Thomas Del Mar - Arms & Armour

489
A .71 CALIBRE PERCUSSION MILITARY RIFLE, DATED
1834
a Continental military conversion from flintlock, with
sighted barrel rifled with five grooves, fitted with folding
back-sight, stamped with the date, calibre and German
proof marks at the breech, rounded lock stamped with
crowned ‘GR’ and ‘Tower’, figured walnut full stock (the
spring catches for the barrel bands filled in), regulation
brass mounts and steel ramrod
93.5cm; 36P in barrel
£600-800
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489
490
490
A RARE .600 CALIBRE PERCUSSION BREECH-LOADING
UNDER-HAMMER SCHEEL PATENT MILITARY RIFLE,
SÖDERMANLAND PROOF MARKS, NO. 182, CIRCA 1845
with sighted barrel retained by a pair of brass bands, fitted
with standing back-sight ahead of the breech, tip-up breech
operated by a lever on the right, under-hammer action
incorporating a ring for cocking, regulation walnut full
stock, raised cheek-piece, brass butt-plate, steel triggerguard,
and steel sling swivels
83.2cm; 32N in barrel
Frederick Wilhelm Scheel, a Norwegian army Officer and
gun designer read of the American Hall rifle and adapted it
into his own patent incorporating the under-hammer design
of the Danish Löbnitz patent. In 1838 it was presented for
tests by a Royal Commission, and one hundred of these
rifles were tested by an Infantry Battalion in 1842. In the
same year it was adopted by the Norwegian army and thus
became the first breech-loader to be adopted as the single
standard military firearm for a nation. See C.Blair (ed.)
1983, pp.242-243.
£600-800