military Jaeger on virtual library

[Tommy Bruce]

Hello all,  I've been contemplating doing a Jaeger  for a possible BAR reenactment group.  Does anyone have anymore info on the Military Jaeger that is photographed in the Virtual Library?  I'd love to see some pictures of the tang area.  It doesn't look like there's any carving and the lock looks almost like a large siler.  Any help would be appreciated.

[Stophel]

The lock will probably be a tad larger than a Siler.  Generally, these military rifles had just a teardrop shape carved behind the tang, matching the teardrops behind the lock panels.  I don't think this particular gun is quite as attractive as some of the others I have photos of.  I'll be glad to email you a few.

[Tommy Bruce]

Thanks Chris,

I appreciate the photos.  You've been a wealth of information on the topic of Jaegers. 

[T.C.Albert]

Im still actively looking for examples of traditional Jaeger slings of the same period.
Military or civilian....I hope its okay to post it here as I assume a sling may also be considered for the rifle you are making? Any info would be much appreciated.
TCA

[Tommy Bruce]

T.C., climb aboard!!  The more the merrier.  I guess I never put much thought into the sling.  My game plan was to cut down a military sling similer to what I use on my Brown Bess.

[T.C.Albert]

Thanks Tommy....Im looking for information and/or documentation on civilian sling styles suitable for a pretty high end jaeger...Trying to find info on 18th century non-military sling of any sort is turning out to be quite a challenge....
TCA

[Stophel]

Here' a picture of the only rifle sling I can find at the moment.

A plain leather strap, sewn on the ends to length.  Nothing much to it.



Wood and iron last 200-300 years, no problem.  Leather, on the other hand...

The Poser rifle that is in "The Great Guns" has a simple greenish woven linen strap.  Attached to the swivel in front with a brass button (kinda like the way they use a "Chicago screw" now), and I think put on the rear with the stocks sling button.  No hardware at all.

I have a photo of a rifle sling that belonged to some nobleman.  It is about 3" wide, black leather, with two smaller ends sewn on so it can be attached to the sling swivel and button.  It has large metal letters attached to the face of the sling standing for person's name and title.  It's in one of my many auction catalogs, and I haven't found it yet...  If I remember correctly, it's dated around 1800 or so.  If you have "The Collectors' Illustrated Encyclopedia of The American Revolution" it's constructed like the embroidered sling shown in that book.  I wonder about the date of that sling...

In the period images I have showing slings on rifles, I always see just a simple strap.  Nothing fancy.  Feel free to browse through this album: www.photobucket.com/albums/v326/Fatdutchman/Jaeger 

[tom patton]

Chris,that sling in the Encyclopedia ,illustrated as a "civilian Jaeger rifle strap from Pennsylvania" was owned by Edward Charol a well known collector of early Americana and is illustrated on P.35 of Neuman and Kravic"  A few years ago George Carroll  known to many of us, brought one down to the Robin Hale show and as I recall it was very similar to the one mentioned above in Neuman and Kravic.I liked at and it looked very good.
Tom Patton

[Acer Saccharum]

Chambers' Steinschloss book shows a number of sling swivels. Surprisingly simple, even on the fanciest of guns. For front attachment, just a rounded hoop, with flattened ball ends for the screw to go thru. The rear attachment is most often a button, but I have seen a few with a steel screw in post with the sling buckle screwed to the post.

[Stophel]

A swivel at the rear is quite common also.  I have one old gun with a button, two with swivels (or at least, swivel studs), and one that is missing, so I don't know what it was.  I can say what I have, because none of them are really worth stealing!