The Danish 1848 Tapriffel was very best of the pillar-breech rifle system, but had the ironic misfortune of being developed just one year before Claude-Etienne Minié’s revolutionary new “Minie ball” appeared in 1849.

Quickly surpassed by more modern rifle systems, the 1848 Tapriffel soldiered on long past its prime, being used in the second Schleswig War in 1864. By then they were hopelessly obsolete, but they continued to serve under the Dannebrog after being converted to breechloaders!

Muzzleloading Tapriffel examples are rare today. Happily, mine is in good enough condition that it can be shot using the historic full powder load, to recreate the historic specification.

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