Austrian 1854 Lorenz Rifle .54 Cal Percussion Muzzleloading Black Powder
SOLD FOR: $1,425.00
LSB#: LSB260419MM022
Make: Austrian
Model: 1854 Lorenz
Serial#: NSNV
Year of Manufacture: Circa 1850s and 1860s
Caliber: .54
Action Type: Single shot, muzzleloading, percussion rifle
Barrel Length: 37″
Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a barleycorn style blade soldered to the barrel. The rear sight is a folding ladder style V notch dovetailed to the barrel.
Stock Configuration & Condition/ Grip: The stock is one piece smooth beech, three barrel bands, straight grip, straight comb with cheekpiece, and steel buttplate. The LOP is 13 1/4″ from trigger to buttplate. There are scratches and compression dents throughout. There are a few scattered chips, most notably near the buttplate. There is some minor cracking at the upper tang. There are no major structural cracks. Overall this stock is in Good condition for antique.
Type of Finish: Armory Bright
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is dark. The rifling is defined. There is moderate erosion and pitting throughout. In this writer’s opinion this bore rates a 6/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains virtually none of its original finish. The majority of the metal has worn to brown patina with corrosion staining. Some of the bright finish is visible along the stock line. The screw heads are lightly tooled but serviceable. The markings are legible. Overall this rifle is in Good condition for antique.
Mechanics: This rifle is in functional condition. The hammer holds full and half cock. The nipple is free. The firing channel is clear. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used guns a full cleaning may be necessary to meet your standards.
Box Paperwork and Accessories: None
Our Assessment: This Austrian Model 1854 Lorenz in .54 caliber is a historically significant percussion muzzleloading rifle dating from the 1850s–1860s. It retains the classic military configuration with a 37″ barrel, three barrel bands, one-piece beech stock, cheekpiece, steel buttplate, barleycorn front sight, and folding ladder-style rear sight. As a 19th-century European martial arm, the Lorenz pattern has strong appeal to collectors of antique military rifles, percussion arms, and Civil War-era long guns, particularly given its full-length configuration and surviving legible markings.
Condition is good overall for an antique, with honest age and service wear throughout. The rifle retains virtually none of its original armory bright finish, with most of the metal now worn to brown patina and showing corrosion staining, though some bright finish remains visible along the stock line. The screw heads are lightly tooled but serviceable, and the markings remain legible. The beech stock is in Good condition for its age, showing scratches, compression dents, a few scattered chips, most notably near the buttplate, and minor cracking at the upper tang, but no major structural cracks. The bore is dark with defined rifling and moderate erosion and pitting throughout, rating 6/10 in the writer’s opinion.
Overall, this Austrian 1854 Lorenz presents as a solid antique military percussion rifle with strong historical character and acceptable preservation for its age. The hammer holds at full and half cock, the nipple is free, and the firing channel is clear, all of which support its functional mechanical status. However, the dark bore, moderate pitting, antique construction, and general age-related wear mean it should be treated primarily as a collector’s or display rifle unless inspected and approved by a qualified black powder specialist. Its main strengths are its complete military form, legible markings, functional lockwork, and desirable Lorenz pattern, while its limitations are the worn finish, patina, stock wear, and compromised bore. Please see our photos and good luck on your bids! MF