1934 Antique Rifle

1934) RARE GERMAN WAR MATCHLOCK RIFLE CIRCA 1600:

Introduction: Early military/war matchlock rifles are much more difficult to find in the collectors market, even though they vastly outnumber highly expensive decorated hunting rifles. Why? Because military matchlocks were not decorated, they were designed as utilitarian weapons of war with one objective: to kill the person they were shooting at. When the matchlock became obsolete with the advent of wheellocks and flintlocks, its purpose as a defensive weapon was greatly diminished. Since they were not highly ornate, expensive items like the inlaid rifles purchased by the wealthy for hunting, they were never considered objects of beauty to be openly displayed, and sadly, in most cases, not cared for.

Discussion: The matchlock was the natural progression from the Medieval cannon that permitted the user to fire his rifle without losing concentration on his target. This was accomplished by simply pulling a lever attached at the other point called a serpentine with a burning piece of flammable cord or twine that made contact with the rifle’s gunpowder via the flash pan, thus igniting the priming powder. The flash from the priming powder traversed to the main gunpowder charge in the barrel’s breech.

The matchlock was highly effective, easy to teach, simple, and inexpensive to build, and featured a reliable, simple mechanism. As a result, in Europe, it survived from 1411 to 1750, when it was finally trumped by the flintlock. The fact that the matchlock had a working life of almost 350 years speaks volumes about its effectiveness and importance during the medieval and Renaissance periods.

Description: Constructed with a round barrel containing a smooth bore (approx. 42.52 inches) with a “D” mark adjacent to the pan. The firing mechanism appears to still work flawlessly as the day it was made. The lockplate with the markers mark “Suhler Henne”, swiveling pan cover, walnut stock—possibly original wooden ramrod with iron tip. Original iron butt plate.

Overall Length: Approx.58.66 inches.

Condition: Very good conserved to museum standards. A breakage at the center was expertly repaired. Almost certainly from the rifle used to bust over someones head when reloading was not an option.

This gun appears it can be fired.

Caliber: 17 mm.

Origin: Shul, Germany.

Conclusion: All collections should have one item representative of the period. Even if you’re not a gun collector, I believe you will like this rifle. Who knows what this rifle has seen and experienced over its 450 years of life? The stories it could tell. They can only be original once, and this one is, even after all these years. ACT-NOW, this is a very collectible piece that should find a new home very quickly considering its rarity and low price!!!*

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–Free shipping.

–10-day review period.

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