doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com William R. Schaefer Riflemaker & Rifleman

Anyone who has been around here for a while knows that I like Schaefer shotguns. During his lifetime Schaefer was a maker of target rifles as well as an accomplished rifleman who won many matches. He also let a young boy shoot one of his target rifles that lead to a lifelong love of the rifle, that boy was A.O. Niedner. Anyway I’ve never been at the right place or it was not the right time but the mailman brought me a nice Schaefer target rifle today. I took some pictures before I tore it down. It’s in a pile of parts on my workbench so thought I’d take a break and share. The ramrod is an old and poor made replacement, the front sight is a Winchester modified windgauge, it came with the keeper and I have a insert that will fit, it’s loose and needs a new windage screw. The wood screw on the tang is broken off and I see a hairline crack on the hammer, not sure if a surface crack or an old repair. Will need to find the twist and make a mould, it’s about 45+ caliber. It has a nice bore and someone a long time ago mounted a scope ( I have the blocks) if it shoots good I’ll mount an older Malcolm on it. I did not need another restoration project but no way I could pass on this one. I also have a lot of information on the original owner, "Francis Brooks”.

I’ll post most of the pictures as a link for those who are on dial-up. Back to work, if you have question I’ll be back later.



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v311/mjpetrov/schaefer2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v311/mjpetrov/schaefer6.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v311/mjpetrov/schaefer5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v311/mjpetrov/schaefer4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v311/mjpetrov/schaefer3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v311/mjpetrov/schaefer7.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v311/mjpetrov/schaefer8.jpg

Very nice Mike, and timely as well. Im building a half-stock English sporting rifle that has similar lines. Could you possibly post a photo looking down on the top tang when you get a chance? How does the schutezen-type aperture sight attach? Is the forend cap horn? Mine will have a swamped 58 caliber Colerain barrel and toss 278 grain round balls. Many thanks.

Clair, the forend cap is steel.

The double wedding band transition on the barrel is just beautiful.

I'm not a BP shooter, but certainly can admire & appreciate the beautifully scuplted and functional fence fitted.

Two questions, if I may & one request:

Did he make the lock or was it purchased from another source?

What time frame do you think it made?

Please share your thoughts on the mold, paper patched bullet or ??

Glad that you have it & thank you for sharing!

"Did he make the lock or was it purchased from another source?"

I suspect that he bought most of the lock parts or could have bought the complete lock. The fit and finish inside is first class and there are no markings.

"What time frame do you think it made?"

A very good question that I'm still working to answer. This type rifle would have been made from the late 1860's until the turn of the century. The markings on the barrel were used from circa 1869-1884, if I say 1875 it will not be far off. I'm working on Mr. Brooks to see what that will tell me, if anything. Schaefer did not number his guns or rifles.

"Please share your thoughts on the mold, paper patched bullet?"

I have not checked the twist but looks slow for a round ball or picket bullet. These rifles were a combination hunting and target rifle made without false-muzzle or turned on the end for a bullet starter. I suspect that the dovetail that held the scope mount originally had a rear sight. The front sight would have been a pinhead and the tang sight removed for hunting. One thing the pictures do not convey is how small this rifle is, the barrel is only 26" about 43" overall and eight pounds. The barrel wedge is easily removed without tools and in about two seconds you have two pieces of equal length. I can pictures this in a case, with a Schaefer label and all the tools when it left the Schaefer shop.

Mr. Petrov:

Spectacular piece.

Would you mind posting a couple of photos of the tang sight? I'm interested in such things.

Thank you.

Rem

All the Schaefer guns Ive seen have an unparrelled quality to them. Thanks for sharing.
Ross

After removing some old grease I found the bore in the Schaefer to be perfect, as new, not one little spot of anything. The twist is 1-60” six-groove right-hand, .460” bore, .478” groove.

Anyone have a Schaefer rifle or other "Boston" rifle of this type so I can see what the rear barrel sight looks like? There are no marks on the barrel from a sight elevator so it might have been a single leaf sight.