Recent Find Recent 1859 Dated M1854 Lorenz Purchase

[delta rifles]

Hello all,
I've been looking for a Lorenz for quite some time, but I've never been lucky enough to get my hands on one. I ran across one listed as Enfield on an auction site a few weeks ago, and I was able to win the auction for a very decent price even after paying the auction fees and shipping costs.
The lock internals are all numbered "50," and the lock plate still retains its "859" date and its eagle stamp. The barrel is marked as well, but I've been on a wild goose chase all evening trying to determine their meaning. I do belief there are cartouches on the stock, but they are fairly weak as are the "asterisk" markings on some of the barrel bands. If someone could help me with these markings or point me in the right direction of a book to find them on my own, I'd greatly appreciate it. None of the books I have on European arms during the Civil War have helped me as of yet.
The rifle has its original cheek stock and ladder site, and I believe the ramrod is original to the rifle. It also retains its original .54 caliber bore. There are a few chips in the ramrod channel and there are a few small cracks in the stock, but they aren't too distracting. I did apply some Kramer's Best to the rifle when I got it this morning, and I am completely satisfied with the results. There is something about this rifle's patina/appearance that speaks to me, and I don't want to mess with it at all. The rifle deserves to remain in its original state.

I guess the question is whether or not I can prove that it was Confederate used, but I don't think I'll ever get a definitive answer. The fact that it is still in .54 caliber at least gives it a better chance of being so. Here are the pictures (you can tell my the pictures that photography is not my strong suit), and the pictures from the original auction to kind of give y'all a before and after effect:

 

[Old Soldier]

JUST Confederate? How many times did it swap sides? Nice piece. Keep it like that.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Whichever side carried is is no issue when it's a good solid clean example of what they had back then.

Congratulations on a nice acquisition.

 

[delta rifles]

JUST Confederate? How many times did it swap sides? Nice piece. Keep it like that.

It doesn't bother me if it was Federal or Confederate carried. I just know the fact that it is still in .54 caliber increases the chances that it may have been issued in the South. It is my understanding that a significant portion of the Lorenzes issued to Federal soldiers were reamed out to .58 caliber.

 

[JOHN42768]

Nice addition for you

 

[rebracer]

This is a great find, the stock looks great after your work!

 

[Don Dixon]

You have a Muster 1854, Type II, System Lorenz rifle musket. Type II being the variant with long range sights. Most of the 100,000 Muster 1854s purchased for the South by Major Huse's intermediaries had the enblock Type I short range sight, since with the adoption of the product improved Muster 1862 rifle musket the Austrian Army wanted to get rid of them rather than pay to refit them. In balance its unlikely to have been a Confederate purchase, particularly since the Federals paid a small premium for long range sights. The number "50" on the interior parts of the lock is the number of the locksmith who built the lock at the Vienna Arsenal. As is common, the weapon is liberally marked with inspection and assembly marks, for which there is no crib sheet.

Regards,
Don Dixon

 

[Kyle Kalasnik]

Nice pick up.

 

[delta rifles]

You have a Muster 1854, Type II, System Lorenz rifle musket. Type II being the variant with long range sights. Most of the 100,000 Muster 1854s purchased for the South by Major Huse's intermediaries had the enblock Type I short range sight, since with the adoption of the product improved Muster 1862 rifle musket the Austrian Army wanted to get rid of them rather than pay to refit them. In balance its unlikely to have been a Confederate purchase, particularly since the Federals paid a small premium for long range sights. The number "50" on the interior parts of the lock is the number of the locksmith who built the lock at the Vienna Arsenal. As is common, the weapon is liberally marked with inspection and assembly marks, for which there is no crib sheet.

Regards,
Don Dixon

Thank you so much for the response. You answered a lot of questions for me.