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EXTREMELY RARE SCHOENBERGER-LAUMANN STEYR M1892.

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:12,500.00 USD Estimated At:25,000.00 - 40,000.00 USD
EXTREMELY RARE SCHOENBERGER-LAUMANN STEYR M1892.
SN 6. Cal. 8mm. In his quest to design a reliable semiautomatic pistol, Josef Laumann made a number of prototypes, most of which were produced for Austrian Army trials, and were never sold commercially. This example of the first pattern Schoenberger-Laumann as 6.5" bbl that assumes an octagonal form 1.25" in front of the chamber with a drift adjustable front sight. SN 6 appears on the left side of the bbl and is repeated on the left side of the frame along with "WAFFENFABRIK STEYR." On the right side is a large cocking lever that retracts the bolt out the rear of the frame. After returning to battery, a cocking indicator (rear of firing pin) extends from the back of the bolt. Just above the tang is a large rotating holdopen/safety whose left side is serrated. Pushing down on the left side releases the bolt and allows the pistol to fire. In front of the cocking lever is a large .5" diameter checkered button, set in a raised escutcheon, that acts as a magazine/clip release. The bbl and frame are rust blued while the bolt and cocking lever are in-the-white. The safety and trigger are strawed. A large rotable lanyard extends from the base of the frame. PROVENANCE: Dr. Geoffrey Sturgess Collection, ex-R.K Wilson collection, illustrated "Textbook of Automatic Pistols", 1st ed, 1943 Ex-Dinely collection, pictured "Vom Ursprung der Selbstladepistole", page 184, 185. CONDITION: 90% original blue with scattered frosting on the left forward frame and on the much of the right side of the pistol. Comparable condition, untouched straw, on the small parts. Original grips with oil darkening and bordered checkering whose color and age are consistent with the appearance of the pistol. An extremely rare and unusual Schoenberger-Laumann prototype that could easily be the centerpiece of any early automatic pistol collection. 4-52460 LMA93