This S&W .44 Double Action Frontier target revolver features a presentation inscription to Belgian artillery Major Robert Reyntiens (1860-1913). Major Robert Reyntiens was a graduate of the Artillery Section of the Bruxelles Military Academy in 1877 and married Lady Alice Josephine Bertie, the daughter of the 7th Earl of Abingdon, in 1897 after the death of his first wife. He resigned from the military with the rank of captain in 1898 but returned to military service in 1903 after abruptly resigning as the Belgian representative to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) following intense quarrels with IOC President Pierre de Coubertin. Purportedly their disparagements became so heated the two men almost resorted to a duel. At this time the weapon of choice for a duel was sword, and de Coubertin would have been at a great disadvantage as Major Reyntiens was a renowned fencer. Reyntiens was not a stranger to the duel. Military records show that the major was sentenced to eight days in prison and fined by a Brussels criminal court for assisting in a duel as a second. He held several military honors including knight of the Order of Saint Anne of Russia (3rd class), knight of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great, knight 3rd class of the Order of the Crown of Prussia, and officer of the Order of the Oak Crown and served as the first commander of the Ecole mitaire d'Escrime when the school was established in 1885 as well as aide-de-camp to Belgian King Leopold II. Also, an avid footballer he would go on to become the founding president of the football section of the Leopold Club de Bruxelles. Reyntiens was not the only one in the family with a sports background. His son went on to compete in jumping at the 1912 Olympics. The revolver was presented to Major Reyntiens when he was a captain in 1891 and based on the inscription the presentation occurred at a competition where the revolver was the 4th prize. The top strap is inscribed "H JAS A BRUXELLES," a retailer in Brussels. The back strap has the presentation inscription: "COUCOURS AU VISE DE 1891/4me PRIX AU/CAPITAINE R. REYNTIENS." The revolver is fitted with a pinned beaded blade front sight and a square notch adjustable rear sight. This model is seldom found with original target sights. The barrel rib has the two-line S&W address/patent dates marking. Belgian proofs are stamped on the rear cylinder face: Liege proof and "*/B" proof. Additional "*/B" proofs are stamped on the right side of the barrel and frame. The barrel latch is unnumbered. Matching serial numbers are on the butt, cylinder, and barrel. All frames for this model were manufactured pre-1899, but finished revolvers were shipped as late as 1913. Provenance: The Supica Collection

Fine. The barrel and frame retain 40% original blue finish and the cylinder retains 20% original blue finish with a smooth gray patina on the balance. The inscription is crisp. The slightly age shrunken replacement grips are also fine with some scattered handling marks and highly attractive color and grain. Mechanically excellent. An interesting S&W .44 DA Frontier target revolver presentation inscribed to a known Belgian artillery officer.