Civil War – Imported Austrian Model 1854 Lorenz Short Rifle With Bayonet

NSN, .54 Caliber, 28" octagon barrel with an excellent, bright bore. This is a handsome "Jaegerstutzen" short rifle that has a Fruwirth-marked barrel and an overall armory bright finish with some scattered specks of darker freckling, as well as some minor pinprick pitting on and around the nipple bolster. The original curved rear sight is still present, and the action is firm and fully functional. The walnut stock is in very good shape with some minor handling marks and surface blemishes scattered about the military oil finish, although the forward sling bail is no longer present. The stock has a ramrod channel with single thimble; a feature added to rifles shipped to America during the Civil War since Austrian troops carried the ramrod on a crossbelt instead. A correct, brass-tipped Lorenz ramrod is present within the channel. The rifle is also accompanied by a correct socket bayonet that measures 28" overall, and has a 23 1/2" single-edged blade with long single fullers. The bayonet has an overall arsenal bright finish that matches the metal on the rifle. Just under 8,000 of these Lorenz short rifles were purchased by the US government, with some further state purchases via private companies. There were no known sales of the Lorenz Short Rifle to the Confederacy. This example is in fine-near excellent condition, and would make a wonderful addition to any collection of Civil War weapons. Antique