OUTSTANDING BERGMANN M1896, NUMBER 3, WITH RARE SHOULDER STOCK.

SN 2805. Caliber 6.5mm Bergmann. This is a late example of a M1896 #3 semiautomatic pistol as produced by V C Schilling for the Bergmann company with extractor and a 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 early 1890s and early 1900s. His early models were of distinctive design and had a silhouette that would never be confused with a competitor. Loading was accomplished by rotating down the magazine sideplate and inserting a tin-plate charger 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 affixed to a sliding cover over the ejection port. The screw-in bbl is marked 278 (bore caliber) 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 long flutes and a contoured grip, is marked “Patent Brevete S.G.D.G.”. The serial number 2805 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 a rare example of an open staple used to secure a shoulder stock lug. Walnut grips are finely checkered without a border and without a logo. Accompanying this pistol is an extremely scarce, orig leather covered shoulder stock whose studded flap is secured by a single strap. A spare charger pouch is on the front of the stock and a brass cleaning rod is retained in an open compartment along the spine. A spring loaded plunger allows the lug to slip through and secure the sideplate staple. There are no markings on either the leather or lug. PROVENANCE: Collection of Dr. Geoffrey Sturgess, Ex-Visser Collection. CONDITION: Bright 98+% original rust blue finish with minimal frosting of the backstrap. The hammer and trigger retain 80-90% of their original straw and the safety has at least 90% original fire blue. Excellent original grips with the left panel missing a small chip at the upper corner. Bright bore with strong rifling. Perfect mechanics. The shoulder stock shows considerable wear and crazing with stitch separation. The front face of the charger pocket has completely separated from its base and its leather border is retained by less than 50% of the orig stitching. Moderate losses and tears involve the lid strap and a small collar is missing from the base of the stock lug that is mechanically perfect. Orig cleaning rod is covered by considerable vertigris. An unusually nice Bergmann, particularly attractive with the rarely encountered and highly desirable shoulder stock. 4-52045 LMA121 (12,500-17,500) – Lot 3031

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2014

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	3031	$14,375.00	OUTSTANDING BERGMANN M1896, NUMBER 3, WITH RARE SHOULDER STOCK. SN 2805. Caliber 6.5mm Bergmann. This is a late example of a M1896 #3 semiautomatic pistol as produced by V C Schilling for the Bergmann company with extractor and a 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 early 1890s and early 1900s. His early models were of distinctive design and had a silhouette that would never be confused with a competitor. Loading was accomplished by rotating down the magazine sideplate and inserting a tin-plate charger 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 affixed to a sliding cover over the ejection port. The screw-in bbl is marked 278 (bore caliber) 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 long flutes and a contoured grip, is marked “Patent Brevete S.G.D.G.”. The serial number 2805 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 a rare example of an open staple used to secure a shoulder stock lug. Walnut grips are finely checkered without a border and without a logo. Accompanying this pistol is an extremely scarce, orig leather covered shoulder stock whose studded flap is secured by a single strap. A spare charger pouch is on the front of the stock and a brass cleaning rod is retained in an open compartment along the spine. A spring loaded plunger allows the lug to slip through and secure the sideplate staple. There are no markings on either the leather or lug. PROVENANCE: Collection of Dr. Geoffrey Sturgess, Ex-Visser Collection. CONDITION: Bright 98+% original rust blue finish with minimal frosting of the backstrap. The hammer and trigger retain 80-90% of their original straw and the safety has at least 90% original fire blue. Excellent original grips with the left panel missing a small chip at the upper corner. Bright bore with strong rifling. Perfect mechanics. The shoulder stock shows considerable wear and crazing with stitch separation. The front face of the charger pocket has completely separated from its base and its leather border is retained by less than 50% of the orig stitching. Moderate losses and tears involve the lid strap and a small collar is missing from the base of the stock lug that is mechanically perfect. Orig cleaning rod is covered by considerable vertigris. An unusually nice Bergmann, particularly attractive with the rarely encountered and highly desirable shoulder stock. 4-52045 LMA121 (12,500-17,500) – Lot 3031 Auction: Firearms - Spring 2014 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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OUTSTANDING BERGMANN M1896, NUMBER 3, WITH RARE SHOULDER STOCK.