3190A

HIGHLY DESIRABLE BERGMANN M1896, NUMBER 3, TARGET.

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:6,250.00 USD Estimated At:12,500.00 - 25,000.00 USD
HIGHLY DESIRABLE BERGMANN M1896, NUMBER 3, TARGET.
SN 898. Cal. 6.5mm Bergmann. Theodor Bergmann was an early pioneer in the development of European semiautomatic pistols in the early 1890s and early 1900s. All of the Number 2s, 3s and 4s had an integral magazine that was loaded by rotating down the magazine sideplate and inserting a clip of cartridges from the side. Bergmann made very few target pistols, all in 6.5mm Bergmann. This gun has a longer than usual 7.25” octagonal bbl, fully adjustable sights, a finger rest, a set trigger with its auxiliary trigger cocking catch in the front of the trigger guard which must be pushed forward to cock the set trigger mechanism to fire the pistol and a trigger stop. The screw-in bbl is marked 278 (bore gauge) on the left side. Adjacent to this number is the Crown/Crown/U proof marking that is repeated on the left side of the chamber. The left receiver, with long flutes, is marked "Patent Brevete S. G. D. G." The SN 898 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 word" "Gaggenau" and over V.C.S. Suhl. In this case, V.S.C were the initials for V. Charles Schilling, who made the pistols for Bergmann, and Suhl which was the location. Walnut grips are finely checkered and without a logo. PROVENANCE: Dr. Geoffrey Sturgess Collection. CONDITION: This pistol shows fading consistent with use and mild oxidation with 80-85% blue mixed with patina, particularly over the sliding cover and front/back straps. Comparable fading and toning of the fire blue on the safety and the straw on the hammer, safety stop, and trigger. Nicely checkered and all orig grips with correct and comparable condition in-the-white grip screw and escutcheon. Bright bore with sharp rifling. A rare and distinctive Bergmann that should appeal to every collector of automatic pistols. 4-52207 LMA91