Skip to main content
Rock Island Auction Company
AuctionsConsignmentBlogFAQNewsAbout Us
Create Account
Login
AuctionsConsignmentBlogFAQNews & EventsAbout Us
Login
Create Account

History Lives Here

Rock Island Auction Company
1-309-797-15001-800-238-8022[email protected]
RIAC Rock Island
7819 42nd Street West
Rock Island, Illinois 61201, USA
8:00am - 5:00pm, Mon - Fri
RIAC Bedford
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, Texas 76021, USA
8:00am - 5:00pm, Mon - Fri
Navigation
  • Auctions
  • Consignment
  • Blog
  • FAQ
  • News
  • About Us
More Info
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Job Postings & Careers
  • Contact
  • Order a Catalog
© 2025 Rock Island Auction Company. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. Click here for more information.
Healthcare Transparency in Coverage.
  • Auction Catalog #84
  • Lot #235
Lot #234
Lot #236

Lot 235: Royal Wurttemberg Gun Factory Wild Model 1843 Baden Jaeger Rifle

Royal Wurttemberg Gun Factory Wild Model 1843 Baden Percussion Jaeger Rifle

Auction Location: Rock Island, IL

Auction Date: December 3, 2021

Lot 235: Royal Wurttemberg Gun Factory Wild Model 1843 Baden Jaeger Rifle

Royal Wurttemberg Gun Factory Wild Model 1843 Baden Percussion Jaeger Rifle

Auction Location: Rock Island, IL

Auction Date: December 3, 2021

Estimated Price: $2,250 - $3,500
Price Realized:
Login to view
Login to view

Royal Wurttemberg Gun Factory Wild Model 1843 Baden Percussion Jaeger Rifle

Manufacturer: German
Model: Percussion Rifle
Type: Rifle
Gauge: 68
Barrel: 29 9/16 inch octagon
Finish: bright
Grip:
Stock: walnut
Item Views: 1481
Serial Number:
Catalog Page: 113
Class: Antique
Description:

This rifle utilizes a rare form of rifling designed by the Swiss engineer and infantry officer Johannes Wild (1814-1894). Wild’s rifling system was able to achieve a high level of accuracy through an ideal combination of barrel profile, twist, wadding thickness, and caliber, and it also utilized a self-cleaning system through the use of water in the bore. A special small bottle, also designed by Wild, used a device that functions by pressing against the muzzle in order to release exactly the required amount of water down the bore. This use of "water injection" loosened leftover powder residue in the barrel from the previous shot in order to allow the next loaded ball to clean out the bore when the shot was fired. This allowed more than one-hundred shots to be fired without having to clean the bore; an unorthodox solution to a problem with previous rifles before Wild's invention. The rifle could be fired quickly in part due its ability to be easily loaded and fired without the use of grease. In early 1840s trials held in Baden and Hesse, Wild’s rifle was able to fire thirty rounds within fourteen minutes during the "speed shooting trial" with twenty-nine successful hits. The Grand Duchy of Baden (southwest corner of Germany next to Switzerland and France) together with the states of Hesse-Darmstadt and Wurttemberg adopted the Wild rifle for service in 1843. This example is "1843" dated (last digit faint) on the right of the buttstock and features a right side mounted bayonet bar for use with a sword bayonet, blade front and dovetail mounted fixed V notch rear sight. "KOENIG/WURTT. FABRIK" marked at the center of the lock, short for Koeniglich Wurttembergische Gewehrfabrik or Royal Wurttemberg Gun Factory. "40" behind a sunken oval proof marked on the top left flat of the breech end of the barrel and "OBERNDORF" marked on the top flat at the breech. "GDM" (George D. Moller) collection initials marked at the toe of the stock. Includes a ball pulling tool in the patchbox. Most of these were converted to the Minié system in the 1850s with five-groove rifling, which makes this a scarce example today in that it retains its original fourteen-groove Wild rifling. Provenance: The George Moller Collection

Rating Definition:

Very good, exhibiting mostly smooth brown patina with scattered light pitting and crisp lock markings. Stock is also very good with scattered scratches and dents and a mild chip at the left of the buttplate. Mechanically excellent.



Customer Product Questions

There are currently no customer product questions on this lot

    Related Items

    Lot #198: German Jaeger Percussion Rifle Signed by J. A. Kuchenreuter

    Lot #204: Carved and Etched German Percussion Rifle

    Lot #621: A. Pratt Percussion American Long Rifle

    Lot #136: Two Percussion Long Guns

    Lot #1165: Two Percussion Long Guns

    Lot #697: H Gumpf Marked Fullstock Percussion Rifle