Beschreibung:

.66 caliber smoothbore. 14.5" barrel secured by a single flat barrel band. no S/N. Bright finish, iron furniture, Austrian beechwood stock with raised cheek piece. Lock marked "858" indicating production in 1858 with the Austrian {Double-Headed Eagle} at tail of lock. Barrel with Belgian proofs at percussion cone seat and on top of breech. Retains both original carbine sling rings on reverse. These short barreled muzzleloading carbines were originally issued by the Austrian military in .71 caliber with rifled bores utilizing the Augustin-Consol lock ignition system, often referred to as the "Pill Lock" or "Tube Lock". After the adoption of the percussion ignition system in 1854, known as "System Lorenz" in Austria, many of the older Consol Lock guns were altered to percussion. Even more were sold off during the American Civil War, primarily to US buyers. Most of these guns appear to have been altered to percussion in Belgium with a "cone in barrel" type alteration and a new percussion hammer, while the Austrian altered guns used an added percussion bolster in the original touchhole and usually retained the original Consol Lock hammer. As produced these guns did not have a ramrod channel as the Austrian cavalry troopers carried the ramrods separately. Many of the guns exported for use during the Civil War had a ramrod and the ramrod channel added. This gun has the added ramrod channel which has a modern button head ramrod in it. Condition: Very good. Metal with some scattered surface oxidation, minor roughness and discoloration but free of any real pitting. Bore good with scattered oxidation. Mechanically functional, markings remain clear and crisp. Wood with scattered bumps, dings and mars but free of any breaks or repairs.