Beautiful custom-made engraved and gold-finished Beretta Carcano M1891 Cavalry Carbine manufactured as one of four commissioned by Prince Amadeo di Savoia, 3rd Duke of Aosta and Viceroy of Italian East Africa. The splendid carbine was manufactured in 1939, serial number C8053, 6.5mm Carcano, 18″ barrel with an excellent, bright bore. The carbine is configured normally with turned-down bolt handle and folding spike bayonet, but the receiver is extensively engraved with a flowing, gold-finished rose and rearing dragon motif in deep relief, and further geometric engraving along the sides of the magazine housing. The gold finish is also applied to the trigger, nosecap and forward sling bar, bayonet release stud, and rear sling bar. The remainder of the metal has a nickel plated finish that has remained fairly bright on the barrel, but frosted to a pale gray patina on the balance, particularly on the bolt, as well as some areas of mild plum-brown at the muzzle and on the trigger guard. The walnut stock and handguard have numerous small handling marks and minor blemishes scattered throughout, along with a large silver royal cypher inlay of a crown over “A” with crossed olive and oak branches.
Accompanied by a 1969 letter from Beretta, in part: “The gun you own is one of the four prototypes that were manufactured in accordance with a special order that we received from His Highness the Duke of Aosta in 1939. These weapons were intended for presents to Ethiopian high authorities…The Duke of Aosta was very fond of weapons and used to order to our company guns and pistols with special finish.” Also includes a letter from the Instituto Italiano di Cultura which identifies the gun as having been made for the Duke of Aosta, and that these were intended to be given as gifts to Ethiopian nobles. Retained carbon copies of the initial letters sent to the firm and institute are also present, as is a photocopy of a 1953 Kenyan police firearms registration card that lists the carbine by serial number, caliber, and decorations.
Born in 1898, Prince Amadeo of Savoy fought with distinction in the artillery of the Italian Royal Army during World War I before joining the Royal Air Force as a pilot. In 1937, following the Italian conquest of Ethiopia in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War, he became viceroy and governor-general of Italian East Africa as well as the commander-in-chief of all Italian forces in Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Italian Somaliland. Here he oversaw the initial Italian advances into Sudan, Kenya, and British Somaliland at the beginning of World War II. However, the British launched a counter-invasion in 1941 and the besieged duke was forced to surrender. The British were so impressed by the Italians’ stout defense that they were allowed to surrender with full military honors. Amadeo and his men were interred in Nairobi, where he was wracked by malaria and tuberculosis, dying of illness on March 3, 1942.
This transfers as a modern firearm.
