Page 267 - 4094-BOOK2

265
The barrels are freed for rotation by hand by a hidden release
mechanism activated by pressing up on the front of the trigger guard.
A shared replacement brass ramrod with steel tip and worm is fitted to one
side of the forestock. The priming pans are gold lined, and the frizzen springs feature
rollers. The flat beveled back action lock features a detailed wooded scene with wildfowl and
a wolf with a paw caught in a trap. The side plate features wildfowl being hunted by a hawk, and the
trigger guard features a demi-wild man holding up a panel with a scene of a cockatoo. Additional engraving includes
various other exotic birds, such as the parrot scene on the false entry pipe and the ostrich on the heel extension, a
hound on the ramrod entry pipe, smaller hound vignettes, a squirrel and stork on the upper tang, and geometric, floral,
and neo-classical designs. The animal scenes are very finely detailed and were likely drawn from period natural history
books such as Johann Elias Ridinger’s “Gruendliche Beschreibung und Vorstellung der Wilden Thiere nach ihrer Natur,
Geschlecht, Alter und Spur” (Thorough Description and Presentation of Wild Animals...). The figured walnut forestock
and buttstock feature extensive foliate carving, including a cheekpiece on each side with carving terminating in a
rosette and a finely carved rooster bestial mask in contrasting ebony at the base of the wrist. The gold wrist escutcheon
is inscribed “SB”.
The carbine is from the private collection of Wesley I. Paul, former Chairman of the Board of the Royal Armouries,
who indicated the initials are for “Monsieur Sala Bugenlis.” The carbine was sold in 1950 in the sale of the collection of
the Marquess of Bute. When it became part of the Marquess of Bute’s collection is unclear, but John Crichton-Stuart,
5th Marquess of Bute (1907-1956) was a noted ornithologist and hunter actively involved in wildlife conservation; as
such, the various highly detailed scenes involving various species of birds were likely of particular interest to him. In
1950, it was sold to noted arms historian and collector Arthur Norris Kennard (1911-1995), Deputy Master of the Royal
Armouries, and it was later sold at the sale of his collection in March 1996.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine overall with professional conservation work to the metal and wood. The barrels display
bright gold inlay and crisp engraving and have dark brown patina on the balance with some pitting and absent stars.
The bright polished and cleaned lock and mounts have fine engraving, minor pitting, and fairly minor overall wear.
The wood has some discreet repairs and faint cracks, distinct and wonderful carving, light marks and scratches, and
attractive figure. Mechanically fine. This is rare opportunity to acquire one of the rarest firearms from Boutet and the
Versailles Manufactory; few collectors ever even get the opportunity to see these scarce and stunning turnover carbines
let alone acquire one.
Provenance: Monsieur Sala Bugenlis; The Collection of the Marquess of Bute; The A. Norris Kennard Collection;
The Private Collection of Wesley I. Paul, former Chairman of the Board of the Royal Armouries.
Estimate: 150,000 - 250,000
Another “carabine tournante” identified as marked with the coat of arms of Joseph Bonaparte and listed as owned by the
Prince de la Moskowa (Marshal of the Empire Michel Ney and his descendants) is featured in “La Manufacture d’Armes
de Versailles Boutet Directeur-Artiste” by Captain Maurice Boutet in 1903 as item XLI and is described on page 58. These
noteworthy examples highlight the significance of the rare turnover carbines as presentation pieces for particularly powerful
figures in the Napoleonic era and the fact that it is nearly impossible to acquire a Boutet turnover carbine on the private
market.
This extraordinary “carabine tournante” has finely rifled 38 bore (.49 caliber) swamped semi-octagonal barrels with silver
blade front sights surrounded by gold inlaid panels decorated with radiating “lightning” emanating from clouds, extensive
gold inlaid stars, gold panels with engraved foliate patterns at the breech ends, gold lined vents, oval “DB” (Daniel Boussavy,
controller of the Versailles Manufactory in 1793-1794 and 1805) marked below the stock lines near the vents, “Boutet Directr
Artiste” on the underside of one barrel and “Manufre a Versailles” on the other,
small “star 59” or marking on the left flat of one barrel, and
hooked breech plugs. Dished rears sights are
incorporated on the breech plate
and standing breech.