pics of my Jaeger rifle. As you can see it is the white and I am torn between using it that way or having somekind of finish put on the barrel and lock, either by me or someone else.

This gun was made by a J. Kreckel in Pa. some years back, I don't know how many. Anyway, she is a pretty little thing with a 29 inch barrel and 45 inches overall length. I don't know what caliber she be yet, but it measures 5/8 across the hole. She has wire decoration and the white patchbox and the other white items on the stock are made out of, I believe bone.

I have owned her for maybe six or so years and never fired her. Can anyone tell me about what caliber she could be and what kind of charges and weight bullets she would shoot? I know that I will have to get the barrel slugged to be sure.

Now, here is my question----if she were yours----would you use her in the white or have her blued or browned. :idunno:

Big Ralph

 

[hawk]

i believe that's 62 cal.

nice looking rifle.

 

[rabjr]

I think your looking at a .62 cal. Nice looking gun! That bone just might be Ivory or at least some pieces maybe. :thumbsup:

 

[AeroncaTAL]

Very nice! I would leave the metal just as it is, and not try to brown or blue it. Over time with use it should develop a nice gray patina...
Scott

 

[Trench]

Two words. NO TOUCHY!! That rifle looks great as-is.

 

[mazo kid]

Probably .62 caliber, but you need to slug or have the bore measured. Great looking rifle! :thumbsup:

 

[nchawkeye]

I can't believe you've had that thing for 6 years and not fired it, that's a sin...

She looks great, I dang sure wouldn't remove the barrel to brown...That will make a dandy deer rifle...

 

[jbg]

Leave it just the way it is.

 

[Rick Callison]

I'm with Trench; whoever made that rifle knew what he (or she?) was doing. Leave it in the white. A very, very fine rifle!

 

[rdillion]

My Lord that is beautiful. No, no don't do a thing to it.

 

[tecum-tha]

No browning or blueing on this kind of rifle. Originals were usually always bright until they took ntural patine from use. This rifle shows very good craftmenship although it is a very american style jaeger rifle. Silver wire inlays are not common in rifles, more on pistols. The stock carving is pretty contemporary. If they showed animals it was usually sculptured into the lockplate, thumbpiece etc.
Still, a very fine rifle. Try 0.18 or 0.20 patching with those heavier calibers.

 

[steve nagy]

That is a beautiful rifle! I would NOT attempt to attempt a bluing of it as many of the Jaeger rifles seem to be left in the white.

Regarding the caliber, can you get a .61" ball and compare it to the bore? Either that or take it to a proper smith and he could mike the barrel. I would think that slugging it would not be necessary since, afterall, a lead ball is not much more than that. Let us know how it shoots and what load you work up for it.

 

[redwing]

Your Yaeger Info. is right on target. :bow:

 

[dbutch]

I vote--Mic the bore -leave as is-shoot it. There is lots of labor in that rifle...How did you come across it?Any history there?...

 

[Ralph Meisse]

Yes, there is a story behind this gun. Aren't there always.

The maker of this gun sold it to a very good friend of mine. This friend, and I used to hunt the Pa. and Maine woods when we were younger.

Anyway, this guy had a Kentucky rifle made by a gunsmith up in New York state. He let me use it one year and I fell in love with it. I tried to buy it off him but no deal. Every year after that, I would call him up and ask him if his gun could come out to play when Flint lock season rolled around.

Then one Christmas morning, there it was under the tree. He sold it to my wife. Well, I shouldn't say sold it. For what he sold it for was more like giving it away. Honest, I tried to pay him more money but he said no. I was the only guy who ever shot a deer with it and I should have it, he said.

Then about three years later, there under the Christmas tree were two more rifles made by the same gunsmith as the first. He said that the set should stay together and he knew I would take care of them. I posted pictures of the ladies gun on this site a few weeks ago. It's a cap lock with a patch box that's shaped like a lady. Again he sold them to my wife for almost nothing.

Then one day he walked into my house and said to my son, "where's your Dad, I got a gun here for him". My boy said, "Dad, if you don't want that gun, I'll buy it". Again he sold it for a song.

You just don't get friends like that anymore and that's sad. I don't know if he will come across any more guns like these, but if he don't, I'm still way ahead of the game.

Big Ralph

 

[Marc Adamchek]

A great gun, a great story, a great friend........You just don't come across that kinda thing too often, if at all. Please leave the gun as is. The patina will be subtle and beautiful as each year goes by, and as we all know, you just can't beat the beauty that comes with age.

 

[Ron LaClair]

A beautiful piece...too bad it doesn't get used more.

Here's the muzzle end of my .62 Jaeger

 

[Ralph Meisse]

Hey Longhunter,

Let's see a close up of your Jaeger. I saw where it knocks um down really good.

The only reason I don't hunt with this gun is because the other Kentucky rifles fit and shoot so good. Everytime I think, today I'm gonna take the Jaeger, my other gun cries----NO--NO--NO--take me, take me!!!!!!

I really have been blessed over the years both with good friends and great guns to carry. I don't know,but for me, it does make a big difference what gun I am carrying. A pretty or really well made weapon feels so much like a friend in itself. Don't know if that makes much sense to you guys or not, but it does to me.

Big Ralph

 

[Ron LaClair]

Hey Longhunter,

Let's see a close up of your Jaeger. I saw where it knocks um down really good.

Here it is, Walnut stock, a little carving but not a lot. It was built for me by Jud Brennan in 1979. I have a fancy .54 Kentucky rifle that Jud built for me in 1977 but the Jaeger is my favorite hunting rifle. The swamped barrel of the short rifle is a joy to carry and shoot...plus I like the knock down power of the big .62 ball.

 

[Ralph Meisse]

Nice lookin gun LH. I might take my Jaeger out next week. Flintlock starts here in Pa. on the day after Christmas. I already know that I will not have as good luck as you. They have most of the deer shot off in this state. What is the weight of a 62 round ball and what charge do you use?

BR