Dreyse Reference

[rescuerandy2]

Good Evening. Getting more and more interested in purchasing and shooting a Dreyse rifle. Would like to do my research before buying. What is the best reference in English for purchase? Thanks, Randy.

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[Patrick Chadwick]

A good Dreyse needle-rifle costs a solid 4-figures over here, and will surely also be very expensive wherever you live. I do not know of any good source of info in English (but then, I've never looked). Considering the amount of money that will be involved, I suggest that you start by visiting a couple of German websites to learn about model identification. You don't need to be fluent in German, just pick up the technical terms for barrel, system, lock etc. The simplest way to do this is to find an exploded diagram of a German rifle!

It's not to hard to pick up specialist terms if you have an interest in a subject. And in the end you will have access to far more information than if you wait for something "pre-digested" in English. Which is why I struggle with French, Italian and Spanish texts, without being fluent in these languages.

Websites added later:

http://www.schmids-zuendnadelseite.de/zn_modelle.html

http://www.tonis-zuendnadelseite.de/index.html

[rescuerandy2]

Thanks Patrick. I do have a working knowledge of German but would like to have some texts that give me high-resolution pictures, solid data, and references that I could use. Predigested information is nice for those who right now would like to be a bit intellectually lazy. Too much going on at my work to be struggling with gendered nouns and verb tenses.

The few Dreyse rifles that I have seen in the US range from $2500-$7500. Looks like I will be waiting on Rock Island Auctions for legitimate and sensible prices.

Thanks,
Randy

[Patrick Chadwick]

"Too much going on at my work to be struggling with gendered nouns and verb tenses."

It gets easier after some years...!

If you really are considering a rifle in that price range, then your first priority must indeed be good information. I only know of one solid book on the needle rifles, and that is in German.

http://www.amazon.de/Z%C3%BCndnadelg.../dp/3813203808

and as you can see, if you can find one, it will command a high price!

The two websites I linked in my previous contribution plus the book sum up just about all the available information I know of. The information on making the cartridges is very helpful. Doubtless a thorough search of the internet would provide a few more scraps. If you do find a book in English I would be pleased to hear about it.

[rescuerandy2]

Thanks Patrick. I am still climbing the academic/political ladder at my college and it gets more "interesting" with time. The links you sent are very helpful and I also must thank Google Translate for supporting my weak German.

Perhaps by this time next year my Chassepot will once again come to terms with a Dreyse on the battlefield we call Trailglades Gun Range here in Miami. In preparation for that day, I have already begun experimenting with making the sabot. It appears to be the most intricate and critical component for the Dreyse round.

Randy

[Patrick Chadwick]

"...I have already begun experimenting with making the sabot. It appears to be the most intricate and critical component for the Dreyse round..."

You can cheat a little and avoid making the sabot by using a mold from Hensel in Germany.

http://www.henselgmbh.de/

2 weights for the Dreyse can be found on page 4 of Online Shop / Gießkokillen / Langgeschoße mit Hohlboden. Not exactly cheap, but you can save time on the sabot business, and a couple of guys I know who actually shoot Dreyse rifles say they are more accurate with the minie-style bullet.

I happened to come across one of the lighter ones, and used it to cast the bullets for my Hanoverian "Pickelgewehr" - another rifle that had to square off against the Dreyse - in 1866. Result: Prussia 1 - Hanover 0. Hanover was taken over by Prussia, and heaven knows where my rifle wandered around before I found it!

Take a look here:
https://www.milsurps.com/showthread....t=Pickelgewehr

You will find a photo of the bullet cast by this mold at the end of the thread.

[rescuerandy2]

Thanks for the information. Tempting not to have to fiddle with the sabot. Price is a bit steep for the mold. However, over a 10 year-period the costs do not seem like much for relieving the sabot issue.

Zeroing on an 1862 that I will send pictures for opinions soon.

Thanks,
Randy

[Patrick Chadwick]

Thanks for the information. Tempting not to have to fiddle with the sabot. Price is a bit steep for the mold. However, over a 10 year-period the costs do not seem like much for relieving the sabot issue.

Zeroing on an 1862 that I will send pictures for opinions soon.

Thanks,
Randy

Exactly my thoughts! BTW there are quite few Dreyses in good to excellent all-matching condition. These fetch prices from €2500 up to "forget it". If you want a shooter, and not something that you are afraid to take out of the gun cabinet, do as I (usually) do - forget collector values for externals and go for a good bore regardless of appearances. Then argue the price down because it is not a super-duper collector's item. And then get the mold!

[rescuerandy2]

Can we forget the mold and drill-out the base of a .61 caliber bullet to fit a cap? At almost 200 Euros, I am hesitant to buy that mold. It does look outstanding and save one extra step.

Patrick, what is a suggested OAL for the 1862 Dreyse?

Thanks,
Randy