This antique Austrian Model 1849 Long Rifle was the successor to the Model 1842 rifle. After becoming obsolete, many were converted to percussion and sold to Giusppe Garibaldi's revolutionary forces in Italy, earning its nickname, the Garibaldi rifle. This nickname was so universal, that it was the name used by the U.S. Ordnance Department to describe the 1842 and 1849 Austrian models that they imported for use in the Civil War. A total of 26,201 Garibaldi rifles were purchased by the U.S. Ordnance Department. They were not considered "first class arms" and were often issued to the Western states during that period. They were not popular with Union troops. This example was altered using the Belgian system of brazing a "lump of iron" to the barrel. This antique musket has some visible pitting with bright lands and dark grooves in the bore. The stock has many dings, dents, and drying cracks from almost two centuries of handling. This rifled musket is trimmed in brass furniture, and is fitted with its original combination folding leaf rear sight. This musket weighs 8.9 pounds and has a 12-7/8" trigger reach.

The tapered octagon-to-round 32-1/2" barrel is .71 caliber and rifled with twelve grooves with Delvigne chambered breech. The lip of the chamber serves as a base for expanding the projectile, forcing it to engage the rifling. This example has a flat face for loading conicals. The bore has dark grooves with some visible pitting running the length of the bore. The outer surfaces of the barrel have aged to a speckled brown gray patina with some pitting around the breech end of the barrel from the corrosive effects of antique percussion caps. During the conversion to percussion, the Belgian system of brazing a small cone seat to the upper right side of the barrel was used, and is known as the "lump of iron" conversion due to the variation in appearance. The nipple appears have been in place when it was brazed and the brazing over laps the base of nipple seat, and we did not try to remove it. The right side of the barrel is stamped 6 8 N sideways near the breech. The left side of the barrel is stamped 852 along with 49 just ahead of the breech plug. The left side of the breech plug is also stamped 49. The top flat is stamped FERD FRUWIRTH just behind the rear sight. Ferdinand Fruwirth was one of many private contractors used to manufacture this model. The combination folding leaf rear sight has three slotted holes marked for 300, 400, and 500 paces. We note one of the small screws used to mount the slotted insert is missing. Forward a nose band, with ramrod pipe soldered to the bottom, and wedge key are used to hold the barrel to the stock. The nose band is stamped 55 over 07. The front sight is brazed to the top of the barrel, along with a lug on the side of the barrel for attachment of a bayonet.

Stocked in what appears to be beech, this musket has many dents, dings, scratches, and scuff marks. The toe has a 2" long crack extending forward from the buttplate. A drying cracks extends back from the tip of the pointed tang of the breech plug. The brass furniture has aged to a mellow patina. The comb of the buttplate is stamped 55 in large font with 13 stamped behind it in smaller font. Our bottom view reveals the rounded toe of the beech stock and the brass triggerguard with finger spur. A sling swivel is mounted just behind the finger spur in the rear finial of the triggerguard. The front finial is stamped 55 in large font. The front swivel is mounted through the forearm. The cupped metal ramrod slides through the pipe brazed to the bottom of the front band and a brass ramrod pipe inlet just ahead of the sling swivel. A military style brass sideplate is inlet flush into the stock, and is stamped 55 along with a small 4. A large oval cheek is shaped on the left side of the buttstock.

The center of the lock plate is faintly marked 85 in small font. The other marks were removed during the conversion. The lock has developed the same speckled brown gray patina as the barrel. The holes from the original tube-lock system are plugged and are faintly visible. The lock has a strong mainspring with secure half and full cock notches. We note the hammer is loose on the tumbler.

An interesting Austrian Model 1849 Long Rifle with conversion to percussion. It would make a fine display piece for your European or American Civil War musket collection. Order it for a ten day visual inspection. You will be delighted. Else if it does not fit you, return it in unfired condition for same-day refund. Postage is your only risk, when you order any one-of-a-kind gun from Track, whether new, used, or antique.