My guess would be the Autrian Model 1854. The Austrian Model 1854
rifle-musket was imported in large
numbers during the Civil War. The
South received approximately
100,000 in .54 caliber, mostly
with fixed sights, from early 1862
through 1863. They were apparently purchased from existing Austrian stocks as the Austrian
government was converting from black powder to gun cotton and found these rifle muskets
surplus to their needs. The type was primarily used by the Army of Tennessee and by other units
in the Central and Trans-Mississippi theaters. The Lorenz was often referred to as "Enfields" as
some had blued metal parts however most were natural metal without finish. This weapon was
very serviceable and saw considerable use. It was the second only to the P1853 Enfield
(400,000) as the most used Confederate type but it never has seen the recognition of the Enfield.
The Confederates would issue ammunition for this weapon that could also fire in the Confederate
"Mississippi" rifles.
The North imported 225,000 of these rifle-muskets, mainly to pre-empt additional purchases as
the Confederates had approached the Austrians first, most with long-range adjustable sights.
However, as they proved well made and reliable they were issued in 1863-64 to over one
hundred federal regiments. The North used the Lorenz in .54 caliber but some were re-bored to
.58 so that they could utilize standard .58 cal. ammunition. Many of the Lorenz's shipped to the
United States for the federals were newly manufactured in 1861, 1862, and 1863 and like all
Lorenz's were dated with a three digit number on the side plate, 861, 862, 863. A quadrangular
socket bayonet was used with both the Federal and Confederate Lorenz.
The Lorenz was somewhat shorter and lighter than the Springfield or Enfield but was longer than
the two-band Enfield and the Mississippi-style rifles. It is one of the most undeservedly ignored
rifles of the period. The rifle musket pictured above is dated 1858, "858".
But that's just my guess.
Steve Mace
