Podewils M1858

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	Weapon: Podewils M1858 Type: Rifled Musket Country of Origin: Germany Year Adopted: 1858 Caliber: 13.9mm Action: Percussion Overall Length (mm): 1370.0 Weight (kg): 4.00 Effective Range (m): 400

The Podewils M1858 rifle musket was a percussion-cap firearm designed and produced in Bavaria during the mid-19th century. Based on earlier designs, the M1858 featured a rifled barrel, which significantly improved accuracy over smoothbore muskets. It was a muzzle-loading weapon chambered for a .54 caliber (13.9mm) round, utilizing a Minie-style bullet for enhanced range and penetration. The rifle had a robust construction, with a wooden stock and metal barrel bands, and was equipped with adjustable sights for improved precision.

Manufactured primarily by Bavarian state arsenals, the Podewils M1858 saw production numbers in the tens of thousands to equip the Bavarian Army. It served as the standard infantry weapon during the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 and the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. Despite its relatively modern rifled design, the muzzle-loading mechanism was considered outdated by the 1860s, as many other European nations adopted breech-loading rifles. To keep pace with advancements, many Podewils rifles were later converted to breech-loaders, resulting in the Podewils-Linder variant.

The Podewils M1858 gained notoriety as a symbol of Bavarian military efforts during a period of significant conflict and political change in Europe. While its effectiveness was overshadowed by more advanced rifles like the Prussian Dreyse Needle-Gun, the Podewils remained a reliable weapon for Bavarian forces. Today, it is a collectible firearm, valued for its historical significance and as a representative of transitional military technology in the 19th century.