The North imported some 250,000 Lorenz rifles and the south at least another 100,000, making them second only to the Enfield in numbers brought into this country to arm soldiers on both sides. Made in .54 caliber, the rifles could easily use American ammunition and some northern imports were even bored out to U.S. standard .58 caliber. They were iron mounted, a little over 53 inches long, and carried these quadrangular bayonets with sockets having a locking ring and spiral mortise to match a slanted oval front sight base that acted as the bayonet stud.

This is a nice example with good edge and point, and locking ring intact. The metal is a dull silver gray mixed with some darker gray and some brown spots. Some markings are visible on the neck. These are likely Austrian government stamps. They were interested in clearing out their arsenals to make room for more advanced arms, hence the large number available for purchase by both CS and US agents.

This comes from the recently dispersed collections of the War Library and Museum in Philadelphia. Incorporated in 1888 by the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, the veterans’ organization for Union officers, this was the repository for a world-class collection of artifacts housed since 1922 in a Philadelphia townhouse. The museum closed in 2008. Many of their holdings made their way to other museums, but others were recently sold at auction where we obtained an number of pieces with this great pedigree.  [SR]

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