This unique Bergmann Model 1910 was made by Anciens Etablissements Pieper with a grip angled slightly back compared to the standard model. It was also fitted with a square front sight and square rear notch in place of the standard barleycorn style sights. Its serial number (8800) puts it right in the middle of pre-war Danish contract production. Curiously, it has grips of the Danish 1910/21 pattern, but was made by Pieper well before those grips were adopted, and is not a Danish-accepted pistol that was retrofitted (it also retains the 1910 style side plate latch, not the Danish 1921 screw update).
What is the story behind this gun? We really just don’t know. It appears to be completely authentic, and has the provenance of coming from the Sidney Aberman collection. In my opinion, both the sights and grip are an improvement over the standard pattern, and I find it very interesting. But then, of course I’m a sucker for all manner of Bergmann pistols…
Any weld marks around the frame below the receiver? The steel part of the angled grip had to be a factory modification during or after manufacture, no? The sights and grips could have been fabricated by any aftermarket gunsmith.
If that grip frame was modified, the gunsmith who did it was on par with Hamilton Bowen, the “odd” grip frame looks more natural where it meets the frame than the unaltered original. Do you know if they were made from forgings or bar?
Ian having been somewhat involved in the development of a modern firearm (the KE Arms polymer lower for ARs) I wonder if Ian knows of any odd “one offs” etc. that exist from that design and development process, which some heir to Forgotten Weapons 75 years from now will find in an attic …. ?
Factory? A tantalizing idea, but I doubt it.
There is nothing there that is beyond the skill of a talented German gunsmith. Probably he simply heated the grip frame and bent it into the desired contour.
M
I think that is a beautiful design. I would have asked for the same upgrades.
Super cool Bergmann
If your pistol’s magazine is located in front of the trigger, you either have a beautiful refined antique, and even more refined target pistol or a Cobray. Not much in between.
“(…)Not much in between.”
Where AB-10
https://modernfirearms.net/en/handguns/handguns-en/u-s-a-semi-automatic-pistols/intratec-dc-9-eng/
does fit?
Intratec, that’s what I wanted to write. Cobray didn’t have this configuration.
You also might have a Charter Arms Explorer II .22;
https://www.bradfordsauction.com/auction-lot/charter-arms-explorer-ii-.22-lr-semi-auto-pistol_0164220864/
Having once owned one, I can say that it wasn’t as badly balanced as you’d think, and was quite accurate out to 100 meters.
A grip like this Bergmann would have been an improvement, though.
cheers
eon
Well if we take into account pistol derivatives of longer arms there is more many, for example https://www.impactguns.com/Semi-Auto-Handguns/POF-Revolution-AR10-Pistol-308-Win-12-5-20rd-Nickel-Receiver-847313013927-01392/
In fairness to you, I think intratec’s products should be considered to be honorary Cobrays
‘If your pistol’s magazine is located in front of the trigger, you either have a beautiful refined antique, and even more refined target pistol or a Cobray. Not much in between.’
Or else a Star Wars blaster.
Bergmans and Mauser Broomhandles. I likes them.