Just picked up a neat little - really little - Austrian cavalry carbine. I've seen them named the 1842 or 1851. I'm not sure what the differences are. Also the ‘Kammer-Karabiner.’ Anyway, I can't believe how small and light this is compared to all other US CW carbines I've handled. As I understand the Union imported about 10,000 of these. This one seems to have escaped the 'aftermarket' ramrod installation that was done by the importers or US depots, or both. I think it has the Belgian style percussion conversion from the original tube lock. Sadly it's missing the saddle ring.
The odd thing is its complete lack of a rear sight. Every other one I've seen photos of all have the big Potsdam musket style ramp at the rear of the breach that seems integral to the tang. Maybe it was shaved off during the conversion process if it was too close to the nipple lump? Has anyone else ever seen one of these without a rear sight?
It's got few markings - standard Austrian Imperial eagle on the lock (but no date oddly?), and on the bottom of the butt is an LF that's very neatly stamped. Makes me think it was a maker's mark. A few numbers near the woodline of the barrel and on the barrel band there's a series of numbers preceded by an A maybe? It's very worn. It ends with a cross in a circle. That's not like any unit marking I've ever seen on Prussian or Austrian arms but I don't think they serial numbered these. It's strange to me.
The odd thing is its complete lack of a rear sight. Every other one I've seen photos of all have the big Potsdam musket style ramp at the rear of the breach that seems integral to the tang. Maybe it was shaved off during the conversion process if it was too close to the nipple lump? Has anyone else ever seen one of these without a rear sight?
It's got few markings - standard Austrian Imperial eagle on the lock (but no date oddly?), and on the bottom of the butt is an LF that's very neatly stamped. Makes me think it was a maker's mark. A few numbers near the woodline of the barrel and on the barrel band there's a series of numbers preceded by an A maybe? It's very worn. It ends with a cross in a circle. That's not like any unit marking I've ever seen on Prussian or Austrian arms but I don't think they serial numbered these. It's strange to me.