Original Item: Only One Available. This is an unusually interesting Danish or Norwegian military flintlock Jäger rifle combining early Scandinavian lock and stock features with a later pillar breech, or tige, alteration. It retains its separate safety dog, five groove rifled barrel, sword bayonet mounting stud, two leaf folding rear sight, sliding wooden patch box, both sling swivels, and a massive iron ramrod with a cupped loading head. The barrel and breech plug are matching and both numbered 2266. Its exact model designation and sequence of alteration have not been conclusively determined, giving the rifle substantial research potential.

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 displays characteristics associated with Danish and Norwegian military Jäger rifles of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Numerous patterns and later alteration models were used in Scandinavian service, and older locks, barrels, stocks, and fittings were sometimes retained or incorporated into updated configurations as military firearms technology advanced.

This example was previously identified as possibly belonging to the Danish or Norwegian Model 1791 family, although similarities have also been noted with the Model 1803 and Model 1821 patterns. We were unable to confirm an exact model designation from the surviving markings and physical features, and no definitive model attribution is presented here.

The most distinctive later feature is the pillar breech, also known as the tige system. Scandinavian military arms underwent extensive alteration during the 19th century, and Norwegian pillar breech conversions are especially associated with work undertaken after adoption of the system in 1851. The combination of an early style flintlock and later pillar breech may represent an arsenal alteration, an arm assembled from components of different periods, or a later restoration incorporating period parts. The precise order and date of these changes remain uncertain.

The pillar breech incorporates a metal stem rising from the face of the breech plug. During loading, the projectile was driven against this pillar with the ramrod, expanding its base into the rifling. The system was intended to improve the projectile’s engagement with the bore while still allowing it to be loaded from the muzzle with less resistance than a tightly fitted ball.

The pillar remains clearly 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 found on conventional muzzleloading rifles and appear consistent with the heavy ramrod required by the pillar breech system.

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 to the right side of the barrel near the muzzle. This would have allowed the rifle to accept a sword bayonet, giving the Jäger the ability to function as both a precision arm and a close combat weapon. The top of the barrel carries a distinctive two leaf folding rear sight of the type 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. Once the lock is placed at half cock, 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 and operational. These observations describe only the present mechanical action and do not represent that the rifle is safe to load or fire.

No definitive manufacturer marking was located. Near the front of the lock plate, inside the frizzen spring, is a marking resembling a boxed:

HS

Its precise meaning and manufacturer 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, confirming 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 can no longer be read with confidence. A marking on the rear portion of the brass trigger guard appears to read:

On C

The meanings of these additional markings remain unknown.

The full stock appears to be beech and has the robust construction expected on a Scandinavian military rifle. It shows repairs and numerous 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 appears to have been cleaned and restored in comparatively recent years. The iron surfaces now show a lightly oxidized patina with scattered staining and wear. No major remaining oxidation or deep pitting was observed, although the cleaning may have reduced or removed portions of the earlier surface patina.

The brass furniture has developed an attractive mellow tone and does not appear excessively polished. Its color complements the worn beech stock and lightly patinated ironwork, giving the rifle a strong and cohesive display appearance.

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

This is a particularly compelling Scandinavian military rifle because of its unusual combination of early 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 rear sight, and sliding patch box. Its uncertain model attribution, later alteration, unidentified markings, stock repairs, and recent cleaning are fully disclosed, but these same features make it an excellent subject for specialized study. It would form a notable addition to a Danish, Norwegian, Scandinavian military arms, Jäger rifle, flintlock, pillar breech, 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.