3377

BERGMANN M1896, NUMBER 3, WITH SHOULDER STOCK LUG.

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:2,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD
BERGMANN M1896, NUMBER 3, WITH SHOULDER STOCK LUG.
SN 3480. 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 lugged bbl is marked 278 on the left side. Adjacent to this number is the Crown U marking 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 3480 appears on the right side of the receiver, just below the flute. In the center of the sideplate 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. Attached to the sideplate is an open staple used to secure a shoulder stock lug. Walnut grips are finely checkered without a border and without a logo. PROVENANCE: Joseph J. Schroeder, Jr. Collection. CONDITION: Professionally restored with 99% correct type rust blue. Similar restoration was applied to the small parts. Beautifully reheated straw has been directed to the hammer, safety retainer, and trigger. Trace fire blue remains in protected areas around the safety lever that has been repolished and left in the white. There has been no effort to upgrade the wood grips whose checkering is blunted with small dents and mars on the right side. A very small chip is missing from the left grip, left upper corner. Good bore with shallow rifling and moderate corrosion. Mechanically perfect. An unusual antique in any condition, particularly attractive with the rarely encountered and highly desirable sideplate with shoulder stock lug. 4-48524 LMA50