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18PS-1 SPENCER RIFLE BELONGING TO NIZAM OF INDIA

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:7,500.00 USD
18PS-1 SPENCER RIFLE BELONGING TO NIZAM OF INDIA
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Rare and important one of a kind engraved and gold inlaid Spencer sporting rifle presented to his highness the Nizam IV (Maharajah) of Hyderabad, India. This unique and beautiful Spencer is finely engraved, gold inlaid with Nizam’s title and stocked in fine ebony wood. Ebony was the most expensive wood in the world in the 19th century and this appears to be ultra-fine “Cuban” ebony. Noted Spencer firearms expert Roy Marcot states in his book that two other engraved presentation Spencer sporting rifles are known without serial numbers and 1 presented to Frank Cheney owner of Spencer firearms and the other presented to Franz Josef who was Emperor of Austria. Subsequent research has located the Franz Josef rifle in Hapsburg Imperial museum and photos confirm that it’s cased but not engraved. The gold inlaid initials “H.H.M.H. on the breech stands for “His Highness the Maharajah of Hyderabad”. This exact rifle was sold by Holland & Holland of London who sold the collection of the Maharajah that numbered almost 2000 arms. According to Guy Davis of Holland & Holland the P17 inventory number stands for professional hunter 17 as a P.H. was retained to lead the Nizam’s hunting expeditions. It is believed the presentation case was separated between Holland & Holland and when obtained by Norm Flayderman Premier Antique Arms dealer who lists the gun in his 1973 catalog #94 item 951. Research indicates that the Cheney rifle, the Franz Josef rifle and this example were unnumbered for presentation purposes.
This rifle is in .56-46 caliber with a 26” round barrel retaining 75%-85% original rich tobacco brown finish, case hardening turned silvery gray with some colors where protected. The stocks are near fine with “Rich” appearance. The metal is sharp and crisp and the inside action shows colorful case hardening and bright bore. Standard rifle sights.
Conclusion: We feel this to be among the top few engraved Spencer Sporting Arms extant and rosewood stocks on American Arms are extremely rare and desirable. Suited for advanced collector of museum. A well-researched monograph on this rifle by noted old time collector is included. (Antique) Est.: $15,000-$30,000