Page 388 - 86-Book2

The Next Two Lots are Consecutively Serial Numbered
LOT 1573
Rare Italian Bernardelli Model UB Striker Fired Prototype
Semi-Automatic Pistol Serial Number 55 - Serial no. 55, 9 mm
cal., 4 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Approximately 85 Bernardelli
UB prototype pistols were manufactured in total between 1956-1957, in hammer
fired and striker fired variations with various subvariations including different styles of
slide releases. This striker fired example features blade front and notch rear sights, serial number “55” is marked on the rear grip strap and the frame is fitted with late style hardwood thumbrest grips and European style heel magazine release. The slide is marked with the standard late slide legend and caliber markings indicating it is chambered in both 9mm Parabellum and 9mm Lungo, also referred to as 9mm M1938, a higher velocity round with the same dimensions as the 9mm Parabellum that was originally designed for the Italian Beretta Model 38 submachine gun. Ultimately, the UB would fail to get any military contracts due to the heavy recoil of a straight blow back 9mm, and failed to reach an American market in part due to the heel magazine release. This pistol is consecutively serial numbered to the following lot. There are three other examples of these rare Bernardelli UB prototype pistols in this auction, lots 1574, 1575 and 1584, allowing a rare opportunity to study a selection of the variations found in these pistols. CONDITION: Excellent, retains 99% original blue finish with some light handling marks. Grips
are also excellent with crisp checkering and some scattered minor nicks concentrated on the left grip panel. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 1574
Rare Italian Bernardelli Model UB Striker Fired Prototype Semi-
Automatic Pistol Serial Number 56 - Serial no. 56, 9 mm cal., 3 3/4 inch
round bbl., blue finish, hardwood grips. Approximately 85 Bernardelli UB prototype
pistols were manufactured in total between 1956-1957, in hammer fired and striker
fired variations with various subvariations including different styles of slide releases. This striker fired example features blade front and notch rear sights, serial number “56” is marked on the rear grip strap and the frame is fitted with late style hardwood thumbrest grips and European style heel magazine release. The slide is marked with the standard late slide legend and caliber markings indicating it
is chambered in both 9mm Parabellum and 9mm Lungo, also referred to as 9mm M1938, a higher velocity round with the same dimensions as the 9mm Parabellum that was originally designed for the Italian Beretta Model 38 submachine gun. Ultimately, the UB would fail to get any military contracts due to the heavy recoil of a straight blow back 9mm, and failed to reach an American market
in part due to the heel magazine release. This pistol is consecutively serial numbered to the
previous lot. There are three other examples of these rare Bernardelli UB prototype pistols in
this auction, lots 1573, 1575 and 1584, allowing a rare opportunity to study a selection of the variations found in these pistols.
CONDITION: Excellent overall, retaining 98% plus original blue finish with light handling
marks, a couple dings and scratches, and crisp grip checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 1575
Rare Italian Bernardelli Model UB Hammer Fired Prototype
Semi-Automatic Pistol Serial Number 027 - Serial no. 027, 9 mm cal., 4
inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Approximately 85 Bernardelli UB prototype
pistols were manufactured in total between 1956-1957, in hammer fired and striker
fired variations with various subvariations including different styles of slide releases. This hammer fired example features blade front and notch rear sights, serial number “027” is marked on the rear grip strap and the frame is fitted with late style hardwood thumbrest grips and European style heel magazine release. The slide is marked with the standard slide legend and caliber “9.L.”, indicating it is chambered in 9mm Lungo, also referred to as 9mm M1938, a higher velocity round with the same dimensions as the 9mm Parabellum that was originally designed for the Italian Beretta Model 38 submachine gun. Ultimately, the UB would fail to get any military contracts, and failed to reach an American market in part due to the heel magazine release. There are three other examples of
these rare Bernardelli UB prototype pistols in this auction, lots 1573, 1574 and 1584, allowing a
rare opportunity to study a selection of the variations found in these pistols.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 99% original blue finish with some light handling marks. Grips
are also excellent with crisp checkering and some light handling marks.
Mechanically excellent.
LOT 1576
Excellent SIG P210 Semi- Automatic Pistol with
Box - Serial no. P67081, 9 mm para cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., blue finish, plastic grips. Blade front and fixed notch rear sights, standard markings and Swiss proofs, matching serial numbers on the frame, slide, and barrel, and checkered plastic grips. Includes original box and an extra magazine.
CONDITION: Excellent overall,
retaining 99% plus original
blue finish with limited
handling marks and crisp
grip checkering. Mechanically excellent. Box is good with storage and handling marks, poor lining, torn corners and staining.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,500
LOT 1577
Scarce Astra Model 800 “Condor” Semi-Automatic Pistol with Matching Original Box - Serial no. 820111, 9 mm cal., 5 1/4 inch round bbl., blue finish, plastic grips. Manufactured from 1958 to 1969 with a total production of about 11,400. This model is similar to the Model 600,
but with an external hammer and loaded
chamber indicator. The top front of the slide
is marked with the Astra sun burst logo
and the rear is marked with the three-line
model and address. Proofmarks on the right
rear of the frame and slide, and matching
number on the underside of the slide. The
number “17” is hand marked in permanent marker ahead of the triggerguard and on both magazines. The ribbed black plastic grips are branded with the Astra logo and “CONDOR” on each side. A matching number box is included, with a merchant mark for W. Glaser of Zurich, Austria inside the lid, manual, extra magazine, cleaning rod, and a plastic sleeve with Astra markings.
CONDITION: Excellent, with 98% plus of the original blue finish, showing some light scratches and a few small areas of edge wear. The grips are also excellent, with a few light scratches. The sleeve has some tears and holes in the vicinity of the hammer and rear sight, while the box is very fine, with mild wear and scuffing concentrated along the edges and on the contact points with the pistol. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 1578
MAB Model R “Experimental” P-8 Prototype
Semi-Automatic Pistol - Serial no. 1615, 9 mm
para cal., 4 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, hard
rubber grips. Commonly referred to as the Model R Experimental, this
pistol is a prototype for what would eventually become the short lived
P-8 pistol. It is likely that this is reportedly one of only a dozen at most
prototypes for the P-8. The P-8 was the single stack sibling of the PA-15 pistol. The
slide features fixed blade front and notch rear sights, a rotary locking barrel, “PISTOLET
AUTOMATIQUE MAB BREVETE-S.G.D.G./MODELE R” on the left side with “MADE IN
FRANCE” on the right with French proofs. The frame is hand marked “137” ahead of the
trigger guard in permanent marker. Fitted with a pair of black “MAB” grips. The magazine
is also marked “137” on the baseplate.
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 95% original blue finish with scattered handling marks,
scratches on the slide with some light pitting. Grips are fine with overall crisp checkering
and some scuffs on the right panel.
Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
SERIAL NUMBER 55
SERIAL NUMBER 56
386 Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
SERIAL NUMBER 027