Rare, Deluxe and Historic Belgian Double Action and Double Barrel 18-Shot Pinfire Revolver, Engraved "Ferdinand Maximilian Von Oesterreich" with Silver Gilt and Enamel Imperial Pendant

Serial no. 1476, 9.5mm pinfire caliber, 6 1/4-inch rifled over-and-under barrels, the top inscribed in elegant script: "Ferdinand Maximilian von Oesterreich." Low relief scroll, leaf, and border engraved barrel, cylinder and frame, with relief carved ebony grips. Liege, Belgium, proofmarks on breech of cylinder, ELG with * and crown over N; latter mark also on left side of barrel lug near bottom. Rare floating firing pin in frame plate, raised and lowered by intricate and ingenious mechanism, to strike cartridges in two radiuses of cylinder, fired through unusual over-and-under barrels.
Accompanied by silver gilt sculpted pendant of the Mexican eagle, with the snake and cactus accentuated in enamel, as are some details of the crown to which the eagle motif is attached. Relief sword and scepter cross on eagle's bodice.

Condition: Fine. 55% blue, balance gray and brown; light patina and flaking; minor pitting; sharp engraving and carving; barrel inscription sharp. Trigger return spring weak, but mechanism functional. An unknown marking appears to have been removed and stippled over from left side of frame at juncture with breech of barrel lug.

Note: Ferdinand Maximilian, brother of the King of Austria, Franz Joseph, and a Prince of the Austrian Empire, was the ill-fated Emperor of Mexico, 1864-67. He was executed by firing squad - with two of his generals - at "The Hill of the Bells," Queretaro, Mexico, on June 19, 1867.

Pictured and described, Lee A. Silva, "Death on the Hill of the Bells," The Gun Report, January 1988, pages 16-21.

Estimate: $25000 - $35000

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