Description |
Beautiful Spanish Military fighting rifle with brown wood stock and octagonal to round smooth bore barrel lightly swamped. Barrel with engraving to the transition and inscribed in gold - El Gen.l Bassecourt Al Merito De Tercero - above three fleur de Lis, Spanish Cross, and Two hallmarks all heavily gilt. Lower hallmark of a rampant lion, above a makers mark of the crown over letters "GaI, LAA?, Te, SHI??". Silver horizontal inlaid line to base of barrel and flared front sight in silver. Engraving of scrolling to the tang. Spanish miquelet flintlock lock with a touch mark of the crown over "LA,AAI,ATE,GU??". Fine presentation rifle gifted with a promotion to General Bassecourt or by the General for Merit won in battle. Size 40 1/4" L, barrel 24 1/2" L
General Luis Alejandro Bassecourt y Duprie (1769-1826) was a French born Spanish military commander, Governor of Barcelona, and Captain General. He participated in the Peninsular War and was promoted to captain in 1805 after the Dos de Mayo Uprising. In Andalusia he was promoted to brigadier August 1808. He fought alongside the Duke of Albuquerque and participated in the battles of Mora and Consuegra February 1809, Battle of Medellin March 1809, Battle of Talavera July 1809, and in August at the Battle of Arzobispo. Promoted to lieutenant general 1815, lieutenant colonel of the 2d Regiment of Infantry Guards 1819. Ferdinand VII of Spain appointed Bassecourt governor of Barcelona in 1823 and second-in-command of the Captaincy general of Catalonia 1824. The same year he was appointed Captain General of Valencia and Murcia. In 1825 he was promoted to captain general of Granada and captain general of Aragon.
Very good condition with light wear from use and age.
Ex-USA Collection
|