Jump to content

Welcome to NikonForums.com
Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!
Photo

An Old Rifle


  • Please log in to reply
9 replies to this topic

#1
Nikon Shooter

Nikon Shooter

    Nikonian

  • Forum Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 4,041 posts
  • Country Flag
  • Location: French Canadian living in Central Europe

In a fairly large castle in the area, a museum bought a collection

of fire arm for its war and hunting exhibit room.

I was assigned to shoot some shots for the planned promotional
material: pamphlets, posters, etc. Here are some details.

 

Old%20Rifle%201622%20ED.jpg

Old%20Rifle%201624%20ED.jpg

Old%20Rifle%201644%20ED.jpg

Old%20Rifle%201645%20ED.jpg



#2
krag96

krag96

    Nikonian

  • Forum Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,319 posts
  • Country Flag

Site Supporter

That's a fantastic Martini rifle!  I've never seen one at quite that level.  If I were to guess, I would say it was done in Switzerland by a master who studied 16th-17th century Swiss artwork.  The inscription on the left barrel flat seems to read, ''Semper'' something, any more pictures? 

 

The photographic detail is amazing in this series.  I can count the dust particles on the rear sight and breech block!  What lens did you use for these shots?

 

Bravo!



#3
Nikon Shooter

Nikon Shooter

    Nikonian

  • Forum Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 4,041 posts
  • Country Flag
  • Location: French Canadian living in Central Europe

Thank you, Sir.

First, a correction.
The collection the museum offered to purchased is from a friend — the
same that recommenced me for the job since he would not trust these
to just anyone and I had them in my studio for over a week twice. The
first time was to create a visual and detailed catalogue of the collection
for them to study and the second for the printed material.

Some pieces were not sold to the museum given their respective astro-
nominal prices for a "small" regional institution.
 

The photographic detail is amazing in this series.  What lens did you use for these shots?

These were shot in studio using the combo D810 + 105 ƒ 2.8 macro
under Profoto studio flashes.



More? How about these…

Old%20Rifle%201782%20ED.jpg

Old%20Rifle%201792%20ED.jpg

Old%20Rifle%201800%20ED.jpg

Old%20Rifle%201819%20ED.jpg

Old%20Rifle%201828%20ED.jpg

Old%20Rifle%201829%20ED.jpg
 



#4
krag96

krag96

    Nikonian

  • Forum Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,319 posts
  • Country Flag

Site Supporter

There's a lot I could say about the rifle, but I'll just leave it at, it's tastefully done by the finest craftsmen of it's day using the finest materials from Europe's premier makers.  The hound's head in the forearm is an interesting finale to the best carving I've seen to date on a rifle.  The engraving, exquisite!  I wonder if the man who commissioned it won any matches with it...

 

Your photography skills and choice of kit have done this fine rifle justice. 



#5
Nikon Shooter

Nikon Shooter

    Nikonian

  • Forum Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 4,041 posts
  • Country Flag
  • Location: French Canadian living in Central Europe

 I wonder if the man who commissioned it won any matches with it...

 

???

 

Your photography skills and choice of kit have done this fine rifle justice. 

 

Many thanks Sir! :P


It was the first time I saw ebony insertions in a sculpture. 



#6
krag96

krag96

    Nikonian

  • Forum Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,319 posts
  • Country Flag

Site Supporter

???

 

It's a Schuetzen type target rifle used for off hand 200m matches in most cases.  This rifle could have been a prize to the winner of such a match, or ordered by an individual who wanted the finest he could buy, (mostly to show rather than shoot).  It was probably ordered with a leather covered, velvet lined wooden case, various tools including screw drivers, sight adjustment tool, oil bottle, cleaning rod, possibly bullet mold, and loading tools.  Studying the photos it looks like the large under lever is a take-down lever separating the barrel from the receiver for storage in the case.  Unlike military Martini rifles which used a lever behind the trigger guard to open the breech, this one appears to use the trigger guard itself as the lever to gain access to the rifle's chamber for loading. 

 

Martini target rifles are still popular, though today most are small frame .22 for target shooting.  As best I can translate, it looks like it was a gift from a father to his daughter?

 



#7
Nikon Shooter

Nikon Shooter

    Nikonian

  • Forum Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 4,041 posts
  • Country Flag
  • Location: French Canadian living in Central Europe

Yes, a gift that was a special order of a Duke of the Habsburg dynasty as
wedding present to a ancestor of my friend.

Your knowledge of these thing is   My ignorance of these things is abyssal,
sorry I cannot share that with you… you know the only guns I shoot with.

I don't shoot to kill, I shoot to immortalise. :P



#8
krag96

krag96

    Nikonian

  • Forum Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,319 posts
  • Country Flag

Site Supporter

Just an interesting fact, Sempert & Krieghoff company is still in business in Ulm, Germany making fine sporting arms for the, (mostly) European market.  A visit to their website will show the same standard of metal engraving today as on the rifle pictured above, although the intricate wood carving above seems not to be in vogue these days.



#9
Nikon Shooter

Nikon Shooter

    Nikonian

  • Forum Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 4,041 posts
  • Country Flag
  • Location: French Canadian living in Central Europe


I will pay a visit and, since I have no devotion
for guns, I will surely go for the craftsmanship.

Thanks for the tip! :P

Krieghoff translated to "court of war" originally!
Kriegs Hof.



#10
krag96

krag96

    Nikonian

  • Forum Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 1,319 posts
  • Country Flag

Site Supporter

I imagine they, like most arms makers keep a museum and some samples on display.  It's been a family owned business since 1886 beginning in Suhl, until after WWII when the business was moved to Ulm.  Since I could never afford them, I ever looked very much at them, simply knowing they have made fine competition shotguns for clay shooting. 

 

Krieghoff made a prototype FG ''paratroopers rifle'' during WWII, but was rejected.  They did make a similar weapon, the FG-42 during the war.  They also produced the P-08 pistol, (Luger).  I imagine their original factory was destroyed by Allied bombing.