Original Austro-Hungarian Muster 1849 Kammerbuchse Jäger Rifle with Augustin Sword Bayonet – dated 1851 Original Items

Original item: Only One Available. The rifle is a Muster 1849 Austro-Hungarian Army (k.k. Army) Kammerbuchse (chamber rifle), original produced using the somewhat bizarre System Augustin “Tube Lock”. This utilized a semi-enclosed flash pan and “tube” for a more reliable ignition system. It was however short lived, and in 1854 the Lorenz rifle was developed using the much less complex percussion lock system. After this large quantities of the Kammerbuchse rifles were converted to caplock in Liège, Belgium, prior to shipment to America (probably for Federal use) during the Civil War.

Prior to the manufacture of the Muster 1854 System Lorenz family of arms beginning in 1855, Kammerbuchsen were used to arm the first two ranks in Jäger battalions, the third rank in Grenz regiments, and some specialist troops such as engineers, pioneers, etc. Although Fredrick Fruwith made numbers of these rifles as a contractor for the k.k. Army, he was not the only contractor who did so. Although widely referred to in America as Garibaldi rifles – beginning in late 1861 – we have been unable to find any reliable written sourcing which documents their issue to Garibaldi’s troops during the second Italian War of Independence in 1859 or the March of the Thousand in 1860.

This example is completely original featuring a massive .80 bore was first introduced in 1842 and updated in 1849 to be issued with this huge 23.35″ bladed sword socket bayonet which featured a rotating locking ring at the rear of the socket.

The rifle is 48″ in overall length, the barrel being 33″. The lock plate is stamped “851” indicating manufacture in 1851. The rifle comes with the original all steel ramrod. Butt stock has integral wood cheek piece and the brass trigger guard has the cast in ramp behind the bow to act as a pistol grip indicating this particular weapon was issued to sappers and miners.

The sword bayonet, model Augustin 1849, lacks a locking ring but mounts fine. All in all in very nice collectable condition, many Austrian rifles were imported into the United States for use in the Civil War.

Specifications :-
Year of Manufacture: circa 1851 – converted later
Caliber: about .75 inches
Ammunition Type: Cap and Ball
Barrel Length: 33 Inches
Overall Length: 48 1/2 Inches
Action type: Side action Percussion lock
Feed System: Single Shot

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