Rifle
Frederick W. Scheel
Category
Arms and armour
Date
1842
Materials
iron, walnut, brass
Measurements
910 mm (Length)1425 mm (Length)
Place of origin
Norway
Order this imageCollection
Cotehele, Cornwall
NT 347418
Summary
Firearm. Military breech-loading percussion rifle designed by Frederik W. Scheel, Norway in 1842.
Full description
Military breech-loading percussion rifle designed by Frederik W. Scheel, Norway in 1842. Norway was the first European country to adopt a breech-loading rifle for its army. Round rifled iron barrel with multi-leaf rear sight and a blade fore-sight. The breech and barrel tang stamped, G 680. Retained to the fore-stock by 3 brass barrel bands, the middle band with a sling swivel. Square section breech incorporating the breech-loading mechanism, on the right side a long operating lever with round handle. Rotating the lever to the rear rotates the breech chamber upwards to a 90° position for loading. Rotating the lever closes and locks the breech. Barrel length 91cm. Calibre 16.8mm. Walnut full stock, the butt stamped on the left side, ROMSDAL. Brass butt-plate marked IMB 45 and 680. Brass trigger guard, marked 680. The concealed percussion lock mechanism is mounted on the underside of breech, within an iron “trigger-guard” form protector for the percussion hammer. This guard also acts as the hammer mainspring. A projection on the side of the hammer is used to cock the hammer. Behind the hammer assembly is a conventional brass trigger guard and iron trigger, stamped 680. Fitted with a sling swivel. Overall length: 142.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
Stock - butt left side: Romsdal Buttplate: IMB 45, 680
Makers and roles
Frederick W. Scheel, inventor