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LOT 3445
Rare Early Production Serial Number 9, Solid Frame German
Mauser Model 1878 “Zig-Zag” Single Action Revolver - Serial no. 9, 10.6 mm cal.,
5 5/8 inch part octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1878, this rare
example is the “Zig-Zag” in its earlier form, a solid frame, single action revolver with
loading gate feed, in contrast to the hinged top-break model. Developed in 1878, the
Model 1878 or C78 “Zig-Zag” revolver was the first revolver designed and developed
by the Mauser firm. An unknown but certainly very limited number of these solid
frame revolvers were made for a short time in 1878, prior to the introduction of the hinged frame
model, of which two separate hinged frame designs are depicted in German patents, issued a month
apart between March and April of 1878 (2564 and 3903), with no known patents issued depicting the
solid frame variation as seen here. A competitor to be the first centerfire cartridge-fed handgun adopted
by the German military, the C78 “Zig-Zag” scored high marks in overall performance, though concerns
about the complexity of the design led them to choose the Model 1879 Reichsrevolver instead. At the heart
of the mechanism is the combination of an angular track (the titular “Zig-Zag”) machined into the side of the
cylinder and a toothed reciprocating bar linked to the hammer, which serves to both advance and lock the cylinder,
in contrast to the more commonly seen pawl/sprocket and stop arrangement. Additionally, the spring responsible for resetting the
cocking bar also powers the hammer, replacing the grip frame mounted leaf spring commonly seen in that era. For loading, the side
gate also depresses the tooth of the bar out of the cylinder track, permitting free spin of the cylinder, with a free-hand ejector pin
stored in the cylinder pin to remove the spent casings. Fixed half moon blade front sight, integral notch rear sight, with “PATENT” on
top of the rear area of the barrel, and “GEBr, MAUSER & Cie OBERNDORF a/N” on the left side of the frame, with a niter blue safety lever
on the left behind the cylinder, and “9” on the front of the frame, rear face of the cylinder, cylinder pin, hammer and loading
gate. The knurled hammer and serrated loading gate are finished in fine case color, with a niter blue trigger, safety lever and
screws, finely checkered walnut grips, and a lanyard swivel ring on bottom of butt.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retains 80% bright original high polish blue
finish, with flaking and smooth brown patina on the balance, a few patches
of minor surface oxidation, 85% vivid original case colors on the hammer and
loading gate, and sharp markings and edges in the metal overall. Grips
are also very fine with a few minor nicked
panels in the otherwise crisp checkering.
Mechanically excellent. A rare and significant
piece of Mauser history that would make a fine
addition in any advanced military firearms collection!
Provenance: The Collection of Clive Cussler.
Estimate: 30,000 - 45,000