ILoveMuzzleloading
40 Cal
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2021
- Messages
- 160
- Reaction score
- 385
Like many of you, I am a big fan of Jaeger Rifles. The short profile makes it an interesting section of muzzleloading history in a world dominated by long-barreled muskets and rifles. These tight twist stalking rifles made a name for themselves in the hands of Germans hunting for sustenance and sport.
This Jaeger, in particular, is peculiar for a couple of reasons, the first is the brass lock plate. Brass lock plates aren’t super rare, but I don’t see them often in original pieces. The lock on this rifle is fully decorated. The lock plate has a scene of a stag in the woods, surrounded by leaf and scroll engraving. The tail of the lock has a wonderful grotesque European mask reminiscent of the “Green Man” folklore. This combination of traditional folk tail and realistic fantasy continues around the face of the cock of the lock with more engraving and another mask on the cock bolt going into the lock. The engraving transitions into small relief cast or engraved leaves near the jaws of the cock. Even the frizzen spring has some engraving, the top jaw and frizzen feature very little decoration.