Restoring 1854 Lorenz

[Steve Weems]

I was able to acquire a very restorable Model 1854 Lorenz. One thing I will need is a new nipple so my question to those of you who have experience with the Lorenz is there a source for Lorenz specific nipples or is it usual to re thread to a US type nipple. The one in it now is totally beat and I anticipate have to use a backout to remove it or worse drill it out. Thanks in advance for any help.

[John Robey]

An Enfield nipple has the correct thread, but is a tiny bit small in diameter. I use the Enfield nipple with some teflon plumber's tape around the threads. Works wonderfully in an original barrel.

[Don Dixon]

The Muster 1854 family of System Lorenz weapons were manufactured using a combination of hand and machine technology. They are not necessarily interchangeable. Additionally, the Austro-Hungarian Army used Schritt based measurements until 1872. A Schritt was a military pace of 29.5 inches/.75 meters. Plus, the thread pitch is slightly off for both English and Metric thread. The only Schritt based nipples that i know of that are being currently manufactured are for the Muster 1851 Swiss Feldstutzer.

You might try an 8MX1 or 8mX1.25 nipple. 8M is right for the size of the hole, but the problem is the pitch. Both are close, and one of them might work if the manufacturer's tolerances were loose enough. John's suggstion of using teflon tape to snug up looseness is a good one. It also helps in getting nipples out of the gun when its time to clean it.

Regards,
Don Dixon
2881V

[Steve Weems]

Thank you John and Don— I hope the old nipple can be remove without losing the original threads which is my ideal. Otherwise I think I will recut for the Enfield nipple and use the Teflon tape. Even if I have to do a reline this will be way cheaper to get a shootable Lorenz than buying one of the Pedersoli when they hit theUS market(and more interesting).

[Charlie Hahn]

I have one on the bench just now. The Nipple is almost 8mm x 1.25 checked with a metric pitch gauge. Fits loose in the bolster but will tighten up. Teflon tape is a definite consideration.

Charlie Hahn