5/25/2021 – Arms and Armor

.44 caliber. 33″ barrel length. SN: NSN. Single-shot percussion rifle with target sights, octagon to round tapered heavy barrel, double set triggers, and what appears to be a bayonet mount. Blued metal finish with plain straight-grip Monte Carlo-style stock. Target sights include an aperture rear sight, half-hood front sight, and adjustable mid-barrel sight. Features a Swiss-style metal buttplate, serpentine trigger guard, forend cap, and front swivel sling mount. “J. SCHMID IN ONSTMITTINGEN” is marked to top of barrel. Schuetzen-style rifles are single-shot competition guns that were used widely in Europe from about 1875-1945. Most are custom made by independent gunmakers of the period or by Bavarian immigrants. This item in particular is attributed to gunsmith J. Schmid from the town of Onstmittingen, Switzerland. The town itself has documented origins going back to 500 b.c., and during the 18th century had an abundance of skilled metalsmiths inhabiting the town.