Lot 335: Attractive A. Francotte "Krupp Revolver" .577 Caliber Revolver

Manufactured in Belgium, this revolver is chambered for a massive .577 caliber cartridge. Handguns so chambered, sometimes called "stopping guns", were typically marketed as weapons of last resort for hunters in Africa and India, where a man might find themselves in a situation where nothing less than maximum handheld firepower will save their life. Such handguns are also known to have been privately purchased by officers looking for something more potent than the typical sidearm. Blade front and notch rear sights, with "KRUPP/REVOLVER" on the top strap, "577" on the left side of the barrel, "516" on the frame, and Belgian proofs on the barrel and cylinder. Overall design bears are resemblance to the Smith & Wesson #3 Russian, with a spring loaded retainer latch on the top strap, an auto-ejector mechanism, and a spur rest for the middle finger on the trigger guard. The rebounding hammer is fitted with a shallow hook that engages with the latch at the moment of discharge, acting as an automatic reinforcement for the closure mechanism. The barrel, top strap and frame are finely sculpted with leafy scrollwork, a lanyard ring is installed on the butt, and the grips are checkered. Provenance: The Clive Cussler Collection

Very good. Traces of original nickel finish are present at the muzzle end of the barrel and in the rib flutes, on the frame beneath the cylinder, and other protected places, with most of the surface having turned a smooth gray patina with mild spotting, a few areas of shallow pitting and scattered handling marks; generally, a honest antique. The grips are good, with a small chip and a short crack in the right panel near the back strap heel, a thin crack on the left in the same region, light chipping around the butt, and mild wear and handling overall. Mechanically fine.