Dreyse help

[Geotech]

Hi,

New to the forum... I have a Dreyse needlefire rifle that I have not been able to identify. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Carl

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[mike ford]

Carl,
Subject to correction by more knowledgeable members, such as Axel or Peter, I believe your rifle is a re-worked( converted to sporting use) Military rifle. Given the double set triggers, I believe it was a "Feld Jaeger" rifle, which designates a particular type elite military unit, instead of hunter. The markings are not commercial proof marks, as the rifle predates the proof law. Rather, they are arsenal and acceptance marks. If you can highlight them a little and post clear photos, some of us may be able to tell you the meaning of them. The rifle may have been left over from the "Franco-Prussian War". Maybe someone else can be more helpful.
Mike

[Axel E]

I agree with Mike. It's a sporterised Prussian Jaegerbuechse M/65. This was the last German set trigger Jaegerbuechse in the muzzleloader style with an octagonal barrel. The barrel was apparently shortened from the 31" original, foreend cut down and ram/cleaning/unloading rod removed. The sights were replaced too. German "Jaeger", French "Chasseurs", Spanish "Cazadores" were the same types of light infantry the British call "Rifles" and the Americans "Rangers".

[Axel E]

A pic of the Prussian needlefire Jaegerbuechse M/65 from Goetz’s book “Militaergewehre…”. 29896 such rifles were made by the Dreyse, Soemmerda factory until 1871.

[Geotech]

Thanks Mike & Axel. I pulled it out of storage this weekend and in better light can see that it is marked "Mdl 65." Here are some photos of all the markings I could find if they help with any more detail on the gun. I'm especially curious about the two dates. Thanks again!

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[Geotech]

Last two:

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[Axel E]

The gothic letters on the right side are the personal marks of several military inspectors.
The word Stahl = steel indicates the “new” barrel material. Older Dreyse barrels were made of wrought iron, but steel since 1856.
1868 is the year of original manufacture. Two years later, 1870, the rifle underwent the Aptierung nach Beck = Beck’s modification/improvement. While Dreyse’s original design simply pressed steel cones of breech and barrel together for a sort of seal, the Spandau arsenal director Beck had suggested an improved gas seal similar to the much more modern French Chassepot. Inside the bolt there is a movable breech face, held in place by the screw ahead of the bolt handle. Behind the flat steel breech face there is a rubber sealing ring. With the bolt closed, both breech face plate and rubber ring are pushed inside the barrel. On firing gas pressure pushes the steel breechplate back. This makes the rubber ring expand and seal the breech end. This modification made the basic Dreyse action gastight and provided for easier and faster reloading. A very similar gas seal is used in US heavy artillery, at least until the Korean war. Though all the M65 rifles were made by the Dreyse factory, Beck’s modification was done at the Spandau arsenal as indicated by the eagle/Spandau stamp.