Swiss Percussion Sharpshooter's Rifle, Flintlock Conversion

[brcampbe]

I'm trying to identify what this thing is exactly, but not getting far. I wont this in a Canadian auction over the weekend and it appears to be of the lines of a very early 19th century martial sharpshooter's rifle of Swiss origin. The later standardized Swiss cantonal patterns appear similar. It's in .65 cal, so too large to be a Schuetzen and not fancy enough. The lock and styling to me suggests late 18th century flintlock, and you can see where the frizzen holes were plugged cleanly. The rear sight setup is quite complicated and like nothing I have ever seen nor can find another example of. It's a very cool rifle regardless. Lock is signed Huguenin.

[Seth Isaacson]

The maker on the lock (HF Huguenin) is listed as active around 1780 in Le-Locle, Neuchatel, Switzerland, in Der Neue Stockel. That provides a rough idea of when the maker was active.

[Feltwad]

The maker on the lock (HF Huguenin) is listed as active around 1780 in Le-Locle, Neuchatel, Switzerland, in Der Neue Stockel. That provides a rough idea of when the maker was active.
[/quote

Enclosed is a image of a similar gun which is a Canton snipers gun and issued to the Swiss Militaria .
Feltwad

[Feltwad]

Lock area of the Canton Rifle

[Hudnut]

That is a very interesting rifle.  I had that one bookmarked, although I did not bid; you made a very good buy.  It has been well looked after, I hope the bore is as good as the exterior.  There were a number of interesting pieces in Paul's auction.  He is attracting quality pieces.  Told me about 70% of his sales on on-line.  I live about 70 minutes from him, and make a point of looking at pieces when dropping off guns for sale.  Had four in this sale, and am very pleased with the return.  In this forum, I have started a thread about the W&C Ogden combination gun.  It is the one in the sale, picked it up yesterday.
If you look at the tang, you can see where a different aperture sight was mounted.  I suspect that was the original, when the piece was still flint, the current sight being added when the rifle was being used in percussion.

[brcampbe]

Interesting, thanks for the info. So it would indeed appear that 18th Century is not unreasonable here. Feltwad, that Canton rifle is I believe the very first standardized pattern of sharpshooter's rifle. I have seen one just like it in the Swiss Schuetzen museum.

[brcampbe]

That is a very interesting rifle.  I had that one bookmarked, although I did not bid; you made a very good buy.  It has been well looked after, I hope the bore is as good as the exterior.  There were a number of interesting pieces in Paul's auction.  He is attracting quality pieces.  Told me about 70% of his sales on on-line.  I live about 70 minutes from him, and make a point of looking at pieces when dropping off guns for sale.  Had four in this sale, and am very pleased with the return.  In this forum, I have started a thread about the W&C Ogden combination gun.  It is the one in the sale, picked it up yesterday.
If you look at the tang, you can see where a different aperture sight was mounted.  I suspect that was the original, when the piece was still flint, the current sight being added when the rifle was being used in percussion.

Yes it was a great auction. I had the Ogden gun bookmarked too. I was surprised at the low sale price on this piece, the other Swiss riflewent for almost 4 times as much. It was a modded and sleeved pattern 1849 Canton rifle.

[Hudnut]

For members wondering about the auction to which we are referring, just go to www.switzersauction.com.

[smylee grouch]

Thank you Feltwad for those images of the Swiss sniper rifle. A close friend has one very much like it in a 69 cal. It had V grove rifling cuts IIRC. He has since moved farther away from me but I will try to relay the pics to him as I know he will be pleased to see them. Smylee Grouch 

[smiller]

I enjoy Schuetzen rifles so I found these two rifles to be very interesting.  I understand that the  caliber is quite large so they don't qualify as Schuetzen rifles.  But, what I don't understand is what a Swiss cantonal rifle is.  I know a canton is what we here in the U.S. would call a state.  Would someone be willing to explain what the rifles were?  Thank you.

[brcampbe]

They were used to augment the smoothbore line infantry units, similar to the British Bakers and German Jaegers. Feltwads is a rather well known type, the first standardized pattern for the larger cantons like Vaud. Those also came with standardized accoutrements.

Mine on the other hand originated in the 18th century, and has been updated several times. It also originates fron canton Neuchatal, which was under Prussian control until 1848. There is a castle named Colombier in le loche that has one of these Huguenin weapons in its collection, and a picture of the lock was included in a 1976 book. The historian at the Bern Schuetzen museum provided it to me today. Colombier was used as a militia training facility and barracks starting in 1806.