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LOT 3434
Rare Serial Number 47 Mannlicher Patent Neuhausen Model 1894 Semi-Automatic Pistol
- Serial no. 47, 6.55 mm cal., 6 3/4 inch round bbl., blue finish, hardwood grips. Introduced in 1894 and patented in
the United States in 1897, the Neuhausen Model 1894 is the first known pistol made by noted arms designer Ferdinand,
Ritter von Mannlicher. While a contemporary to the Mauser Broomhandle and Loewe Borchardt pistols, the
Mannlicher design took a very different mechanical path, being one of the few manufactured weapons to
use a blow-forward mechanism. In contrast to the now-long standing orthodoxy in pistol design (which
Mannlicher himself would embrace in his later pistol designs), instead of using a slide or bolt to move
the breech, the Mannlicher uses a fixed, standing breechblock, with the force of discharge imparted by
the bullet engaging the rifling giving forward momentum to the spring loaded barrel. After discharge, a
catch connected to the trigger holds the barrel in the open position, both to permit loading of the internal
magazine and to provide an extra margin of safety to ensure that the barrel doesn’t return to battery before the
rebounding double action hammer has reset, eliminating the risk of an undesirable slam fire. The Mannlicher was one of many pistols evaluated by the United
States Army in 1900; like most of the handguns evaluated prior to the adoption of the 1911, the Mannlicher design was passed over. As of this writing this particular pistol, serial number
47, serves as the exemplar for the Model 1894 Mannlicher on Wikipedia. Blade front and notch rear sights, the former integrated into the spring housing for the barrel and the latter
integrated into the hinged catch that retains the loaded cartridge in position to enter the chamber. The left side of the frame is marked “FAB.D’ARMS/NEUHAUSEN”, with “47” on the frame,
barrel, and multiple internal components, a set of checkered grips and “HH” in an oval on the butt.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, with 95% original blue overall, showing minor spotting
and handling marks overall. The grips are very fine, with some
chipping on the interior of the left panel. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Collection of Clive Cussler.
Estimate: 18,000 - 27,500
LOT 3435
V. C. Schilling Model 1896 Number 3 Bergmann Semi-Automatic Pistol in Scarce Target
Configuration - Serial no. 1444, 6.5 mm Bergmann cal., 7 1/4 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut
grips. Introduced in the 1890s, the Bergmann 1896 was produced in a number of variations, with an
unknown number made in this target variation. The most critical difference between this and the
standard Bergmann is the use of an adjustable double set trigger mechanism, which fits within the
standard triggerguard. As configured, the firing trigger sits a bit further ahead of standard, with an
extension on the back to reach a spring loaded adjustable stop, and the set trigger hooking around
the top and front. In contrast to some set trigger designs, the trigger cannot be fired unset, effectively
converting the Bergmann into a self-loading single shot pistol. Windage adjustable razor thin blade
front sight set between protective wings and an elevation adjustable notch rear sight, both set in
dovetail cuts, with “crown/crown/U” on the left side of the barrel and frame, “278” on the left side of
the barrel, Schilling “mountain man” logo on the right sideplate, triggerguard threaded for an (absent)
finger rest spur, checkered grips, and a lanyard loop on the butt.
CONDITION: Fine, with 95% plus restored blue, showing minor pitting and light handling marks, vivid
niter blue on the small parts, and sharp checkering on the refinished grips. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Collection of Clive Cussler.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500