Original Item: Only One Available. This is a great late 17th century “Coach Gun” of Germanic origin, a shorter gun carried inside stage coaches for personal protection. Full length rifles were too cumbersome, so shorter guns like this were perfect. It has a lovely carved stock in the typical German style, with carved wood and staghorn fittings.
This lovely coach gun measures around 34″ in overall length, with a heavy .63″ caliber octagonal barrel measuring 19 inches. It has heavy 8 groove rifling, and the outer diameter increases slightly towards the muzzle to give it lovely lines. The lock plate is not marked, but we can tell that it was definitely originally made as a flintlock, now converted to percussion. It functions correctly, holding at half cock, and firing at full.
The stock is simply lovely, hand carved and made from “curly” Walnut with lots of nice flame to the grain. There are carvings around all of the fittings, and the left butt stock has a carved cheek piece. The right butt stock has a small wood lidded compartment, most likely for the storage of patches. The trigger guard itself is wood as well, made from the same curly walnut , and attached to the stock in three places. The other mountings are carved staghorn, including the nose cap, lock screw escutcheons, and ramrod pipe, which is broken. The original heavy iron ramrod is still present as well.
A wonderful late 17th Century German Coach gun, converted to percussion for further service in the 19th century. A work of art well worthy of further research.
Specifications-
Year of Manufacture: Late 17th Century
Caliber: about .73 inches – 8 Groove Rifling
Ammunition Type: Cap and Ball
Barrel Length: 19 Inches
Overall Length: 34 Inches
Action type: Side action Percussion lock
Feed System: Single Shot
NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country’s antique gun laws prior to ordering.