“Gasser” par. The 1870 was a revolver developed and manufactured by the Austrian company Rast & Gasser, originally introduced into the cavalry units of the Austro-Hungarian army.
Revolver “Gasser” by Krustyo Asenov
“Gasser” par. The 1870 was a revolver developed and manufactured by the Austrian company Rast & Gasser, originally introduced into the cavalry units of the Austro-Hungarian army. With a caliber of 11 mm. and a weight of 1.3 kg. the six-shot “Gasser” is a massive weapon with considerable firepower, requiring certain skills and physical strength from the shooter. Its design resembles the early Colt models and features an open frame and double-action hammer-trigger mechanism. The safety prevents the production of unwanted shot, which is why the “Gasser” also enjoys the reputation of being one of the safest revolvers in use. Weapons of this model were owned by Vasil Levski. A closer look at the bronze figure of the Apostle from the monument in Karlovo in his right hand reveals exactly such a “Gasser” model 1870.
The revolver, shown in the exposition of the National Historical Museum, was owned by Krastyo Asenov, nephew of the legendary voivode Hadji Dimitar and participant in the Macedonian-Odrinian revolutionary movement. Krustyo Asenov, nicknamed the Bear, was the youngest child of Hadzhi Dimitar’s brother, Hadzhi Petar Asenov, born in Sliven on the eve of the Liberation War. He studied at the Varna Men’s High School and later enrolled as a student at the Sofia University, where he met Gotse Delchev. Only at the age of 18, Krastyo Asenov, faithful to the patriotism and rebellious spirit he had inherited, joined the ranks of the Macedonian-Adriatic Revolutionary Organization. He played a key role in the Miss Stone affair, and was later appointed chief voivode in the Kukush region, where he displayed his indomitable fighting spirit to the fullest in heavy fighting.
“Bombareka”, as Asenov calls his “Gasser”, he gave to Zheko Popov from the village of. Kosten, Sliven region, his classmate at the Varna male high school, roommate and close friend. Preserved in Popov’s family, the revolver was donated to the National History Museum in 1995 and became part of its permanent exhibition.
