Dreyse 11mm Double Rifle - what did I buy? centerfire or needle gun?

[buckstix]

Dreyse 11mm Double Rifle - what did I buy? centerfire or needle gun?

This came up for sale - I like unusual double rifles, so I bought it. But now I'm hoping its not a needle-gun. I won't have it in hand for a couple weeks. Meantime, Can anyone here tell me what I bought. If centerfire, how does it work? What cartridge would it shoot? Any idea when it was made?

https://www.buckstix.com/buckpics/dreyse11mm-000.jpg

 

[VertigoBE]

That’s a needle gun. Very cool looking as well. Never seen one in double rifle form.

If you don’t want it and want to make a Christmas gift out of it, I’d love to add one to my collection !

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

Yes, a needle gun, should be fun experimenting to get it to shoot, need to check it’s still got the needle firing pins. If not a decent smith/machinist could make them.
Gumpy

 

[buckstix]

Well, some think it's a later center-fire cartridge double - a "non-needle gun" built on a needle gun action.

 

[Red Leg]

That is to outward appearances a needle fire action and the rifle is essentially the same as the one below, though yours is a much higher grade and in far better condition. Also it has the rather large "firing pin" holes for the needles that one would expect to see. That said, in one of the photographs, I think I see lifters for a rimmed cartridge (there is no photo that I can see of the chambers which would tell the tale).

I do not know anyone that has gone to the trouble to actually make a needle fire cartridge with its internal primer, but perhaps this is indeed an early centerfire.

 

[buckstix]

Thanks for the reply
I made needle fire paper cartridges for an 11mm French Chassepot rifle. It was a real pain in the @? Really dirty and many ignition failures. That's why I am hoping this is some type of center-fire rifle built on a needle fire frame.

 

[Rare Breed]

That’s a needle gun. Very cool looking as well. Never seen one in double rifle form.

If you don’t want it and want to make a Christmas gift out of it, I’d love to add one to my collection !

what is a needle gun please?