Various Gasser revolvers were standard issue in the Austrian military in the latter part of the 1800's. They were also common in Montenegro, and the surrounding areas. King Nikola of Montenegro famously decreed that all men should carry a Gasser revolver.
There are a surprising number of decorated Gasser revolvers, and most are Montenegrin marked. Some are minimally decorated for a daily carry piece, and some appear made for royalty. One should consider the relative wealth of pre-industrial agrarian Montenegro, versus the cost of an Austrian Gasser or cheaper Belgian copy revolver. A revolver was a culturally significant, useful, and expensive tool, and as such would be favored for decoration.
These here are a mix of Austrian and Belgian made revolvers. Most are marked with a "crowned NI" on the barrel. The second gallery shows what looks like an Ottoman tughra where the NI stamp is expected. A few have highly decorated silver grips with inlaid stones, which appear from a similar source. The last gallery is a revolver thought to be made for Nikola himself, due to its amazing quality.
Pictures were ripped off from:
http://www.littlegun.be/
http://www.rockislandauction.com/
http://hungariae.com/
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/
http://www.gunbroker.com/
There are a surprising number of decorated Gasser revolvers, and most are Montenegrin marked. Some are minimally decorated for a daily carry piece, and some appear made for royalty. One should consider the relative wealth of pre-industrial agrarian Montenegro, versus the cost of an Austrian Gasser or cheaper Belgian copy revolver. A revolver was a culturally significant, useful, and expensive tool, and as such would be favored for decoration.
These here are a mix of Austrian and Belgian made revolvers. Most are marked with a "crowned NI" on the barrel. The second gallery shows what looks like an Ottoman tughra where the NI stamp is expected. A few have highly decorated silver grips with inlaid stones, which appear from a similar source. The last gallery is a revolver thought to be made for Nikola himself, due to its amazing quality.
Pictures were ripped off from:
http://www.littlegun.be/
http://www.rockislandauction.com/
http://hungariae.com/
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/
http://www.gunbroker.com/