Original 19th Century Early Experimental Breech Loader – Smooth Bore with Rifled Barrel Insert Original Items

Original Item: One of a Kind. Received from the fabulous collection of Antique 19th Century experimental and Trial guns from Kansas City comes this little gem. No body seems to have any idea of it origin: It could be European, or it could be American. It appears to have made use of a JAEGER type Rifle barrel with sword bayonet mounts on the right hand side like a BAKER or BRUNSWICK Rifle, but this in NOT BRITISH.

The very heavy action is of brass with wood butt stock and fore end. It has an iron trigger guard with the sling swivel behind the trigger, not in front as would normally be. The fore end is attached by two Military style barrel bands AND a cross wedge directly in front of the action. Around the iron trigger guard is a brass lever which moves horizontally to the right allowing the barrel to depress exposing the chamber. Although the barrel appears to be about .75 smooth bore, the Jaeger rifling having been removed, the weapon actually has a second INTERIOR barrel in approximately a .450/.577 size rifled bore. This inner barrel is only 22 1/2″ in length whereby the outer barrel is 29″ in length. The inner barrel is completely removable leaving what appears to be a perfectly regular smooth bore weapon with a breech loading .75″ bore. Truly amazing. The gun does have some mechanical issues, and the breech lever does not close all the way at present with the breech closed. When open it can get cocked and dry fired. The extractor actually has a little thumb screw for adjustmen when the rifled insert is installed, so this was definitely designed to have an interchangeable barrel system.

Not a single marking to be found, but this specimen was beautifully thought out and constructed by some unidentified Gun Smith. It is perhaps Experimental, for Trials or just to see that it was possible. Possibly Unique. Any body being able to throw some light on this clearly very rare weapon we would ask you to contact us so we can all learn something.

Cleaned and Ready to display, this will make somebody very happy and we sadly cannot keep everything.

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: circa 1870-1880
Caliber: approx. .75″ and .45″
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 29 Inches with 22 1/2 inch rifled insert.
Overall Length: 45 Inches
Action type: Top Break
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.