Kit Carson's pistols

[Jim in Wisconsin]

I finished reading Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides, a book about Kit Carson. Someplace in there he mentioned that Kit received 2 "silver pistols" (probably meant engraved) as a gift from someone. I think they said this was in 1853. I can't remember who gave them to him and wanted to learn more about them. I should have marked the page and now I can't find it.
Does anyone here know more about this or have any ideas on this? Kit was one tough man, even though he wasn't very big.

 

[LRB]

If single shot belt pistols, they may easily have had silver mounts. If revolvers they may have been silver plated. Silver is no synonym of engraved.

 

[LRB]

If single shot belt pistols, they may easily have had silver mounts. If revolvers they may have been silver plated. Silver is no synonym of engraved.

 

[Jim in Wisconsin]

By "engraved" I suppose I just meant decorated in some fashion.
I would like to learn more about what exactly they were, who gave them to him, and if they still exist. If this was in 1853 they could have been Colt revolvers.