Introduction and a question about a double gun I have

[bamajim31]

My name is Jim Parker, I own and operate Calvary Longrifles LLC. We are located in Warrior, AL and I am a custom builder of American Longrifles and I also collect antique firearms. The reason I have asked to join this group is because I occasionally have antique German firearms come into my shop. My knowledge of German firearms is very limited and I figured the best way to gain knowledge is to join a specialized group, so here I am.

I recently had a double flint over and under gun come into my shop. It is signed Ioh H A Neustadt. I believe that this gun will date to about 1795. The top bore is rifled and about 60 caliber, the bottom bore is smooth. It has no provision for a ram rod. The only other mark that I can see is there is a PH with a sun symbol stamped behind the rear of the trigger guard.

I would like to get more information about this firearms. If anyone can share their knowledge I would appreciate any information.

Thanks, Jim Parker

[mike ford]

Jim,
This is a pretty unusual gun, even though we are mostly interested in cartridge guns there are a couple things we can offer. It seems to be in the general form of the classic Jaeger (hunter) rifle i.e., relatively short barrel of relatively large caliber. They often have a simple sliding patchbox cover like this one. This one having a smooth bore barrel is a little bit unusual. Germans are known to use quite a few combination guns of every conceivable form and number of barrels. What makes this one a little unusual is its age and method of firing and it would have been a little expensive at the time. Combination guns became most popular later. Neustadt would be the location, most likely, of the maker. There were/are more than one Neustadt ( this means new town or city) a couple I am familiar with are Neustadt am Main (on the Main River) and Neustadt am Saal (Saal River) and there likely others. We derive most of the information about the guns we collect from proof marks in addition to commercial markings. The first German proof law was passed in 1891 and became effective in the beginning of 1893. There are others in the GGCA that are more knowledgeable than I about these older guns and someone else may offer more information.
Mike

[Axel E]

To me this combination looks like an Austrian Grenzerstutzen = borderers carbine M1768, an unique military arm for the sharpshooters of the imperial Austrian frontier regiments. The Austro-Hungarian Militaergrenze = military frontier was a peculiar organization against the Ottoman empire. A broad strip of land with all the population organized as part regular army, part militia. As the Turks regarded any raid with less than 400 men and no artillery not as an act of war, but a private enterprise, there was sort of a constant guerilla war in that area, from about 1500 to 1850, for 350 years. The Austrian borderers were light infantry, Germans would call them “Jaeger”, Americans “Rangers”. The slow to load rifle barrel was meant for single precise shots using patched balls, while the smoothbore was for more rapid reloading, musket style with unpatched round balls for close range infighting. I will try to post two pics of such rare rifles.
As Mike noted , there are countless “Neustadt’s” in Germany, Austria and neighboring countries. The Neustadt association has 65 member communities, but someone counted about 600 Neustadt placenames. BTW, my daughter lives in the smallest member of that association, Neustadt on Spree with 350 inhabitants. Here I would look around among the about 15 Neustadts in 18^th century Austria.

[bamajim31]

Mike, thank you for your comments. I have looked the internet over and I have found a couple of similar firearms that came up for auction. These were a little more ornate than this one in that they had some carving on them. I have a fellow collector that has a very nice double flint like mine and he is the one that told me that this gun was from the 1795 era because that is when the reinforced cocks were introduced. I will post a picture of both of these firearms together. Again thanks for your info it is very much appreciated.

Jim

[bamajim31]

Wow, Axel E, what a great post. The picture is very enlightening. It shows how the ram rod was carried and an interesting object that is hanging from the nose cap screw. I knew the whole in the screw had a purpose. Do you have an idea of what that object is? Thank you very much sir.

Jim

[Axel E]

an interesting object that is hanging from the nose cap screw. Do you have an idea of what that object is?

My guess: A muzzle stopper to keep water or dirt out.

[yamoon]

Welcome Jim
It is always good to have new forum members. I have no interest in charcoal burners, but I look forward to any thing that increases my knowledge. Axel, Mike, & Peter are always a source of information. Consider joining the GGCA, there is a much greater store of information in the publications.
Mike in cold snowy Kansas

[mike ford]

Axel,
Thanks for coming in with this very interesting history, we can always count on you.
Mike

[Leatherman]

While we are on the subject of swivel Jaeger rifles. Here is a nice one that showed up at a gun show last month. I’m sure this was not used for military use if used at all. No I didn’t buy it.

[sharps4590]

The one bamajim posted isn't a swivel rifle. It has two locks.