Nothardt rifle M / 1801

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The Nothardt rifle M / 1801 is a musket type and was the penultimate flintlock rifle in the Prussian army before rifles with percussion locks prevailed. It was used among other things in 1806 in the battle of Jena and Auerstedt .

history

Friedrich Magnus von Nothardt , captain ( captain ) in the regiment of Grevenitz (No. 57 of the list of tribe members) presented a rifle designed by him to the royal commission in Potsdam under the direction of Lieutenant General Ernst von Rüchel . Nothardt was a member of the Military Society , as was Rüchel, who was its president . An externally consulted expert, Lieutenant Colonel Gerhard Johann David von Scharnhorst , who was still in the Hanoverian service at the time , also gave his approval.

The Nothardt rifle was by cabinet order of February 14, 1801 by decision of King Friedrich Wilhelm III. Introduced into the Prussian Army as M / 1801. For his services, the King Kapitain von Nothardt awarded the order “ Pour le Mérite ” and granted him a generous endowment .

description

The M / 1801 was characterized by several improvements compared to its predecessor, the Prussian infantry rifle model 1780/87. It was about a kilogram lighter, shorter, had a smaller caliber and required less powder, less recoil , and an improved stop. It had a conical ignition hole. This saved two hand movements when loading, so that well-trained shooters achieved a rate of six rounds per minute with this rifle.

A groundbreaking innovation was first used on the Nothardt rifle: a sighting device with a rear sight and front sight . Previously, it was common practice to simply aim roughly over the smooth barrel. This made it possible to develop from the volley fire that had been common up until that point into targeted fire.

Technical specifications

Type: Musket, shotgun (smooth barrel without rifling), muzzle-loading rifle
Total length / run: 1445 mm / 1049 mm
Ignition mechanism: Flintlock
Caliber: approx. 25.1 - 15.69 mm
Weight: approx. 4100 g (depending on the wood used)
Visor: Rear sight u. grain

production

The 2nd Department of the Upper War College was responsible for the procurement. The Nothardt rifle was produced from the end of 1801 / beginning of 1802 by the royal rifle manufacturer Potsdam-Spandau . A 20-year contract with the Schickler brothers ( David Schickler and Johann Ernst Schickler ), who have owned the manufactory since 1796 , provided for the delivery of 15,000 rifles a year at a price of 8 talers and 16 groschen. However, there were delays in production, among other things due to high quality standards.

commitment

The entire Prussian infantry, including the fusiliers, was to be equipped with the Nothardt rifle, and a second complete set was made available for replacement in times of war. Until the outbreak of war in 1806, however, only a maximum of 20,000 copies of this model were produced.

In the war against Napoleon I in 1806, only a few regiments were equipped with the most modern rifles of their time, especially the Potsdam Guard . The equipment of the entire army should be closed later in order to avoid different calibres and the associated double stockpiling. Many rifles remained in armories and depots, where they were captured by the French after the defeat of 1806 and given to their allies (troops of the Rhine Confederation states, especially Baden and Hesse).

The M / 1801 remained with the Prussian foot guard until 1811. According to various sources, up to 45,000 rifles of this type were produced.
In 1811 the New Prussian infantry rifle M / 1809 was introduced for the Prussian army.

literature

  • Johann Heinrich Moritz von Poppe: History of technology since the restoration of the sciences until , Göttingen 1807-11, 3 volumes
  • C. Reuter: Battle of Jena and Auerstedt 1806
  • Military Society Berlin: Memories of the Military Society in Berlin , Volume 1
  • Justus Gruner: On a critical pilgrimage between the Rhine and Weser , Justus Gruner's writings, editor: Gerd Dethlefs
  • Adalbert Salomo Cohnfeld: Detailed life and government history of Friedrich Wilhelm III., King of Prussia , Volume 3
  • Julius Schön: History of Small Arms. A representation of the development of small arms from their emergence up to modern times , ISBN 978-3-902664-40-2
  • Gottlob Benedict von Schirach, Wilhelm Benedict von Schirach: Political Journal: together with advertisements of learned and other things , Volume 1
  • Gabriel C. Busch, Johann Bartholomäus Trommsdorff: Almanac of Advances, Inventions and Discoveries , Volume 6, ISBN 978-1-178-89558-2

Web links