Offered here is an impressive gold inlaid and engraved Adolphe Jansen double barrel 12 gauge pinfire rifle for ball cartridges with case and accessories that was presented by future King of Belgium, Leopold II, to the Commissioner at Meerut Hetwood Williams in 1865. The presentation inscription is found on top of the case lid. A large brass presentation inlay engraved with the coat of arms of Belgium reads, "Presented by the Duke of Brabant to Hetwood Williams Esquire Commissioner at Meerut. In remembrance of the cordial hospitality afforded by him to the Prince. 1865." The Duke of Brabant was the title for King Leopold II prior to his coronation in December 1865. The case would therefore have been presented to Williams just before Leopold II became the second King of the Belgians, a position he would hold until his death in December 1909. In 1855, Leopold became a member of the Belgian Senate and took an interest in expanding Belgian trade and the establishment of colonies. He traveled to India, China, Egypt and other countries along the Mediterranean coast of Africa between 1854 and 1865. The 1865 presentation places this rifle with the in the correct time frame for the then Duke of Brabant to meet Hetwood Williams who served as the commissioner at Meerut. Meerut is city in India and had been under British rule since 1818. The city was ground zero for the Indian Rebellion of 1857, rebellion in India against the rule of the British East India Company. This 12 gauge pinfire rifle made the perfect period gift for big game hunting in India. The rifle is fitted with a blade front sight and folding two leaf rear sight. The rib is signed "Ad Jansen arqr du Roi a Bruxelles" in gold. The breech of the Damascus 12 gauge barrels have gold inlaid scrollwork. A Liege "EL/G" proof is stamped on the bottom of each barrel with the right barrel having the number "184." The forearm has near full checkering and scroll engraved hardware. The barrel wedge escutcheons are engraved and have a gold inlaid border. The head of the barrel wedge is also engraved. The action components, including the barrel release mounted on the underside of the frame, have a double line gold inlaid boarder and fine engraved scrollwork. The lock plates are signed "AD JANSEN ARQER DU ROI/A BRUXELLES" around the hammers and have finely detailed engraved big game cat scenes. The water table is marked with the serial number, "M. GODIN 1865" and "BREVETE." The extended lower tang, barrel release, trigger guard and buttplate are blue, and the frame, lock plates and hammers are casehardened. The lower tang is tapped for a spur extension, which is included. The buttplate tang is also engraved with gold inlaid borders, a motif that matches the action. Mounted with a checkered straight grip stock with engraved coronet inlay on the underside and incised scrollwork on the comb. The case is lined in blue velvet with the Jansen maker information on the inside of the lid in gold and brass hardware, including the engraved corner protectors. The accessories include the following: case trimming tool, adjustable brass cartridge length gauge, pinfire capper/recapper, pin loading tool for pinfire cartridges, chamber cleaning tool with attachments, oiler, adjustable powder measure, two screwdrivers, conical bullet mold (lightly engraved and marked "A. JANSEN/BREVETE/274") and leather sling. Several tools have ebony handles. There is also a leather pouch containing rare 20 Eley Brothers 12 gauge pinfire cartridges.

Fine. The barrels retain 50% plus of the Damascus pattern, otherwise a mixture of smooth dark patina and smooth gray patina. The forearm is very good with some worn checkering. The action components have a smooth gray patina with 25% of original case colors on the water table. The barrel release and trigger guard retain 70% original blue finish, and the buttplate retains traces of original blue, otherwise a smooth gray patina. The stock is very fine with a couple of gouges and some minor pressure dents and scratches. There are a few blemishes in the overall crisp checkering. The case is fair showing several cracks, torn lining on the inside of the lid, missing key hole escutcheon, some worn lining and repairs. A brass corner protector is missing with the empty cut out filled. The accessories are very fine overall.