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LOT 318
Very Scarce Gustav Bittner Model 1893 Manual Repeating Pistol
- Serial no. 147, 7.7 mm cal., 6 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened
finish, walnut grips. Developed in the 1890s, 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 rise of semi-automatic pistols; anyone
good enough to design and build a manual repeater could make a semi- automatic. 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 (clips not included). Blade front and elevation adjustable notch rear sights, with the Bittner trademark and “PATENT/ BITTNER” marked on the right of the frame. The frame construction is elegantly machined and casehardened steel, with a set of checkered hardwood panels covering the magazine spring and a pair of checkered fine contour grip panels.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 98% professionally restored blue finish on the barrel with very light wear around the muzzle, and 97% vibrant case colors with a few small areas of slight fading. The wood is also very fine, with crisp checkering, a few light scratches, and defined edges. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
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