Antique German Folk Art Carved Zimmer Schutzen Cap & Ball Target Rifle : 4.5mm
The Zimmer Schuetzen rifle was a German variant of the parlor guns popular in the late 19th and early 20th century. This example has the date of 1881 engraved into the hooked buttplate. All metal parts have elaborate floral scroll engraving, and in addition the action has had a little hunting scene engraved on it which looks to be a personalized detail.
The show stopper on this piece is the ornate wood trigger guard, which is in impeccable condition. It looks like perhaps one small piece was knocked off a long long time ago; the place where it broke off has long worn smooth and has a patina matching the rest of the wood stock. The wood stock has also been beautifully carved with a hunting scene featuring two hunters in the woods with their dog, skinning a deer. The forend of the wood stock has a beautifully detailed stag head with every hair carefully etched into the wood.
Fitted with a large diopter peep sight marked "DRP", as well as an impossibly thin front sight protected by wings. Movable front loading action is released by pulling back on the hammer, and then releasing the mechanism at the front. You would then load a ball into the front of the mechanism and a Zimmer Cartridge into the rear of the mechanism, which rotates back into the barrel and cams forward engaging the ball with the barrel and locking into place with the long lever that points towards the barrel of the rifle. A 4.5mm BB fits lightly into the barrel, so it's likely meant to take a slightly larger ball than that. Zimmer bore sizes ranged from 4mm to 5.45mm in increments of five-hundredths of a meter, so it may take some experimentation to find the ball that suits this particular rifle perfectly.
Condition is very good with most of the original bluing intact and only some very minor wear marks from handling and use. Wood stocks show a beautiful aged patina with the typical marks that over 100 years of handling have added to its character.
Truly a one-of-a-kind piece, this would be an absolute gem in any collection.
Canadian Class Antique : No License Required.
International shipping available where permitted.
Please check your local regulations before purchasing.
Item ID: 26915
Category: Long Guns
