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BERGMANN M1896, NUMBER 3, MARKED "PISTOLET BERGMANN", WITH SHOULDER STOCK LUG.

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 4,500.00 USD
BERGMANN M1896, NUMBER 3, MARKED  PISTOLET BERGMANN , WITH SHOULDER STOCK LUG.
SN 4205. Caliber 6.5mm Bergmann. This is a late example of a M1896 #3 semiautomatic pistol as produced by the Bergmann company with extractor and contoured backstrap. Chambered for the 6.5mm Bergmann grooved cartridge. Theodor Bergman was an early pioneer in the development of European semiautomatic pistols in the late 1890s and early 1900s. His early models were of distinctive design and had a silhouette that would never be confused with a competitor. All of the Number 2s, 3s, and 4s, had an integral magazine that was loaded by rotating down the magazine sideplate and inserting a strip of cartridges from the side. This particular pistol has a 4.5" bbl, a dovetailed front sight and a fixed rear sight integral to the bolt that is afixed to a sliding cover over the ejection port. The unnumbered lugged bbl is marked with a Crown U that is repeated on the left side of the chamber. The left receiver, with short flutes, is marked "Patent Brevete S.G.D.G.". The serial number 4205 appears on the right side of the receiver, just below the flute. In the center of the sideplate, which has a staple for the shoulder stock, is the Bergmann factory logo featuring a miner surmounted by the words "Gaggenau" and over V.C.S. Suhl. In this case, V.C.S. were the initials for V. Charles Schilling, who made the pistols for Bergmann and Suhl, which was the location. "Pistolet Bergmann" is marked on the rotatable magazine cover. Hard rubber grips are molded with a large stylized "B" and finely checkered. PROVENANCE: Joseph J. Schroeder, Jr. Collection. CONDITION: Original finish, estimated at 60-70%, with more toning than actual wear. There is comparable or slightly more oxidative loss to the straw that was originally used to finish the hammer, safety retainer, and the trigger. Similar considerations apply to the fire blue loss on the safety lever. Original grips are slightly worn with blunted checkering but no chips or splits. Bright bore with sharp rifling and mild corrosion. Mechanically perfect. 4-48525 LMA52