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AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK AMERICAN MILITARY SHOULDER ARMS VOL. I BY MOLLER
LOT 1136
Documented 18th Century German Flintlock Jaeger Rifle by G. Heller of Volmarshausen - NSN, 66 cal., 33 1/4 inch octagon bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. This rifle is pictured and discussed on pages 457-459 of “American
Military Shoulder Arms, Volume I: Colonial and Revolutionary War Arms”
by George Moller and has his “GDM” collection mark in tiny letters by
the toe. His notes date the rifle to 1765-1780, and in the book he states:
“This rifle is of particular interest because it has some furniture that is
very similar to the known military rifles” such as the military jaeger rifles
he discusses in the preceding section, “and it contains some features used
by German-born American gunmakers in the 18th century: the ‘thumb-nail’ butt plate tang profile was used by Andreas Albright, and the style of the incised and raised carving is also similar to that of Albright and his contemporaries.”
This rifle has adjustable single set triggers that setup so that the trigger must be set fire with the thin front trigger. Some of the letters of the rifle’s signature on the barrel are a little faint, but the signature appears to read “G HELLER A VOLMARSHAUSEN.”
Vollmarshausen (spelled with to l’s in modern day) is near Cassel (Kassel) in the Landgraviate of Hesse-Cassel. The swamped barrel has a blade front sight and two-leaf rear sight (one standing and one folding). The convex lock has a light border design, bridle-less
frizzen, fly, and no markings. The furniture is brass and includes the noted military style trigger guard that acts like a pistol grip. The sideplate and trigger guard have trefoil finials, and coordinated raised trefoil carving is at the barrel tang. The stock has molding along the ramrod channel, nicely shaped
flats, mix of incised and raised relief carved scroll patterns on the butt. The wooden patch box lid has simple carving. A black leather sling is fitted to the sling swivels
mounted near the forend tip and behind the trigger guard.
CONDITION: Very good with mottled gray patina on the lock and barrel, light speckled pitting along the barrel, brazed repair on the barrel tang which is slightly
separated, aged patina on the brass furniture, and mild overall wear. The stock is also fine and has some cracks in the forend, small insect holes, minor flakes at the edges, and general mild dings and scratches. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The George Moller Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 1137
German Flintlock Jaeger Rifle Attributed to the King’s Legion with Accessories - NSN, 65 cal.,
28 3/4 inch octagon bbl., brown finish, beech stock. This rifle has George Moller’s “GDM” collection mark near the toe and was
attributed by him as a “King’s Legion” rifle, and the ramrod is marked with a “Z” and “KHR33.” The exact meaning of the marking is not clear. “KH” is a German abbreviation for Imperial Highness, but in this case it may also reference the Electorate/Kingdom of Hanover, which was also in theory ruled by “Mad” King George III, perhaps King’s Hanoverian Rifles. The King’s German Legion served with the British and was formed during the Napoleonic Wars from German soldiers and officers displaced by Napoleon when Napoleon’s men over ran the Germanic states. The barrel has a brass blade front sight, remnants of a bayonet lug on the left, a two-leaf rear sight with one standing notch and a folding leaf, and traces of an unclear marking on the upper left at the breech. The flat Germanic lock has beveled edges, a non-bridled pan, a non-standard
Georgian cipher at the center, “TOWER” at the tail, a small “X” mark below the pan, and “IR” marked by the frizzen spring. The furniture is brass. The stock is beech
and has a wooden patch box lid of a different wood. The box contains a bullet mold that is the same shape as the box interior and is marked “48.” on one arm and also contains a worm and brass powder measure.
CONDITION: Very good with dark brown patina on the lock and barrel, some patches of mild pitting, aged patina on the brass furniture, general marks and scratches, and mild overall wear. The stock is also fine and has some minor cracks and small chips, smooth finish, and light scrapes and dings. Mechanically fine. The numbered arm on mold is a brazed repair, but the accessories are otherwise fine. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 1138 Scarce Austrian Model 1767 Infantry Flintlock Musket - NSN, 75 cal., 43 3/4 inch round bbl., bright finish, beech stock. This is one of the rarer 18th century muskets and are particularly
hard to find in the U.S. This model was replaced in 1774, and the Austrian arsenal in Vienna struggled to keep up with the needs of the Austrian army making the totals produced over seven years limited. One of the key characteristics of these muskets is the stud behind the cock and the corresponding
shape of the rear of the cock itself that prevent over cocking and help stall the cock in the fired position. The musket has a small stud front sight that doubles as the bayonet lug. The barrel is secured by three barrel bands, and the front band has the distinctive integral large ramrod ferrule. A leather sling is fitted to the swivels on the middle band and trigger guard. George Moller’s “GDM” collection mark is near the toe. CONDITION: Good with gray and brown patina and mild pitting, traces of markings on the barrel, and general mild overall wear. The jaw screw and top jaw
are replacements. The stock is fair and has a variety of cracks and chips, large sliver absent from the forend, and moderate overall wear. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The George Moller Collection. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,500
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