Page 390 - 4094-BOOK2

388
LOT 1463
Outstanding Factory Presentation Cased
Gustav Bittner Model 1896 Manual
Repeating Pistol - Serial no. 400, 7.65 mm
cal., 6 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened
finish, walnut grips. Only approximately
500 of these pistols are believed to have
been manufactured between 1896-1898.
Originally patented in 1896 in Austria,
Gustav Bittner’s pistol is an excellent
example of the “manual repeater” class of
handgun. The rival to the single and double
action revolvers of the early cartridge era,
manual repeaters were brought to an end
by the quick rise of innovative smokeless
semi-automatic pistol designs around
the same timeframe of this handguns
conception. Bittner’s design uses a rotary
locking bolt operated by a ring lever and a
fixed bar lever for the trigger and feeds via
an internal magazine loaded with en bloc
clips. Blade front and elevation adjustable
notch rear sights, with “PATENT/BITTNER”
above the Bittner trademark marked on the
right of the frame. The frame is elegantly
machined and high quality casehardened
with distinct colors, with a set of checkered
walnut panels covering the magazine spring
and a pair of checkered fine walnut contour
grip panels. “400” along with “3” and “9”
marked on the left of the grip frame, with
“400” also handwritten on the interiors of
the grip panels, and “200” marked on the left
of the barrel. Includes a leatherette Bittner
presentation case with white silk type lining
on the inside of the lid with a diagonal
green ribbon that reads “Bittner’sche Repetir
Pistole” and the fitted bottom section of
the case has a green felt lining, containing
a rare nickel plated stripper clip with five
RWS headstamped 7.7mm Bittner rimmed
cartridges (some appear to be deactivated),
a small glass oil bottle with Bittner label,
bore brush, and screwdriver.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 98% original
blue finish on the barrel with very light
wear visible around the muzzle and 95%
plus vibrant original case colors with some
minor spots of outer flaking. The wood is
also excellent with crisp checkering, a few
light handling marks, and defined edges.
Mechanically excellent. Case is fine, with
some minor storage related wear and
absent one latch.
Estimate: 14,000 - 22,500