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 would vary substantially in design and decoration.
GERMAN EMPIRE MISSING THE GREAT WAR MOD PATCH
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. German 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). Regardless, the Jäger rifles were generally effective up to 300 yards, about three times the effective range of contemporary muskets. However, there was some loss of accuracy and the shorter barrels used the powder charges less efficiently. The shorter weapons were easier to load and more practical in skirmish combat. These saw use with opposing forces in the US Revolution (source: US Park Service)īy the late 18th century, these rifles had evolved to being shorter than earlier hunting weapons and were generally shorter than military musket, with no provision for bayonets. Hessian Jäger rifle (top) compared to an American Kentucky rifle (bottom). 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. Jäger were a type of soldier, a form of light infantry, at first recruited by Frederick the Great during the Seven Years' War 1756–1763. 22 CETME Assault Rifle Model 58 (West Germany).14 Early Carbines Kar 98a, Kar98b, & Kar 98AZ.13 Infanteriegewehr M.98, Gewehr 98, Gew.
8 Vereingewehr 1856 (Wurttemburg, Baden, & Hesse).5 1835 Neue Korps-Jägerbuchse (Prussia).3 1810 Neue Korps-Jägerbuchse (Prussia).