From 1848 onward the gun was gradually introduced into Prussian service, then later into the military forces of many other German states. The gun was the invention of the gunsmith Johann Nikolaus von Dreyse, who, beginning in 1824, had conducted multiple experiments, and in 1836 produced the complete needle-gun. The Dreyse rifle was also the first breech-loading rifle to use a bolt-action to open and close the chamber. Its name comes from its needle-like firing pin, which passed through the cartridge case to detonate a percussion cap at the base of the bullet. The Dreyse needle-gun ( Nadelgewehr) was a military breechloading rifle, famous as the arm of the Prussians, who adopted it for service in 1848 as the Prussian Model 1848. 60 caliber.ĭreyse Needle Gun 1848 (Prussia) The barrel length is 28 + 5⁄ 8 inches in. This was also known as the Potsdam rifle. In 1835, the Germans converted most of the 1810 rifles to percussion and adopted a nipple safety, which is an arm that covers the percussion cap to prevent accidental discharge. 60 caliber bullet, but was changed to a round barrel in 1823.ġ835 Neue Korps-Jägerbüchse (Prussia) The 1811 Prussian Cavalry Rifle was almost a completely redesigned: it was a new pattern featuring a new lock and hardware. This was the only flintlock military rifle of a major military power to use set triggers, and was the first German rifle that could be fitted with a bayonet.Īs with most early military rifles used by European forces, they were not designed to supplant the smooth bore musket, but meant to be a complementary weapon used by special units including light infantry, skirmishers, and snipers. 58 caliber tapered and flared barrel, offering good balance. In 1810, as part of its strenuous effort to rebuild its army after the defeat at Jena-Auerstadt, the state officially adopted its first standard rifle, which was a combination of preferred features from previous weapons. Hessian mercenary troops who fought for the British in the US Revolution included Jäger rifle units.ġ810 Neue Korps-Jägerbüchse (Prussia) ĭuring the early 19th century, Prussia began to standardize its military rifle. Many of these were Hanoverian and when Britain standardized with its Pattern 1776 rifle, it was essentially a copy of a Jäger style from Hanover. The Jäger rifle concept was adopted by other nations including Britain, which imported German Jäger rifles for use by skirmishers and marksmen. Most of these rifles were the personal property of the soldier and could vary substantially in design and decoration. The patch box lids were generally brass and were hinged at the rear. Most rifles had a butt-trap or patch box about six inches long for storing greased linen patches and tools. Frequently there was a scrolled brass trigger guard to provide a better grip and a raised cheek-rest for support when aiming. Jäger rifles typically had a length around 45 inches (1,100 mm), with a 30-inch (760 mm) barrel, and weighed around 9 lb (4.1 kg). However, there was some loss of accuracy, and the shorter barrel used the powder charges less efficiently. The shorter weapon was easier to load and more practical in skirmish combat. Jäger rifles (late 18th century) īy the late 18th century, these rifles had evolved to being shorter than earlier hunting weapons and were generally shorter than the typical military musket, with no provision for a bayonet. Jäger were not just skilled riflemen they were also able to handle and maintain delicate, accurate rifles in an age when very few soldiers had mechanical skills. Since they owned their own weapons there was little standardization, and the early rifles were generally designed for hunting. These troops were primarily used for reconnaissance, skirmishing or screening bodies of heavier troops. They were often of middle-class backgrounds or belonged to the lesser nobility. Huntsmen and foresters recruited in certain German states were an established presence in German military units. "hunter") were a type of soldier, a form of light infantry, first named by the Landgrave of Hesse when he formed such a unit from his foresters and huntsmen in 1631. The various rifles used during this period are displayed here, identified by either East German or West German usage. There was also a period in the late 20th century when Germany was again divided and the two nations had separate armies and weapons, in " Cold War" opposition. This article discusses rifled shoulder arms developed in or for the military of the states that later became Germany it excludes firearms of the Austrian Empire, except where they were used substantially by German troops. The evolution of German military rifles is a history of common and diverse paths followed by the separate German states, until the mid-19th century when Prussia emerged as the dominant state within Germany and the nation was unified.
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