Greg,
Back when I was young and foolish I read everything I could get my hands on about flint guns. Much of what I read was written by folks who were extolling the virtues of the American Longrifle and, apparently, the authors thought the best way was to contrast the American guns of the late 18th century with the predecessor guns of the 16th and 17th century Europe, generally, and the German lands more specifically. Those references described the German Jaeger rifles as "clumsy, heavy, chubby, short" amongst other less complimentary terms.
Then while on a work-related trip to Europe I had the opportunity to spend a weekend in Copenhagen, during which I visited the Tojusmuseet, the Danish National Arms Museum. I lost no time in making a bee-line to the hall of flintlock guns.
HOLY GUACAMOLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There, in one room, had to be several hundred jaeger-style rifles. I found that virtually everything I had read from all those books and articles was WRONG! None of the guns I saw were clumsy. They were all trim and excellently designed. Yes, the butt plates are wide. (If you are shooting a 66 caliber ball in a 7 pound rifle it lets you know you pulled the trigger! That wide butt-plate makes the recoil tolerable.) But moving forward, the stocks necked down to a slender wrist. The stocks then flared out to support their respective locks. The lock-plate flats were scarcely a 1/16" wider than the lock plate and the locks seemed to be let in hardly a 1/16" inch. The side-plates flats swelled out symmetrically. But the wood had been taken down to the point where it seemed as if the wood was only filling in the spaces between the metal parts, AND NO MORE. Then the stocks necked right down to form a slender, tight wrap around the swamped barrel. Usually the thickness of the wood along-side the barrel was less than 3/32". The stocks then flared at the muzzle. The muzzle-caps, some horn, some brass and some steel, were all flared. The ramrod was tucked tight under the barrel. I could really see how trim these guns were when I looked at them from the top or bottom. The only flat surfaces on the whole gun stock were the lock flats. Everything else was rounded, trim and often concave. Profile photographs can be VERY misleading.
So, now that I am just plain foolish I realize that the typical jaeger rifle was NOT heavy, ponderous, clumsy, clunky and chubby. Even the strictly military issue guns were lean and trim. An authentic jaeger rifle is trim, nimble, quick on point. It handles like a Model 94 Winchester!
I hope my recollections of my experience in Denmark 20 years ago helps you as you explore the art and craft of the jaeger rifle in your next build.
Best Regards,
John Cholin
