Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original Danish or Norwegian military flintlock Jäger rifle incorporating an earlier pattern Scandinavian lock, safety dog, five groove rifled barrel, sword bayonet mounting stud, two leaf rear sight, and a later pillar breech loading system. The barrel and breech plug bear matching serial number 2266. Its precise model designation and alteration history remain uncertain.

This is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. It is sold as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or evaluated by a professional gunsmith. The mechanical and bore observations below describe only its present condition and do not establish that it is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

The rifle has characteristics associated with Danish and Norwegian military Jäger rifles of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Numerous patterns and subsequent alteration models were used, and older locks, barrels, stocks, and fittings were sometimes incorporated into later configurations.

The rifle was originally identified as possibly a Danish or Norwegian Model 1791, though similarities have also been noted with the Model 1803 and Model 1821 families. We were unable to confirm an exact model designation from the available markings and physical features.

The presence of the pillar breech, also known as a tige system, indicates a later alteration. Scandinavian military arms were modified extensively during the 19th century, and Norwegian pillar breech alterations are particularly associated with conversion work undertaken after the adoption of that system in 1851. The rifle’s early style flintlock and later pillar breech may therefore represent an unusual arsenal alteration, assembly from components of different periods, or subsequent restoration. Its exact sequence of modification remains undetermined.

The pillar breech system incorporates a metal stem rising from the face of the breech plug. During loading, the projectile was forced against the pillar with the ramrod, expanding its base outward into the rifling. This was intended to improve the projectile’s engagement with the bore while allowing it to be loaded more easily from the muzzle.

The pillar remains readily visible at the bottom of the bore. The rifle is accompanied by its exceptionally substantial iron ramrod, fitted with a large cupped head designed to press the projectile against the pillar. The brass ramrod pipes are correspondingly larger than those normally encountered on conventional muzzleloading rifles and appear consistent with the heavy pillar breech ramrod.

The rifled barrel measures 28 3/4" in length and has an approximate bore diameter of 18.5mm. Five groove rifling remains visible. Overall length is approximately 44 1/4".

A bayonet mounting stud is fitted near the muzzle on the right side of the barrel. The top of the barrel carries the distinctive two leaf folding rear sight commonly associated with Scandinavian military rifles of this general family.

The rifle is fitted with a flintlock incorporating a separate safety dog positioned behind the cock. The lock has a functional half cock position, after which the safety dog can be engaged as an additional mechanical safeguard against accidental release.

The lock remains mechanically functional. It holds at half cock and releases correctly from full cock when the trigger is pulled. The safety dog remains present. These observations describe only the current mechanical action and are not a representation that the rifle is safe to load or fire.

No definitive manufacturer marking was located. A marking resembling a boxed:

HS

appears near the front of the lock plate inside the frizzen spring. Its precise meaning and attribution have not been confirmed.

The right side of the barrel is serial numbered:

2266

The same number appears on the tang of the breech plug, indicating that the barrel and breech plug are matching.

A small script letter:

G

is present beside the alignment marks on the barrel and breech plug.

The right side of the breech is additionally marked:

I5L

Several other numbers in this area are faint and no longer reliably legible. A marking on the rear portion of the brass trigger guard appears to read:

On C

The meanings of these markings remain unknown.

The stock appears to be beech and has the robust full stocked configuration associated with Scandinavian military rifles. We can see some repairs present as well as other signs of long service. A patch box is inlet into the right side of the butt and fitted with a sliding wooden cover. The cover locks correctly and is released by pressing the button at the rear.

Both sling swivels remain present and move freely.

The rifle has been cleaned and restored in comparatively recent years. The iron surfaces now display a lightly oxidized patina with scattered staining and wear. No major remaining oxidation or deep pitting was observed, though the cleaning may have reduced or removed portions of the earlier surface patina.

The brass furniture displays an attractive mellow tone and does not appear excessively polished.

The bore remains in very good overall condition, with strong five groove rifling. Areas of earlier fouling and oxidation have been cleaned. The pillar at the breech remains clearly visible.

With its unusual combination of early Scandinavian flintlock construction, functional safety dog, matching numbered barrel and breech plug, five groove rifling, visible pillar breech, massive cupped ramrod, bayonet mounting stud, two leaf sight, and sliding patch box, this is a particularly interesting military rifle worthy of further specialized study. The uncertain model attribution, later pillar breech alteration, unknown markings, recent cleaning and restoration, and undetermined sequence of modification are fully disclosed. It would make a notable addition to a Danish, Norwegian, Scandinavian military arms, Jäger rifle, flintlock, or early projectile development collection.

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: circa 1800
Caliber: about 18.5mm rifled
Cartridge Type: Ball and Powder
Barrel Length: 28 3/4 Inches
Overall Length: 44 1/4 Inches
Action type: Side action Lock with Dog Safety
Feed System: Muzzle Loading

History of the Denmark Norway firearms connection:

Denmark basically ruled Norway until 1814 however having taken the side of Napoleon Bonaparte in the Napoleonic wars which came to a temporary close in 1813. In 1814 Denmark was forced to grant Norway independence in 1814. In 1815 Napoleon raised his head again and was finally beaten at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Had the French won at Waterloo who knows what Scandinavia would look like today.

Norway had tens of thousands of old Danish produced muskets by 1814 - most of these were already at the point becoming obsolete. While Sweden started a huge production of "new and modern" flintlock long-guns in the early 1800's, the Norwegian army kept the Danish muskets for years to come. As better technology came, these old long-guns were gradually converted and modernized into a variety of models. The muskets from between the M1746 and the M1807 were all fairly similar and most of them were converted to one of the following models.

Little work was needed to convert a flintlock to percussion which was done by removing the outer flintlock parts from the lock-plate, inserting a percussion bit on the barrel and a new hammer plus the dog catch. It was a very inexpensive exercise.

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers". Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services.