Ferd. Fruwirth

[Jack Gilbert]

This is a military rifle of European manufacture, about 1870's I think. "Ferd. Fruwirth" is on the breech, with "Wn 72" on the breech end of the barrel. The breech opens by rotating a thumb lever to the side, rather than rolling it back as on a Remington rolling block. It is a sidehammer firearm, apparently a rimfire, about 11mm. It has sling swivels, and a cleaning rod under the barrel. Also military sights not unlike those on a trapdoor Springfield. The rifle is in very good condition.

I need info about the manufacturer, where it was made, in fact, all the info I can get. Ammo is probably non-existant for it now, but any help would be welcome.

Jack

[kevin.303]

i typed it into a search engine, this was my first hit.

DESCRIPTION: Scarce Austro Hungarian M.1850 Police (Polizei -Wachcorps) smoothbore musket. These weapons were converted from captured Piedmontese M.1844 muskets, using the standard Austro-Hungarian hardware, stocks and barrels from M.1842 Jaeger and M.1846 Special Purpose Muskets (Gendarmerie Gewehr M/1846 and Grenzjager Gewehr M/1846). According to Dolleczek, the conversion was done in 1848-1849. One barrel band configuration. All steel furniture. Several proofs are stamped on the steel parts of the carbine, some of them difficult to recognize. The back of the barrel displays following maker's markings, "FERD. FRUWIRTH" and "H". There is a large unrecognizable stamp on the butt stock, just behind the rear sling swivel. Bayonet lug on the barrel. Complete with ramrod.

it could also just besome sort of aresnal stamp