ALR Museum Gun Maker: Wolfgang Haga

[Hurricane ( of Virginia)]

Certainly controversy surrounds this gunmaker from the Wolmesdorf-Reading School.  This gun is very similarly relief carved to No. 75 , page 202 in Kendig and is "attributed" to Haga. It is said that there are no signed Hagas, however. I have heard many speak to this issue and feel that there are many makers that emulated this form/style...similar patchboxes, lack of signatures and engraving. What do we really know??? Please add your thoughts. Also send us (parifles@earthlink.net) pictures of similar guns and we will post them for comparison.

Here is our first example of Haga's work:

http://americanlongrifles.org/forum/index.php?topic=2200.0

Hurricane

[J.D.]

I don't know enough to comment, but I do have a question.

Does the lock appear to be original to this gun?
The lock on the Haga attributed rifle appears to be a much later lock than I would have expected on a rifle predating 1796, the year of Haga's death.

I'm rather curious about the sharp transition from the rear of the lock and sideplate panels as well. The photos don't clearly show if that transition area contains deeply sculpted beavertails, or just a sharp transition to the wrist.

I don't intend to question the Haga attribution, just curious.

Nice gun too. Gotta love those Womelsdorf-Reading School rifles.

Thanks, God Bless, and Merry Christmas.
J.D.

[Hurricane ( of Virginia)]

If I understand your question correctly, the lock mortise and side plates have a very distinct sharp transition to the body of the stock and wrist. Will post a close up of the lock and patchbox later.

Here are three extra pictues. I hope they answer your question. If you need to, save to your hard drive and open with photo software to enlarge for detail study.




Hurricane

[smart dog]

Hi JD,
It does seem like a late lock.  I think the print on the lock says "London Warranted", which presumably indicates it was imported.  Perhaps Haga, or one of his apprentices, made it late in his career after the Rev war when English locks were again available. Looking at the mortice and lock panels suggets to me that it is the original lock.

On another note, thank you Hurricane and Nord for creating the virtual museum.  It is so incredibly valueable to those of us who do not have access to collections.

dave

[J.D.]

Thank you for posting those three photos. They do help get a better idea of how the wrist, lock mortise and sideplate relate to one another. The wrist appears to be thicker than wide, in the top photo. The lines of reflection also bring out details not readily apparent in other photos.

I do appreciate your and Nord's hard work in creating the virtual museum, not to mention the other collectors who have posted photos.

Thanks,
J.D.

[Dphariss]

I also wonder about the lock which looks post 1800 perhaps 1820-30 to me.
Would be right at home on a Melchoir Fordney.
Dan

[rich pierce]

Great rifle-built gun.  What is the barrel length, caliber, diameter at breech and is it rifled?

[Hurricane ( of Virginia)]

I relayed your question to the owner and he reports:

Barrel Length: 41.5 inches
Barrel width at breech: 1.12 inches ( 1-1/8)
Smooth bore
Caliber approx. 40

[rich pierce]

Thanks.  It sure has beautiful lines to the wrist, comb and lower edge of the buttstock.  Couldn't be cleaner!