3190

INCREDIBLE FACTORY CASED, ALL ORIGINAL, BERGMANN NUMBER 3, M1894, WITH ACCESSORIES.

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:5,000.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
INCREDIBLE FACTORY CASED, ALL ORIGINAL, BERGMANN NUMBER 3, M1894, WITH ACCESSORIES.
SN 414. Cal. 6.5mm Bergmann. This early M1894, Number 3, with hexagonal chamber, was made by the Bergmann company with no extractor, which characterises and differentiates the M1894 from the M1896 pistols that had an extractor, and a thin backstrap. Theodor Bergman was an early pioneer in the development of European semiautomatic pistols in the early 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 clip of cartridges from the side. This pistol has a 4.5" bbl, a fixed front sight and a fixed rear sight integral to the bolt that is affixed to a sliding cover over the ejection port. The lugged bbl is marked 278 on the left side (the bore gauge in the English system (no of lead balls of bore diameter (6.5 mm) to the pound) as used by the German proof houses from 1893 – 1912). Adjacent to this bore gauge number is the Crown/Crown/U proof 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 SN 414 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 their location. Walnut grips are finely checkered without a border and without a logo. The gun is presented in a dark green leather bound case, secured with two brass latches. The lid is silk lined and emblazoned with a Bergmann banner stipulating "Arme a repetition automatique/Bergmann Pistole/Bergmann's Self-loading Fire arm/made in Germany". The base of the case is lined in dark green velvet and bordered by a forest green cord. There is an empty partition for two clips. Other partitions contain a cleaning oil bottle and original tools with matching wooden handles that include a screwdriver and a brass stem cleaning rod. PROVENANCE: Dr. Geoffrey Sturgess Collection. CONDITION: Fantastic 98-99% bright blue, all original, with negligible sharp edge wear. There is no thinning of the front strap and only trace thinning of the backstrap. Virtually all the brilliant straw remains on the hammer, safety retainer, and trigger. Comparable high condition fire blued safety. Crisply checkered walnut grips with minimal darkening and no chips, cracks, or other losses. Mechanically perfect. Virtually all the varnish remains on the handles of the screwdriver and cleaning rod. This is an outstanding early Bergmann Number 3, with hexagonal chamber, cased with all accessories! 4-52205 LMA86