Lot 3232

Cased Half-Stock Percussion Rifle by Henri Mangeot with Bayonet

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Cased Half-Stock Percussion Rifle by Henri Mangeot with Bayonet

Estimate: $15,000 - $25,000

Starting Bid: $13,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 23, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Extravagant Leopold I of Belgium Presentation Cased, Gold and Silver Inlaid, Engraved, and Relief Carved Half-Stock Percussion Rifle by Henri Mangeot with Matching Engraved Bayonet and Accoutrements The case lid escutcheon is inscribed "Donnie/par/S.M. Leopold Ier, Roi des Beleges,/a/Mr. Drummond Hay,/Charge d'Affaires du Gouvernement Britanique/an Maroc" indicating this gun was made for presentation by Leopold I of Belgium (1790-1865) to Sir John Hay Drummond Hay (1816-1893). Leopold was born as a prince of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and had deep ties in the United Kingdom where he lived for many years, receiving British citizenship in 1816 and marrying Princess Charlotte of Wales the same year and becoming part of the British royal family until she tragically died after two problematic pregnancies in 1817. His sister also married Prince Edward, and their daughter became Queen Victoria in 1837. Leopold became the first king of the Belgians in 1831 after turning down the Greek throne and worked to fight off Dutch aggression and affirm Belgian independence. During his reign, he retained close ties with Queen Victoria and was in part responsible for arranging her marriage to his nephew Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. In 1839, the Treaty of London affirmed Belgium's independence and neutrality and included a pledge by the great powers to guarantee Belgium's neutrality. This pledge famously was used to justify the United Kingdom's entry into World War I. Drummond Hay took over as consul-general in Morocco following his father's death in 1845 and was charge d'affaires in Morocco in 1847-1860, minister resident 1860-1872, minister plenipotentiary in 1872-1880, and envoy extraordinary in 1880-1886. Both men worked to maintain peace through diplomacy. Drummond Hay notably strengthened British diplomatic and commercial ties in Morocco and mediated disputes between the sultanate and other European powers. This stunning rifle comes from the shop of Henri Mangeot, gunmaker to the court of the king of the Netherlands in Brussels in the mid to late 19th century. It has an octagon to round Damascus twist barrel with four-groove rifling, a bayonet lug on the right, a dovetailed blade front sight surrounded by gold and silver inlaid and engraved scrollwork, "H. MANGEOT ARQIER A BRUXELLES" in gold inlay on top at the breech section, and further extensive gold and silver inlaid and engraved foliate scrollwork on the breech, breech plug, lock, and mounts. The standing breech features a screw adjustable notch rear sight, and the rifle is equipped with an adjustable single set trigger. The stock features raised relief scroll carving at the forend tip and panels of checkering with carved borders. Sling rings are mounted to the middle ramrod ferrule and butt. The bayonet has a 17 5/8 inch fullered blade, foliate and scroll engraving with gold and silver inlaid accents, the iron mounts on the leather scabbard engraved en suite, and a ribbed dark horn grip. The takedown case contains an engraved bullet mold, loading and cleaning rods, turnscrew, nipple wrench, oiler, silver powder flask, and a few bullets.

Manufacturer: European

Model: Percussion

BBL: 27 5/8 inch part octagon

Stock: walnut

Gauge: .58

Finish: gold/silver/brown/casehardened

Serial NumberNSN

Class: Antique

  • Condition: Very fine overall with bright gold inlays, aged patina on the silver inlays, 40% original brown finish on the barrel along with distinct twist patterns, minor oxidation, mostly smooth French gray on the lock and mounts, faint repairs in the forend, crisp checkering and carving, faint cracks and small notches in the stock, and fairly light wear. Mechanically excellent. The bayonet and accessories are fine with generally mild age and storage wear. The case is very good and has bright lining, scratches and dings, minor cracks, and moderate storage wear.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000