Montenegrin Gasser .45 1870 Montenegrin Gasser .45 1870 .45 Revolver

A nickel-plated Montenegrin Gasser revolver with bone grips — one of the most distinctive and historically loaded handguns of the late 19th century — deactivated to the latest UK specification and sold complete with deactivation certificate.

The Montenegrin Gasser is rooted in a unique episode of firearms history. The revolver chosen was a version of the large-frame Austrian six-shot repeater manufactured by Leopold Gasser in Vienna, and it became the centrepiece of an extraordinary royal decree: every adult male citizen of Montenegro was legally obliged to own at least one revolver of the Gasser pattern — the only known instance of a national leader mandating ownership of a specific firearm. Genuine Gasser production ran to an estimated 200,000 units, with Belgian and Spanish copies later banned, making Austrian-made examples a mark of status and distinction.

The standard Montenegrin issue chambered the powerful 11.3x36mm rimmed cartridge — originally a carbine load — in a revolver measuring over twelve inches in length and weighing close to three pounds. These revolvers were frequently commissioned with nickel plating, bone or ivory grips, and engraving, making finer examples personal status pieces as much as military arms.

This example presents in exactly that tradition. The nickel finish and bone grips are fully consistent with the period's presentation-grade revolvers. Deactivated to current UK specification with certificate, it is display-ready and legally transferable without a licence.

Ref: Vintage pistol cabinet

Purchase with confidence from a family run business with over 40 years experience