Lorenz rifle

The Lorenz rifle was produced in three different variants, designed for short, medium, and long range combat.

The quality of Lorenz rifles during the Civil War was not consistent.

The Lorenz rifle was similar in design to the Enfield rifle-musket.

In the late 19th century surplus Lorenz rifles were sold in Africa as trade guns.

The Lorenz rifle was an Austrian rifle used in the mid 19th century.

The third most widely used weapon of the Civil War was the Lorenz Rifle.

The Lorenz rifle was originally .54 caliber.

The Lorenz rifle first saw action in the Second Italian War of Independence.

The Lorenz rifle was designed by Austrian lieutenant Joseph Lorenz.

This solid bullet design, combined with inconsistent bore diameters, contributed significantly to the mediocre and inconsistent performance of Lorenz rifles.

The Lorenz rifle fired a solid bullet that did not grip the barrel as well as a hollow skirted Minie type bullet.

Muzzle-loading Lorenz rifles were the main Austrian weapon during the Austro-Prussian War and were generally outclassed by the Prussian needle gun.

The Lorenz rifle was a percussion type muzzle loader, and as such was similar in design to the British Pattern 1853 Enfield and the American Springfield rifle-muskets.

In addition the needle gun could be operated while prone in defense, and while moving quickly on the advance, while the Austrians had to stand up after each shot to reload their Lorenz rifles.

Many of these manufacturers did not have the skill and precision required to make what was then a very modern and sophisticated rifle design, and as a result, the quality of Lorenz rifles varied quite a bit.

Confederate bought Lorenz Rifles saw heavy use in the Army of Tennessee in 1863-64, with many of them being issued to reequip regiments captured at the Siege of Vicksburg and later exchanged.

A large number of Lorenz rifles purchased by the Union during Civil War had their barrels bored to .58 caliber, so that they could fire the same ammunition as the Enfield and Springfield rifle-muskets.

Finally, the Prussian infantry were equipped with the Dreyse needle gun, a breech-loading rifle capable of far more rapid fire than the muzzle-loading Lorenz Rifles with which the Austrians were equipped.