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IMHO this is not a converted muzzleloader, but it was originally built this way, cleaning rod and patchbox on a breechloading tifle! This is a predominantly Austrian type of stalking rifle, commonly called aan "Ischler Stutzen", after Bad Ischl, a spa in Austria and once the summer resort of emperor Franz Josef I. Such rifles were also made in Suhl for the Austrian market, I know a later one by E.Schmidt & Habermann. The common earmarks of thie Ischler Stutzen are: A break-open hammer action, stocked to the muzzle, more often witha ornate horn triggerguard extension instead of a pistol grip. Early ones from blackpowder times often came with a cleaning rod under the barrel and a patchbox for other cleaning equipment. Reason: These rifles were designed for alpine stalking for chamois, roe and red deer. In the 19th century a hunter in the Alps had to walk up into the mountains with all equipment on his person, rifle on shoulder and some food in a rucksack. He then staied for a week or so uphill, sleeping in the huts of the summer pastures. Under these conditions cleaning equipment came in handy to remove blackpowder fouling between stalks and to prevent rusting in the bore, or to remove a torn case. After the perfection of cartridge cases and the introduction of smokeless ther was no need for a cleaning rod on the rifle any more, so these and patchboxes were left off on later Ischler Stutzen. I know such a later rifle with a short 18" barrel in 6.5x53R Mannlicher with a 4x Kahles Mignon scope by Springer, Vienna. Except for cleaning rod and patch box it is nearly identical in styling to this rifle, including Jones underlever and hammer backlock. These full-stocked Ischler Stutzen may have served as models for the design of the Mannlicher-Schoenauer stutzen.

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Edited by kuduae (07/04/10 03:39 AM)

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