Sechsschüssiger Zentralfeuerrevolver samt Garnitur

This lavishly decorated double-action revolver was produced by the K.u.k. Hof- und Armee-Waffenfabrik Leopold Gasser, an arms manufacturer in Vienna with a royal warrant. In 1869 Leopold Gasser developed a revolver that the Austrian army introduced as a service weapon in 1870. Following Leopold’s death in 1871, his brother Johann Gasser took over the company. The successful army revolver served as the basis for this elaborately decorated luxury version presented to Emperor Franz Joseph.

Its ebony grip plates are inscribed with the monogram FJ, the imperial doubleheaded eagle, and Franz Joseph’s motto, Viribus unitis (‘with unified forces’). The back of the drum is emblazoned with the arms of the House of Habsburg and those of the city of Vienna. The trigger is shaped like a dragon clutching a small escutcheon enamelled with the imperial double-headed eagle. This parade weapon comes in a box lined in purple silk, covered in black leather and decorated with silver appliques. In addition to the revolver, the box houses the equipment needed to disassemble and clean the weapon, and six bullets.

The revolver is not dated but was probably produced shortly after 1874. It features the improved grip introduced in 1874, which is reinforced at the front, where it is bolted to the barrel. The front frame of the 1870 model series was much weaker, and occasionally the screw used to attach the barrel came loose.

The revolver was the personal property of Emperor Franz Joseph until it was removed to the imperial gun room (Kaiserliche Hofgewehrkammer) in 1884, where it was listed as no. 10. Those holdings were eventually incorporated into the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna.