Guide to museum and memorial complex of N. Przhevalsky and K. Karasev.

"Realizing the responsibility of the task, Lezhin carefully worked on the manufacture of weapons. By the end of 1883, the guns were ready, and Przhevalsky, having personally checked their quality, highly appreciated their combat characteristics. One of them, number 836, was intended for him personally. The gun was distinguished by its lightness, durability and high accuracy. A reliable bolt with screw bevels ensured a tight fit of the barrels to the frame, and shortened barrels improved balance and maneuverability. The reverse locks are equipped with durable mainsprings, and the strikers, connected to the hammers, eliminated breakages and jamming."

G.S. Bityukov. "History of One Gun". "Issyk-Kul Pravda". 15.01.1972.

Trip from Karakol to Balykchy.

In 1883, the famous traveler N. M. Przhevalsky received several guns from the gunsmith Vasily Vasilyevich Lezhin for his upcoming expedition to Tibet. After completing the journey in 1885, he gave one of these guns to the head of security Gavriil Ivanovich Ivanov.
Over time, the gun changed several owners: first it ended up in the hands of the Ural Cossack F. Styagov, then it was inherited by his son. In 1919, during an attempt to secretly export weapons abroad, the gun was seized and ended up with an officer of the Georgian Guard.
Later, it was acquired by the famous collector of antique weapons V. E. Markevich. The gun remained in his Leningrad collection until 1957, when it was officially transferred to the museum, where it is kept to this day as a valuable historical relic.
In 1883, preparing for his fourth expedition to Tibet, N.M. Przhevalsky ordered several guns for the participants of the expedition from the famous gunsmith Vasily Vasilyevich Lezhin, the son of Vasily Lezhin, a native of Switzerland, who founded a gun workshop in St. Petersburg at the beginning of the 19th century.
By the end of 1883, the craftsman had completed the manufacture of the guns, one of which was intended for Przhevalsky himself. The guns were decorated with magnificent engravings, and the medallions depicted the heads of various animals - a doe, a fox, a hound and a wild boar.
The initials of the master (V.L.), the gun number (NQ836) and the initials of the owner (N.M.P.) were stamped on the tail of the trigger guard and under the neck of the stock. Under the butt, on a silver shield, was the inscription: "Przhevalsky's Expedition".
After returning from the expedition in 1885, Przhevalsky handed the gun over to the head of security G. Ivanov. Later, it accidentally ended up in the private collection of the Ural Cossack F. Styagov, who in 1891 presented it at the International Moscow-Paris Exhibition of Rare Weapons.
The gun was highly praised, as evidenced by the medal preserved on it with the inscription in French: "Paix-Labor (Peace-Labor). 1891. Moscow - Paris", as well as with the image of the coats of arms of the two cities. In 1919, Styagov's son tried to take the gun to Turkey, but it was confiscated and accidentally fell into the hands of an officer of the Georgian Guard.
Later, the weapon was acquired by the famous collector and researcher of historical weapons V.E. Markevich. Only in 1957, this priceless relic was bought by the museum, where it is kept to this day. The decision to purchase the gun from the famous weapons expert V.E. Markevich in 1956 was made by the director of the museum G.S. Bityukov.
In his article "History of One Gun", published in newspaper "Issyk-Kulskaya Pravda" on January 15, 1972, he wrote: "
The I.M. Przhevalsky Memorial Museum exhibits a unique gun that took part in the expedition of the famous traveler. However, its history is known to few. Setting off deep into Asia, N.M. Przhevalsky carefully selected not only scientific equipment, but also weapons, because each member of the expedition was, first and foremost, a hunter.
Preparing for the fourth trip to Tibet in 1883, he ordered several guns from the famous master Vasily Vasilyevich Lezhin, the son of the Swiss Vasily Lezhin, who founded a gunsmith's workshop in St. Petersburg in the first half of the 19th century, specializing in orders for the royal court.
The weapon is decorated with exquisite engravings depicting the heads of a deer, a fox, a hound, and a wild boar. The hammer mechanism is made of gold. The initials of the master ("V.L."), the gun number and the initials of the owner ("N.M.P.") are engraved on the trigger guard and under the stock neck.
The inscription "Przhevalsky's Expedition" is stamped on the silver shield under the butt. Another silver shield on the comb of the butt contains the initials of the traveler, the date "1883" and the gun number. With this gun, Przhevalsky traveled through the eastern Gobi, Tibet, the Taklamakan Desert, Tien Shan and the Issyk-Kul Basin, covering almost ten thousand kilometers.
It helped him hunt about four thousand animals and birds. After returning from the expedition in 1885, Przhevalsky handed over the gun to the head of the expedition's security, the Knight of St. George G. Ivanov." How exactly the gun ended up in the hands of the Ural Cossack F. Styagov remains a mystery.
However, it is known that he was aware of its historical value and wanted to impress those around him. In 1891, Styagov presented this artifact at the international Moscow-Paris exhibition of rare weapons. The gun was highly praised and was awarded a medal with an engraved inscription in French: "Paix-Labor" ("Peace - Labor"), as well as the cities of Moscow and Paris and the year - 1891.
The coats of arms of both capitals also adorned the award. The years passed, and, having grown old, Styagov passed the gun to his son. In 1919, having decided to emigrate to Turkey, he went to the Caucasus, taking the relic with him. However, at that time, private ownership of rifled weapons and their export abroad were prohibited, and the gun was confiscated.
While inspecting the confiscated property, the Georgian Guard officer noticed a rare weapon. It interested him, and he decided to keep the gun for himself. However, possession of a rifled weapon required official permission, so he turned to the Tiflis master N. I. Shpagin with a request to remake the barrels for a 16-gauge.
When the work was completed, a famous collector of historical weapons, and later an outstanding weapons encyclopedist, Colonel V. E. Markevich, dropped by the workshop. Upon seeing the gun, he immediately realized that he was holding the weapon of the great traveler.
- Who is its owner? - Markevich asked the master.
Having received an answer, he soon met with the officer and offered him an excellent English-style gun in exchange. After lengthy negotiations, the deal was concluded, and Markevich took the relic to Leningrad, where he kept it at home until 1956.
When the N. M. Przhevalsky Memorial Museum was created in the city, Markevich donated the gun to the museum, where it is kept to this day. The history of this unique relic continues. According to the version presented on the website "Hunting Weapons", the gun was made in Liege by order of the Lezhen company, and the inscription on the sighting bar was made in its workshop.
It is assumed that it could have been used as an expedition or personal weapon by one of the participants in Przhevalsky's fourth expedition. There is a possibility that the owner of the gun was P. K. Kozlov, who later gave it to G. I. Ivanov. He, in turn, presented the gun to F. Styagov, decorating the butt with a gift medallion with the engraving: "G.K. G. Ivanov - G.K. F. Styagov". The further history of this weapon coincides with the already known facts.

Authority and photos by:
Article by G. Bityukov in the newspaper "Issyk-Kulskaya Pravda" from January 15, 1972.
https://shotguncollector.com/2016/09/19/%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0