Any one know any info on this gentleman? A friend purchased a 308 manlicker (SP) mauser from gun broker and is interested in his work. Let us know. Lee

Paul's work is well known. Also, the Jaeger Side Mount. Take a look at Champlin Arms and Griffin & Howe websites maybe more info.

Paul passed away a number of years ago. He had a shop in Jenkintown, PA just outside of Philly. He was recognized as one of the finest gunsmiths in the country if not the world. He learned his trade in Germany and then came to the US.

I had the previlage of knowing him, his shop forman Bud Mock and some of his staff.

I own a rifle built by Paul in 1945. Its on a springfield action and this thing is a work of art. I thiught most his rifles were on springfields but one of the mail order co's was advertising Jaeger rifles several years ago. My guess is they had nothing to do with Paul, much like thw EMDECO, P.O. Ackley rifles. Those were nice rifles but not made by Ackley.

quote:

Originally posted by Don Fischer:
I thiught most his rifles were on springfields but one of the mail order co's was advertising Jaeger rifles several years ago. My guess is they had nothing to do with Paul, much like thw EMDECO, P.O. Ackley rifles. Those were nice rifles but not made by Ackley.

Deiter (Appel?) was Jaeger's GM. When they closed the shop in Jenkintown he moved the business down south. I think it became part of Dunn's in TN. They sold rifles and parts under the Jaeger name.

I see several of his rifles for sale on Gunbroker etc. at pretty high prices.

Know I know who is is also

I didnt know he had passed away

Dogface,

You are correct that Dietrich Apel, who was Paul Jaeger's nephew, bought the business from his uncle when Paul was no longer able to take care of the business.

You are also correct that Dietrich sold a controlling interest in the business to Dunn's, and moved the company to Tennessee. Not long afterward, there was some friction between Dietrich and the owners of Dunn's and Dietrich moved back to New Hampshire. He still owned a substantial portion of Paul Jaeger at the time.

Later, a lot of things happened and Dunn's ended up going belly up. Dietrich re-acquired the rights to the Paul Jaeger name, and he owns those rights today.

The Paul Jaeger company produced some very high quality rifles, and most have held their value nicely. They built, under the guidance of Dietrich Apel, the number 4 rifle in the SCI Guns of the Big Five series, which sold at auction for $140,000.00.

Tom

quote:

Originally posted by Tsquare2:
Dogface,

Dietrich Apel, who was Paul Jaeger's nephew, Tom

I did not remember that until you mentioned it and now I also remember hearing Dietrich was in NH.

Gunshop local one day had a nice mauser custom with 6x36 swarovski, saw a price looked like 795 or 995 or something like that, THEN I looked again after reading Paul Jaeger on the gun, and saw there were more ZERO's in the price.

It was 8-10k! I immediately put it back on the rack as not to drop something that expensive!

Yes, well known.

I have a 257 built on a Mauser action by Jaeger. Nicely done & still a very fine shooter.

Paul Jaeger was MORE than just a gunsmith. He also ran quite a large gunsmithing establishment, perhaps along the lines of Griffin & Howe, that built rifles on a volume basis. At least to the extent that they had several catalogued, "standard" models on Springfield and Mauser actions that could be ordered either as made, or with certain custom upgrades. He had a gunsmithing brother (Kurt Jaeger??) who had remained in Germany, to whom Paul often sent certain work, such as engraving, making and fitting claw mounts, etc.

All of their work that I've seen (once owned an M1903 in .308 Norma that Jaeger had stocked in English walnut) was absolutely first-class. They made a set of claw-mount rings for me for an older Sauer SXS double rifle and the work was flawless. At the time this work was done, the company was under the management of Dietrich Appel, who later founded New England Custom Gun Services, from whom one can still purchase the Jaeger side mounts, and perhaps other Jaeger products.