Rare, US Civil War, Austrian M1854 Socket Bayonet to fit the Lorenz muzzle loading rifle

*Rare, US Civil War, Austrian M1854 Socket Bayonet to fit the Lorenz muzzle loading rifle*

The Austrian M1854 Socket bayonet for use with the 13.9 mm. (.54 caliber) M1854 Lorenz rifle. (This bayonet was also used with the M1854/67 Wanzl breech loading conversions) Made in Vienna from 1854 through 1867, the Lorenz rifle was a very accurate rifle-musket that employed a four-groove rifling scheme that had a right-hand twist, it was the first Austrian gun to use the nipple system. It was used in the Second Italian War of Independence in 1859 and the Austro-Prussian War in 1866, and also featured prominently in the American Civil War. The M1854 bayonet is easily identified by the helical mortise and flattened cruciform blade profile. The socket length measures 81 mm with a 490mm blade. There are inspection stamps a ‘D Star’ on the elbow and also the issue number: ’57.LSt – 1020′. LST an abbreviation of Landsturm Regiment.

The Lorenz the third most widely used rifle during the American Civil War and was imported in quantity by both sides. The Union imported over 225,000 and the Confederacy perhaps as many as 100,000, making the Lorenz second only to the .577 caliber Enfield rifle-musket, as the most common imported firearm.

*Condition*
There is some rusting to the socket but this bayonet is in otherwise in excellent condition, displaying the age commensurate marks. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.

JAQGEx_7418134711