Background
Through building Kentucky rifles I have come to appreciate their relationship to the German Jaeger rifle. So many features seen on Kentuckies are also found on German guns. It is this special relationship I wish to explore by building jaegers, to help enrich my repertoire of knowledge and design. I am fascinated by the roots of the Kentucky rifle, exploring where it came from, and studying what cultures influenced its design. When I revisit the Kentucky, I will be bringing many of the Germanic elements to merge with the American rifle.

Jaeger Sideplate Rough < Previous | Next > Shown is the sideplate, sawn and filed to profile. It's just sitting on the surface of the wood, waiting for me to let it in.

Intent
I study photos of the original guns to get the form, or shape of the gun. I examine originals whenever possible. I also keep an eye out for decorative motifs that appeal to me. However, I want to create a gun that could have been made in the period I am working within, so I try not to mix elements from disparate times or locales. I try to create a believable work, one that sings of the life and times. A piece that has a life of its own. To really capture the essence of a particular gun, I must immerse myself in the history, music, art, and literature of the times.

Work in Progress
A full blown fancy jaeger, a 1750's Rhine Valley gun, is my current "work in progress." This rifle will be heavily carved and engraved, in the high art style of old Germany. This may take two years to complete, so please check the works in progress page every so often. Projects such as this require new skills and push my design and decorative techniques to new levels. This is what excites me: a push into new territory, a journey on a different path. There is a stunning book about the Jaeger rifle "Steinschloss-Jaegerbuchsen" by Erhard Wolf. This book illustrates the high level of workmanship and artistic expression found on German and Dutch arms of the Eighteenth Century, and inspires me in this project.

The design for this gun is inspired by several different rifles which I find very pleasing. One is a German gun by Johann Wagner; two American guns come to mind, from the books "Rifles of Colonial America" by George Shumway, rifles #41 and #42. Although these last two are American built, they embody many of the architectural elements of the jaeger.

While I knew from early on what the architecture was going to be, and had settled on the acanthus for the decorative element, I have been dreaming about the story line. Initially, it was going to be a story of the Rabbit and the Fox. Lately, I have been leaning toward Greek and Roman myths, with Nymphs and Satyrs as the story line. There is a spectacular painting by Bouguereau, "Nymphs and Satyr" at the Clark Museum in Williamstown, MA, which captures the essence of my idea for a storyline. The hardware will be engraved with scenes of the forest: parties, chases, and clashes depicted in low chiseled relief.

The round-faced lock is being built from a set of castings from an original jaeger, provided by The Rifle Shoppe. The parts are beautifully cast, but by no means is this a kit. I have learned about lock geometry, springs, fitting, etc. Most of the internals are fitted, but not hardened.....that will come to pass eventually. I will case harden the lockplate, frizzen and hammer once I have completed the engraving on them.

The barrel is from Getz Barrel Co., is 1 3/16" octagon across the flats at the breech; .69 caliber, and 26 1/2" long. This gun will be a modest sized canon when complete.

What is to come? There will be new pictures of the final shaping, carving, chiseled scenery, engraving, sights, et cetera, as the months go by. There might be an ivory nosecap and ramrod tip, perhaps a wooden patchbox with ivory inlay.