King Louis XV's Magnificent Engraved Lorenzoni Rifle
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- Опубликовано: 3 фев 2025
- This Lorenzoni-pattern rifle was presented to King Louis XV of France in the mid 1700s, and is an exquisite example of firearms deemed suitable for royalty at the height of the European kings. It is .38 caliber and rifled, with remarkably usable sights and a repeating mechanism with the ball and powder magazines accessible through a trapdoor in the back of the stock. The barrel is made of a gorgeous damascus steel, with the whole of the gun adorned with silver inlay, engravings, and deep wood carvings.
The gun was noted in the 1775 inventory of the French royal arms collection, but that collection was broken up in 1789 with the French Revolution. This rifle was rediscovered by an American officer in Europe in 1945, who noticed it in a pile on confiscated arms slated to be destroyed. He saved it from that fate and brought it home, where is stayed in his family until being put up for auction at James D Julia this year.
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3:10 “That is another portrait of Louis”
I am not sure if King Louis liked to depict himself with an hourglass figure, corset, giant bosoms and an open cleavage.
Louis was quite well known for his fantastic rack, slim waist, and child-bearing hips
@@Solnoric so am I at the bars
I wouldn't doubt if it really was him, a "private" moment lol
Louis the XV was a bimbo
@@Amelia-yu6ii himbo*
I live in a town not far from Wolfenbüttel where this gun was made. The city museum has multiple guns made by Hauschka in it's collection. Sebastian Hauschka was the personal gunsmith of the Duke of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel.
Wolfenbüttel is a good 25 km from where I live (Braunschweig is much closer) , but It's funny to find someone that lives roughly in the same area as me in the comment section here...of all places! :D Was originally going to add this little detail myself but then scrolled through the comment section to find yours, amazing!
I live even a little further away (Hannover area) but during my university time I visited the library a few times. Lessing n' stuff. For most US viewers may be more important that Jägermeister has it´s destillery there.
TheMadSqu as a U.S. viewer who is currently eating a braunschweiger on pumpernickel sandwich, I have just determined my next dream vacation destination. Tour of jagermeister, viewing of these amazing firearms and the birthplace of my favorite lunchmeat? Im sold
Any idea where a German gunsmith would get his hands on that beautiful rosewood for the stock? That must have been the rarest of woods back then.
Hauschka worked for very rich and important people. I think he had contacts all over the world to source his materials.
King Louis XV: "You appear to have picked up the wrong rifle, sir. That one is mine."
Marquis De Schmuckville: "I apologize, your majesty, but you are mistaken. This is my rifle."
King Louis XV: (Flips up self-portrait in hidden compartment.)
Marquis De Schmuckville: "Oh..."
Zut alors!
@@Ektalon Long live king Zappa!;)
I hate when that happens
😂😂😂😂
@@JoseCalderon-qx8mq ours
Soviet anthem intensifies lol
Ah-hah Sir, I see you are dapper and fancy, but does your rifle have a colour portrait of Louis XV in the stock?
I THOUGHT AS MUCH!
Of course not, why would I, a proper English gentleman, have a rifle with the gaudy face of some silly French fop on the stock? No no no no, I, as any proper member of the English Gentry, have the immaculate visage of Queen Elizabeth upon my rifle's stock, and inlaid not with silver, but carved from Jade brought from China by the Honourable East India Trading Company
The engraving is of Madame du Barry. She was a Lady.
But of course.
I need an AR-15 with a color photo of myself in the cleaning supply trapdoor
@@vincentlok8894 merica 🤘
It's interesting how an amazing specimen like that still sold for substantially less than the FG42 you covered.
I mean... Firing this would probably break it or sound boring. Firing a glorious FG-42 gives instant orgasms.
Also personally if not gonna fire either of them, I'd still rather have the FG-42 as decoration but that's just me
I tend to agree with you, as this is such a unique piece of history. This will likely never stop increasing in value.
Not many people studied about King Luis vs those who studied and had relatives who fought in WW2. Also FG42 was used in modern hard-core battles vs this rifle which probably was never fired in anger. And in practical terms the FG is still a very deadly weapon while this is just a museum piece.
@@alexm566 Still, nobody who is buying an FG42 expects to use it in anger. I just think it's funny that a gold-plated rifle literally made for a king sells for less than a mass-produced combat rifle. I do wonder how much effect the US ban on new machineguns affects prices for WWII pieces like this, since even if new ones could be made these _would_ still have historical value. Not like, say, select-fire AR15s made in the early 80s. Those could be considered mostly interchangeable with new production ones if the ban were to be lifted.
@@WJS774 A lot of people are survivalist types who would certainly consider buying the FG42 to use it if a global catastrophe happens. I also think the lack of education about French kings is a big reason why more people won't be actively looking to buy things like this one.
Every time I drive past that place I wonder if Ian is in there. *:D*
Dsdcain lucky guy being close to that great place :P
Can you feel the presence of Jesus when you drive past there?
Course he is they only let him out for videos :p
like driving past heaven and asking "is Jesus home?"
i'm thinking he lives in Arizona, which is about as far from Fairfield Maine as you can get, so he's not just driving by
It's nuts when you think about how the guy who made the gun and the people who handled it when it was made are long gone, but, the work is still here being handled in present day.
Incredible.
Holy hell, what a find. I'd be surprised if this didn't sell to a museum of some kind
I doubt it will - most museums have very little funding to buy new items.
+Forgotten Weapons I wouldn’t be so sure, especially some European museums of history (specifically national museums) regularly have that type of money from private donations, and sometimes even from their respective government itself.
maybe whoever buys it will lend it to a museum
@@ForgottenWeapons Especially antique firearms, unless they find a patron who appreciates them, though the engraving, woodwork and metalwork alone make it an artistic masterwork.
It's a work of art that happens to go pew.
A glorious pew pew indeed!
No rails tho :/
more like a click of the lock, frizz of the powder and then a bang with a cloud of smoke :)
It's like the Monalisa would be a mini gun
@@jimadams8182 an overly expensive pew pew art
Hi Ian. Perhaps a video about how barrels were made and the tech used in the early 1700’s?
M85FSLUVR if you do a search on RUclips of colonial rifle making you will find a video for the 70s or 80s that was made by a living history museum.
Drew Rumpf but it's not the same if Ian dosnt do the video lol.
Here you have the last known survifing film about Barrel forging. ruclips.net/video/fa9dlvRDuQU/видео.html&index=55&list=FLtn9QW3a9Ze7GOWqU_LPgew
Here’s the Colonial Williamsburg video with Gustler. Unbelievably fascinating. Thanks!!!! ruclips.net/video/qTy3uQFsirk/видео.html
It's amazing how many historical artifacts have been saved from destruction almost by chance. It makes me wonder how much we've lost forever because of thieves and vandals.
And politicians destroying things so they could rewrite history their way, which technically is still vandalism I guess. 🤔🤓🍻
Something like 90% of all the works humanity has ever created has been lost to the ravages of time, war, banditry, etc. what’s left is incredible, but imagine how much richer our culture could be had even a fraction of a fraction of what was lost could be recovered.
Bring it down to the pawn shop so Rick and Chumlee can tell you all about how you ruined it and took away all of its value by polishing it.
Naw... Rick has to have an expert look at it first
The best he can do is 30 dollars, and he's taking a big risk here.
Chumlee will give you like, one-fiddy, if you throw in some powder and flint, but you can't tell Rick, or the Old Man, because they know a guy, and he'll have to come look at it, before they offer you ten bucks.
'Cause you polished it incorrectly, I'll give you some bus tokens and a Carl's Jr. gift card and even then I'm taking a big risk.
Best I can do is 2 cents and a cigarette butt.
That thing belongs in a museum. A beautifull piece of history.
New AR-15 accessory: fixed stock with embedded space for a photo. Or maybe a electronic photo frame.
At least one person saw this and was like "meh, just throw it on the pile".
Seriously, what is wrong with people.
The machine work of that era is amazing. A genius of craftsmanship.
That's pretty fantastic. It really should be in a museum
That is the most beautiful damascus barrel I’ve ever seen.
So when can we expect to see this in the French section of Ian's gun wall?
As soon as I find a pile of gold bars on the side of the road. :)
You mean the only section.
@@ForgottenWeapons I hear there are a couple of guns still missing, like the 'Hellriegel'. My bet: The 'Hellriegel' is stored next to all that Nazi gold that vanished. Inside the Amber Room.
I used photos and info of this gun in a final senior research paper on 18th-19th century hunting in France. Thank you for making this video Ian! Vive le Roi!
I was disappointed that Ian did not take it apart with an ink pen .
That belongs in a museum. I don’t blame the family for trying to maximize their profit, and I’m sure anyone who has the means to buy this piece would certainly have an appropriate place to put it. Ian definitely used the proper descriptor in calling it “magnificent.”
the french government should definitely buy this. such a magnificent piece of royal art
That is just mind blowingly incredible! Burled stock, Damascus barrel, every single ounce of it hand ingraved & inlaid!
I just can't imagine the amount of time, labor, & just plain mental attention that went into this
I think its a steal that some walked away with this priceless thing for just a little over 181k. This is an artistic piece of history, and fine example of the evolution of human ingenuity.
Seriously? Someone got a steal, what an investment!
For once I'd love to have seen this in 4k and through a better lens... That said, thank you so much for even this. That is a truly magnificent piece of craftsmanship by several masters of their craft.
I know when ever I go shooting or hunting. I have to stop every once in a while and look at a picture of myself... and then continue shooting..
My god that belongs in a museum. It is beautiful.
Simply amazing! And to think it was rescued from destruction. Here in my town in New Hampshire widows turn their husbands' guns into the police station, those prized firearms are then destroyed. This is a crime against humanity, the artisans who created fine works of art never intended for them to be destroyed like junk.
A work of art. You are so blessed to hold that beauty
This is the greatest king of all time.
Also a magnificent Thompson smg collection in the background.
Louis XV is not particularly famous. He wasn't really a bad king, but he was slightly weak, and the kingdom got a bit adrift in internal turmoils as the bourgeoisie was starting to gain power. I think you're confusing him with Louis XIV, his grand-grand-father (much deaths occurred in the direct line of succession) who was of a whole different caliber.
charlemagne was the greatest.
MadNumForce I'm actually saying king as the classic musket rifle.
Agreed, Ian is a great one for sure.
In a couple of weeks I will be able to see it for myself plus all the others offered. Thanks to you, a few years back I found out I was about an hour south of Julia's and have been previewing their fine firearms since. Sadly this will be the last auction they will hold here in Maine.
Magnifique !
Reckless Roges ne compte pas trop la dessus je pense qu’il va rester aux us, dommage 😢
Avec notre super gouvernement et cette mentalité anti-armes trop géniale dans le pays y'aura pas un centime mis aux enchères là-dessus... pourtant il est made in germany il devrait kiffer, macron
Camp Master Noob c’est clair ils vont le désigner comme remplaçant du hk416 😂
Non mais il faut arrêter, le gouvernement n'a rien avoir avec une vente aux enchères aux USA. On a de très bon musée militaire en France avec des pièces rare. Mais il faut que les conservateurs soit au courant que la pièce existe qu'il est les fonds etc... Oui depuis 20 ans les gouvernements de tout bord réduisent les finances des musée mais ils ne peuvent pas être accusé de tout.
Par exemple depuis 10 ans le gouvernement Chinois met le paquet pour acquérir toutes les pièces de valeur de l'histoire de Chine (qui ont été pillé lors des guerres et concessions il y a 100-150 ans). Mais même eux n'arrive pas a tout voir car il est souvent trop tard.
Steve .C. De toute façon vu le prix que doit couter cette beauté, rares sont les musées/collectionneurs qui mettront la main a la poche...
That is a truly beautiful rifle.
Beautifully swamped barrel. Unbelievable someone would throw this in a pile to be destroyed, or that the guard would allow it to be thrown on.
What a story for this rifle... absolutely amazing
How could anyone down vote this. This rifle comes from a time when real art happened.
What artistry and craftsmanship, both from the original maker and the restorer
The concealed portrait is of the Louis XV. The engraving represents Madam du Barry, his mistress at the time. Après nous le déluge. or Après moi le déluge. depending on its attribution. Then again, it could be that of Madam de Pompadour, an earlier mistress and greatly influential power broker in his court.
As I recall Pompadour remained an influential figure in the court despite, due to age, falling out of favor as primary mistress. She was regarded, for better or worse, as giving the King sound advice.
As I recall Pompadour remained an influential figure in the court despite, due to age, falling out of favor as primary mistress. She was regarded, for better or worse, as giving the King sound advice.
I can’t help but feel like this should be donated to a museum
Pretty amazing.Would you be willing to do a follow up on this rifle's "fate" after the auction? Especially if it ends up donated to a museum.
I'm so jealous that you actually got to touch that piece of history.
Given Ian's Francophile status when it comes to firearms i can only imagine him buying several lottery tickets after handling this gun in hopes he would win enough to bid on it lol.
That's almost adorable.
Thanks for always making the guns so interesting and showcasing ones I would never see! Your passion for guns really translates into the quality of the videos thanks for sharing it with us 😃
Ian and Tommy guns, God bless America!
That should be in a museum.
The 18th century version of the assault rifle a multiple shot all on the weapon in the age of single shot muzzle loaders! Is good to be the king!
I love the variety of content of this channel
To quote Indiana Jones : It belongs into a Museum
"we named the dog Indiana, we named you Junior!"
So do you!
Masterpiece. That damascus barrel!
If this thing doesn't sell for at LEAST seven figures, I will be utterly amazed. I wonder if anyone has made a firing replica of a Lorenzoni? It would be fascinating to see the manual of arms, especially for one with such a neat magazine!
It barely made low sixes.
Drooling over all those Thompsons in the background.
Shouldn't the auction house offer to sell it to the French government first? Not French but I bet they would pay a pretty penny for this to be returned to France.
That would be up to the family that consigned it...and there is nothing to prevent the French government or a French museum from bidding on it.
Jaqen H'gar they cant , either the government would seize it or sue for it.... If they want it so bad they need to send an envoy to the auction house and put down a bid if they really want it back.
except it was likely stollen
The US was very serious about protecting European objets d'arts, committing millions of dollars and thousands of troops to protecting art of all kinds, including historical weapons owned by the French state. That this gun was in a pile of confiscated arms to be purged suggests it was long out of French state stewardship and therefore not a concern of the present French government.
Simply, if a national government _really_ desires something based on original government ownership e.g. Spanish treasure ships, then they will sue the absolute shit out of you until you run out of money and give up the items for free. Thats just how a monopoly of power by the state always functions: we're right so screw you.
"artistic effort" is one way of putting it to words.
Only if modern world leaders had this much interest in firearms.
Seems like they could need a healthy relationship with their potential to be harmfull, indeed.
Luckily nowadays people know that old stuff becomes rare with time. I never could destroy old guns.
Salvaged at the end of WWII. Someone should comment on that part of the story!
Perhaps someone should inquire what claims the French and even the German governments might have on such an item.
... not too mention the potential claims of any royal heirs that almost certainly still exist.
I think "finders keepers, losers weepers" applies here.
hard2getitright again It was probably turned in during the occupation, so the German and French governments couldn't care less at that point.
As the gun was Slated to be destroyed and then salvaged by the US G.I. And then later restored you will find that the rights of salvage are Clear.
That should be in a museum behind glass for all of us to nerd over
Zachary Snyder alright Indy
Is there a gun underneath that sculpture?
Fairfield, Maine isn't exactly a hub of activity (I've lived there). It amazes me that Julia consistently gets really cool firearms like this.
I wonder how long this rifle took to make.
Man, I bet the rifle provenance [which we're unsure of prior to 194?] would make an incredible story.
Impressive indeed. Makes you wonder about the other items lost and destroyed during the French Revolution.
Same story behind a German schuetzen rifle I have from my grandfather. Rescued it from tank treads and kerosene. I'd love nothing more than to have you look at it Ian
That belongs in a museum. I wonder why the French haven't asked for it back. I suppose they could bid on it.
gonshocks I hope they do, it would be nice to have it in one of our national museums, that rifle is a piece of art and it would be sad if it ended up locked in a private collection for only 10 people a year to see it.
Yes and considering how it was found and retrieved, I have to wonder how many others were tragically destroyed at that time.
There are many pieces of art of french origin scattered around the world, on public or private collections. There are also many paintings, sculptures ... of foreign origin on french museums. What would be the point of a redistribution based on nationality? Even more since many countries have changed politically, culturally ... during history ?
gonshocks So do you!
I hope this gorgeous rifle gets in a museum ! That's his legitimate place (in France that's would be better )
Such an astonishing piece ! I'm actually French and damn I'm jealous this piece isn't part of a French museum 😅
This is really a work of art
So this was in service during WWII :D
I think it was just laying about.
It was probably tucked away in someone's attic and handed in when a general round-up of weapons was done by US forces after the liberation.
US forces helped liberate France from the Germans during WWII. Or am I missing something about how France should belong to a greater European empire?
The word you're looking for is "produced" and it was the principality of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel. That's not technically Germany yet at the time. It first disappeared in France as part of the collection of the French Royal House and is only mentioned as being found in Europe. That could have been anywhere, but given the circumstances of it's disappearance, Germany seems unlikely. If it was found there, it would probably have been a stolen item as well. Whether it was "stolen" in the sense that we understand it is dependant on whether or not you can track who had last legal ownership of it, which is several centuries ago and by the looks of it, is a Royal House that no longer has legal validity in either France, Germany or Europe at large.
To be honest, i feel like this rifle should be given back to the french and put in a museum
I've always wondered why with all the reproduction guns no one has made a lorenzoni to my knowledge...I would love one...
Almost all blackpowder guns are unreliable by today’s standards, so I doubt that this would be a problem regarding a replica. The more likely difficulty is certainly the market: There’s simply not enough people interested in that kinda stuff, which means the small number of replica guns just got even more expensive, further limiting the market.
There costly to make as the action has to be just so to work safely.
Honestly, they would be relatively easy to produce, if I had to guess, it would probably cost around $1,500 to $3,000 to purchase after a production cost around a grand. It is honestly one of the "If I won the lottery I'll start a business to produce ______" items. Among those items are the Pancor Jackhammer, the original .276 Pedersen Garand, and other rifles chambered in .276 Pedersen.
Joel TheJackle one replica made in 1991 came up for auction. I'm actually thinking of making one. I'm a machinist.
People could die for this art .... literally
Any hope of seeing the condition prior to the restoration and maybe the process?
I feel they should've included both in the gallery, would make the rifle much more appreciated in my opinion
It belongs in a museum!
What it the estimated price?
$175k - $275k
That's quite the spread lol
Forgotten Weapons how did you answer a question 3 days before posting a video?
TheVryfst
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You have to tell us what this one finally goes for. That seems low to me. Maybe there will be interest from some public collection in France.
How did they carve so perfectly on Rosewood burl? Not a single bit of blow out or chipping. That is beyond master craftsman.
Sold for $181,700. Wow.
This is definitely a mantel piece and props to anyone who will by it
I laughed so hard when he opened the hatch, and thereès a portrait.
The pattern welded barrel got me.
It was guns (and other objects) like that which fueled the revolution in part. While the working man struggles, the Kings can display lavish rifles without a second thought.
Very glad this example survives as it gives us an invite into 18th century France and the tastes of that time.
Should have sold for more this is a real piece of history
I somehow find the story of an American officer finding this rifle in a pile of surrendered weapons to be destroyed doubtful - even a blind person would realize it wasn't just an old rifle and belonged to a museum. I suspect the officer helped himself to an antique collection of a German officer or official.
The confiscation made no exceptions. If it wasn’t stolen from your hypothetical collection, then it would still end in the scrap pile.
Pure relaxation this video.
Insert Indiana Jones 'It belongs in a museum!' gif here.
Seen so many people saying it should be. Shit happens, ain't like America stole it, it was stolen by angry French men first and found discarded in France, saved by an American. Smh
So it was 'Looted'.😃
Wow, that would be the gem of almost any collection. While it's not quite his style it is a one-of-one so maybe Fireplace Guy will be interested? I shudder to think what this will go for.
Oh, and let us give silent thanks to an un-named GI who saw something special and saved a piece of history from the torch.
This belongs in the Musée des Armées aux Invalides in Paris!
Then they better hurry up and buy it.
Well, other than the time France conquered basically all of Germany, but internet Deutschaboos like to conveniently forget that.
How long did it take to drive them out again? Not very long... ; )
keith moore Have you ever heard about La Fayette ?
Rip Steakface The French conquered the Rhine but really only had effective control in the South, but had military control of the north.
Absolutely amazing how they did the restoration. Mark @C&Arsenal would be supremely jealous.
"Sold for $181,700." hahahahaahhaha
What
I honestly believe this should be in a museum, not in some guys private collection, where no one will be able to admire it.
Hon hon hon
You are holding a gun once held by a king. That is something special.
Shouldn't that be in the French national museum or something ?
"The French National Museum, You Know, The One With The Fancy Things"
If they wanted it then they would be bidding on it, as a Polish museum did the exact same thing.
Worth every penny.
Does it take 1911 mags?
Green Badger Outdoors You forget that it's French, and therefore weird. So it probably uses like, Lahti L-35 mags or something.
Outstanding. Just looking at it made me wish that Pedersoli or Uberti made Lorenzoni pattern replicas.
So many Thompson submachine guns
Is it only obvious to me that such a thing could not be manufactured today?
Our best technology could, at most, create a pale imitation of this magnificent piece and it certainly wouldn't survive the ravages of centuries' worth of dust and wear and tear.
If I had my great grandfather's rifle today, I'd be afraid to shoot it, yet this thing is almost in pristine condition.
It's a shame that this is up for auction and I do hope that wherever it ends up it is view-able by the public. Such a significant piece of history shouldn't be kept locked up in some Yank's gun cabinet.
Kittenstomper well unless you find a legal and reasonable way to get it there "some Yank" is going to keep it unless they decide themselves to donate it.
As an antique, it is perfectly legal to export to France. Antique gun auctions in the US have plenty of overseas participants.
Heath Games I didn't necessarily mean a French museum, just any kind of collection that is made public.
There is nothing significant about it. It was a diplomatic gift from some small Germanic state. The French kept it in the collection out of politeness. Paris-
made Royal guns were higher quality.