Bergmann M1896
Notes: One of
the first workable automatic pistol designs, the M1896 was an improvement over
what may be considered a prototype – the M1894.
Though Theodor Bergmann is more commonly associated with Austria, this
handgun was made before Bergmann’s factory at Suhl was built. The M1896 is a
large, blockish sort of pistol that is a bit nose-heavy.
The grip is empty – the small magazine is ahead of the trigger guard,
under a rounded magazine well cover that is accessed by pulling forward and down
a milled grip at the bottom rear of the cover.
The cover is held in place by a large brass screw.
(The trigger, hammer, cocking button, and disassembly screw are also
brass.) Originally, the M1896 used the M1894’s unreliable extraction system –
where the spent cases were simply pushed out of an attachment in front of the
magazine – later, a more conventional and reliable positive extractor was used.
M1896 marks are delineated by the ammunition they fire; all the cartridges are
proprietary. Barrels are 3.15
inches for the No 2 and 4 inches for the Nos 3 and 4. Today, the M1896 is quite
rare – there are an estimated only 2000 in firing condition in the world.
An even more
rare version is the M1897 model. It
was an improved version of the M1896 that Bergmann hoped to sell to the military
and police, but at the time the market was glutted with new and varied
semiautomatic pistol designs, and altogether only about 1000 were sold, and very
few remain in working condition today.
The M1897 was altogether stronger and studier than the M1896, and was fed
by a 10-round magazine than the smaller clip of the M1896.
The magazine could also be reloaded with a stripper clip, leaving the
magazine, situated in front of the trigger, in place. The rear sights were
changed to an adjustable sight with a perhaps overly-optimistic graduation to
1000 meters. Most had the M1896’s 4-inch barrel, but a few were made as cavalry
carbines with a 12-inch barrel and a shoulder stock which doubled as a holster.
(The rear of the grip was slotted for attaching the stock.) A very few
were also made with 3.5-inch and 5.25-inch barrels. Then Bergmann made a mistake
from a military standpoint; he changed the cartridge fired, and countries’
military are notoriously unwilling to change their service cartridge due to the
expense. Inside, the M1897 was also very different; Bergmann realized that his
straight blowback design prevented the use of a very powerful cartridge, and he
changed the operation to a locked breech system
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
No 2 |
5mm Bergmann |
0.47 kg |
5 Clip |
$101 |
No 3 |
6.5mm Bergmann |
1.13 kg |
5 Clip |
$176 |
No 4 |
8mm Bergmann |
1.31 kg |
5 Clip |
$231 |
No 5 (3.5” Barrel) |
7.8mm Bergmann |
0.73 kg |
10 |
$227 |
No 5 (4” Barrel) |
7.8mm Bergmann |
0.75 kg |
10 |
$232 |
No 5 (5.25” Barrel) |
7.8mm Bergmann |
0.79 kg |
10 |
$244 |
No 5 (12” Barrel) |
7.8mm Bergmann |
0.9 kg |
10 |
$313 |
Shoulder Stock |
N/A |
0.7 kg |
N/A |
$20 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
No 2 |
SA |
-2 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
5 |
No 3 |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
6 |
No 4 |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
8 |
No 5 (3.5” Barrel) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
5 |
No 5 (4” Barrel) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
7 |
No 5 (5.25” Barrel) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
10 |
No 5 (12” Barrel) |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
2 |
3 |
Nil |
24 |
With Stock |
SA |
2 |
1-Nil |
4 |
2 |
Nil |
29 |
Borchardt C93
Notes: Despite
it’s ungainly appearance, the C93 is an ancestor of the Luger; it pioneered the
toggle lock and return spring action which later worked so well on the Luger.
It was bought by some officers (at that time, officers of many countries
were required to purchase their own sidearms), and even tested by the US Navy
and Army. When fired, the toggle rose and then fell with the action of the
return spring. It is a unique
action found only on the C93 and Luger.
The toggle action unfortunately requires rather precise machine work to
produce and is prone to malfunctions due to dirt in the action; on the C93, with
its not-yet perfected action, it could also be prone to malfunctions due to the
complexities of the action. It used proprietary ammunition. It was an accurate
pistol (the 6.5-inch barrel undoubtedly helped in this regard), and had good
range; it was also a clumsy and large weapon (for example, roughly the size of a
Mini-Uzi), for which a special holster had to be manufactured.
The magazine, like most pistols, was inserted into the grip; the grip,
however, was near the center of the C93. The C93 came with a shoulder stock, to
which the holster was attached. Today, the C93 is a much sought-after
collector’s weapon.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
C93 |
.30 Borchardt |
1.16 kg |
8 |
$260 |
With Stock |
.30 Borchardt |
1.86 kg |
8 |
$280 |
Stock Alone |
N/A |
0.7 kg |
N/A |
$20 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
C93 |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
2 |
2 |
Nil |
12 |
EP882S |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
3 |
2 |
Nil |
15 |
Erma EP22/KGP69/KGP68
Notes: The EP22,
also known as the LA-22, is modeled on the P08 Luger, but chambered for .22 Long
Rifle ammunition. It was produced
from 1964-1971, and is basically of a similar size and of comparable weight to
the Luger. Some rare variants of
the EP22 include the Navy model, with a 5.9-inch barrel (as opposed to the
4.5-inch barrel of the standard EP22), and a Carbine model with an 11.8-inch
barrel, wooden fore-end, tangent-leaf rear sight, and a detachable stock.
The KGP69
succeeded the EP22 in production, and was manufactured until 1997.
It adds a magazine safety and replaces the wooden grip plates with a
molded plastic grip. However, the
barrel is shorter at 3.9 inches.
The KGP68 is a version of the EP22 firing either .32 ACP or .380 ACP ammunition,
and having a shorter action and the same short barrel length as the KGP69.
The KGP68A is a KGP68 with a magazine safety, required by US laws at the
time; Beeman also sold this pistol, calling it the MP08.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
EP22 |
.22 Long Rifle |
0.99 kg |
8 |
$124 |
EP22 Navy |
.22 Long Rifle |
1.05 kg |
8 |
$139 |
EP22 Carbine |
.22 Long Rifle |
1.29 kg |
8 |
$199 |
EP22 Carbine (With Stock) |
.22 Long Rifle |
1.99 kg |
8 |
$219 |
KGP69 |
.22 Long Rifle |
0.84 kg |
8 |
$118 |
KGP68 |
.32 ACP |
0.64 kg |
6 |
$182 |
KGP68 |
.380 ACP |
0.64 kg |
5 |
$220 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
EP22 |
SA |
-1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
8 |
EP22 Navy |
SA |
-1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
11 |
EP22 Carbine (No Stock) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
2 |
2 |
Nil |
21 |
EP22 Carbine (With Stock) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
4 |
1 |
Nil |
23 |
KGP69 |
SA |
-1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
7 |
KGP68 (.32) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
4 |
Nil |
9 |
KGP68 (.380) |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
4 |
Nil |
10 |
Erma EP452/457/459
Notes:
Introduced in 1984, the EP452 is externally modeled on the M1911A1, though it is
much smaller in size. Internally,
the mechanism is quite different, as was necessary to use the .22 Long Rifle
cartridge. The frame and slide are
made of light alloy with a blackened finish, and the grips plates are of wood.
The EP457 is similar, but fires the .32 ACP round, has a faux stainless
finish, and a slightly longer barrel.
The EP459 is similar to the EP457, but fires .380 ACP.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
EP452 |
.22 Long Rifle |
0.61 kg |
8 |
$113 |
EP457 |
.32 ACP |
0.69 kg |
8 |
$179 |
EP459 |
.380 ACP |
0.77 kg |
8 |
$218 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
EP452 |
SA |
-1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
6 |
EP457 |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
8 |
EP459 |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
9 |
Erma EP552/555/652/655
Notes: Like many
such Erma pistols, the EP552 series was designed to resemble another pistol – in
this case, the Walther PPK. It does
resemble that weapon externally, though internally, it is quite different, and
the slide and frame are made from light alloy.
The EP552 is the base weapon; it is quite small and light, and has a
short barrel to match. The EP555 is
the same weapon, but fires .25 ACP ammunition.
The EP652 is a modernized EP552; it has squared contours and does not
resemble the PPK much any more. It
is also lighter than the EP552, due to a simplification of the pistol’s
mechanism. The EP655 is a .25 ACP
version of the EP652.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
EP552 |
.22 Long Rifle |
0.41 kg |
7 |
$109 |
EP555 |
.25 ACP |
0.44 kg |
7 |
$126 |
EP652 |
.22 Long Rifle |
0.39 kg |
7 |
$109 |
EP655 |
.25 ACP |
0.42 kg |
7 |
$126 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
EP552 |
SA |
-1 |
Nil |
0 |
4 |
Nil |
5 |
EP555 |
SA |
-1 |
Nil |
0 |
4 |
Nil |
5 |
EP652 |
SA |
-1 |
Nil |
0 |
4 |
Nil |
5 |
EP655 |
SA |
-1 |
Nil |
0 |
4 |
Nil |
5 |
Erma EP882
Notes: This is
basically Erma’s version of the Walther P38.
This version is a compact pistol in .22 Long Rifle, with a safety catch
that blocks both the bolt and the hammer, and a magazine catch on the heel of
the butt. It is a simple, basic,
small-caliber pistol. A variant,
the EP882S, has a 6-inch barrel, but is otherwise the same.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
EP882 |
.22 Long Rifle |
0.76 kg |
8 |
$129 |
EP882S |
.22 Long Rifle |
0.79 kg |
8 |
$139 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
EP882 |
SA |
-1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
9 |
EP882S |
SA |
-1 |
Nil |
1 |
2 |
Nil |
11 |
Rheinmetall Dreyse
Notes:
Though the Dreyse was never formally adopted by the military of any
country, the Dreyse was carried by many German officers during World War 1, and
it was sold in large numbers to civilians between 1912 and 1915.
An original Louis Schmiesser design, the Dreyse was originally chambered
for .32 ACP and had a 3.6-inch barrel, and was targeted at the civilian
self-defense market. Unofficially,
it was carried by many German staff officers and rear-area troops in World War
1. In .32 ACP, the Dreyse was an
easy to use and shoot pistol, with simple operation and take-down.
Unfortunately,
someone has the bright idea to up-caliber the Dreyse to 9mm Parabellum.
This required not only strengthening of the components, but a
much heavier recoil spring.
This meant that the Dreyse was virtually impossible to cock in the normal
way (by pulling the slide back); instead, the slide could be unhooked from the
frame, allowing it to be pulled back much easier, then locked back into place.
(If you had the strength and time, you could still cock the 9mm Dreyse in
the normal manner.) The barrel was also lengthened to 5 inches.
Examples of the 9mm Dreyse are rare today, and they are usually dangerous
to fire, since wear means the strange cocking mechanism can make the slide sit
loosely on the frame.
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
|
Dreyse |
.32 ACP |
0.71 kg |
7 |
$179 |
Dreyse |
9mm Parabellum |
1.05 kg |
8 |
$247 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
Dreyse |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
8 |
Dreyse |
SA |
1 |
Nil |
1 |
3 |
Nil |
12 |