5/3/2023 – Arms, Armor & Militaria

7.8mm Bergmann. 5.7″ octagon to round barrel. SN: NSN. Blued finish, fire blued small parts, strawed trigger and hammer, bright magazine two-piece checkered wood grips. Single action semi-automatic pistol fed by a detachable box magazine forward of the triggerguard. Left rear of frame with the V.C. Schilling GAGENAU / V.C.S. / SUHL marker’s mark around the “Mountain Man” logo motif that represents the meaning of the word “Bergmann”. No other markings are present except for the typical Bergman take-down and reassembly numbers on various parts, {CROWN}/U proof marks on the receiver and barrel and the number 181 on the left rear of the barrel where it meets the frame. A fixed notch rear sight is present on top rear of the sliding dust cover for the bolt and a dovetailed blade front sight is present on a block base near the muzzle. Controls include a manual thumb safety on the left rear of the frame and a checkered magazine release on the right forward section of the magazine well. The magazine well does not incorporate the witness holes that are typical of a regular production No 5 pistol. A receptacle for a shoulder stock lug is present on the upper rear right side of the frame like the No 4 Bergmann pistols and has a fixed lanyard loop machined into the base of the revolver style grip. The pistol is accompanied by a combination leather flap holster and shoulder stock that has a nickel plated non-ferrous attachment lug and a zinc alloy stud that serves to provide stability between the backstrap and the holster body. Holster is of black leather with a small ammunition pouch on the closure flap and has an adjustable shoulder strap with a buckle closure. An apparent transitional or prototype pistol bridging the gap between the Model 1896 No 4 and the Model 1897 No 5 pistols, the gun also shows some of the features that would lead to the evolutions of the Bergmann Simplex, Bergman Mars and finally the Bergmann Bayard pistols.

***This lot can be paired with item 3 in Lot 4168 of our 05/04/2023 Online Sale, a 50-round box of Bergmanm 7.8mm ammunition.***