From the Vault: Bittner Manual Repeating Pistol

Despite its Steampunk looks, the Bittner Model 1893 Repeating Pistol is not a prop from the "Firefly" TV series or some other retro-futuristic production. Steve and Keith found this rarity on their latest visit to Rock Island Auction Co. When Gustav Bittner introduced his MANUAL pistol in 1893, the Mauser "Broomhandle" pistol hadn't hit the streets, Georg Luger hadn't turned the awkward Borchardt C93 into the iconic pistol named after him, and John Browning was just beginning work on his M1900.
That's right, the M1893 is not a semi-automatic. You manually cycle the action by operating the triggerguard / lever to load a round into the chamber, close the rotary bolt, and release the STRIKER to fire the round. Then work the lever to eject the spent shell, and a fresh round is pulled from the internal magazine.
The Model 1893 fires a rimmed 7.7mm (.30 caliber) black powder cartridge. Bittner's clever manual action delivers many of the benefits of a semi-auto pistol without the risk of black powder residue gumming up its operation. This ensures good reliability from the M1893 and enables the equivalent of single and double action operation. There's a pushbutton safety and sights optimistically graduated to 150 meters. With its Webley revolver style grip, the Bittner sits comfortably in the hand.
The Bittner's internal 5-round magazine is similar to that of the Steyr M1894. You fill it via an en bloc clip, the top of which serves as the feed ramps. When the clip is empty, it drops out the bottom of the magazine. There is also a quick-release button that lets you remove the clip with rounds still in it. The wood "forend" panels conceal the magazine spring and follower.
So with all the Bittner M1893's innovation, you have a manual pistol that holds one less round than a revolver. What's the benefit? The compactness of its design, with one chamber instead of a bulky and complex (to machine) cylinder is a plus, and it's an evolutionary step toward the semi-automatic pistol. Besides, it's such a darned cool-looking example of Germanic over-engineering!
Several hundred, maybe as many as 500, Model 1893s were built in 1897 and 1898 at Bittner's factory in Weipert, Bohemia (then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, now in the Czech Republic).

[@Tadicuslegion78]

Looks like something Star Wars would buy up to trick out for a bounty hunter

[@warpartyattheoutpost4987]

Exactly! Just needs a coupla good greebles on it.

[@aristedes9449]

To BUTCHER you mean.

[@YellowHammer26]

👍👍I don’t know anything about it but sure do appreciate y’all sharing it, thanks.

[@warpartyattheoutpost4987]

Now you know. And knowing is half the battle.

[@elifoust7664]

True art

[@pogchamp1038]

Awesome stuff. Love seeing the ingenuity.

[@wintonhudelson2252]

Very cool...!

[@KD-lb9bg]

Excellent show and tell, thanks much. It’s 130 year old metallic and wooden art.

[@alexw2794]

This is the stick shift to the luger's automatic transmission. Lol

[@hipparchus3244]

Been wishing they were still made since the first time I laid eyes on it.

[@m.j.mahoney8905]

I have that same edition of the Gun Collector's Digest on my bookshelf. The article includes pics of the rare clips and rounds, too.

[@BrowncoatNerd]

Firefly name drop!

[@ronniebaughman1666]

A finger action pistol I wonder how fast Jerry Miculek could shoot that pistol?

[@kerrydavidsadler980]

One odd looking gun, but pathing the way to are guns of today. Really smart for there time, a real cool firearm.

[@warpartyattheoutpost4987]

Shiny.

[@NismoXero]

Kinda want to call it a lever action pistol 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@paulbervid1610]

Very cool

[@michailpanchev9952]

What makes it better than a revolver is the ability to be silenced.

[@Z7d3nR4]

Let's see it with the clip

[@KlausPorsch1]

What is the approximate value of this weapon? I'm following one at an auction here in Brazil.

[@markburrell2778]

I thought it was a gun that had been in a fire by looking at the thumbnail.

[@geoffreyjones2000]

I was curious about the rifling; sir

[@corytebay3742]

Interesting firearm! 7.7mm. Hmmm... perhaps more common than you are giving credit for. 303 Brit and of course 7.7 Japanese.

[@jameswalls6043]

I would love to see some of these old firearms get reproduced... I assuming the patent on them has expired, right?

[@jaydunbar7538]

Problem is cost, not enough people actually buy such things when they are reproduced to bring them down to a cost that will work on the market.

[@Rumblestrip]

Shrunk down toggle link?

[@ETHRON1]

Wasn't that other guy an actor...

[@secrityforcemarine]

me heavy breathing ............

[@joemarchinski914]

very cool and yet steamy like a punk👍