Antique Target Pistol

[Murcielago]

So I've acquired my mother-in-law's Hungarian grandfather's target pistol. Unfortunately I know nothing about it. Any insight appreciated! Appears to be .22 cal., though seems smaller. Break open, double triggers,front & rear adj. sights, octagonal/fluted barrel, blued with wood target style one piece grip. Proof marks on right side of receiver: crown over B and crown over U. Left side of receiver stamped "D.R.G.M." (see photos). There is some engraving on both sides of the receiver as well as the trigger guard. Anyone?

 

[Shadow 7D]

So every European country has a CIP proof house, you need to look for the proof, usually over the chamber or on the barrel, that will give you the country of manufacture, from there you start looking for the maker.

High end target gun like that, may be worth a $100 or 10's thousands.
From the look of it, it must be a sweet gun to shoot.

 

[K-Rod]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=573663&page=3

Try posting here & I started the thread. This would make a nice addition!!

 

[dogmush]

Well I'm pretty sure those are German proofs, and DRGM is a German marking.

 

[WardenWolf]

I'd say there's a good chance it's a .22 caliber, but whether it's .22 LR, .22 Short, or .22 Long is up for grabs. An impressive piece. I like it. And it's in amazingly good condition.

 

[ultradoc]

if it's worth anything or not it's still a nice looking gun.

 

[Jim Watson]

The (crown) B and (crown) U are definitely German proof marks and DRGM is roughly "German Imperial Registered Design", not quite a patent, which would be DRP.
Read at:
http://www.porcelainmarksandmore.com/resources/vocabulary/drgm.php

There were a lot of these single shot target pistols in the pre WW I era and some still in production until WW II. Even Stoeger had them in the 1939 Shooter's Bible although I can't imagine them selling many in the USA with the standard brand target autos and revolvers available for no more money. They were a step below the big name free pistols from Tell and Anschutz, and most of them came out of small guild shops that did not bother to apply a brand name. Which is the case with yours.

Caliber is probably .22; it might be found marked on the bottom of the barrel or the action flat if it is readily removable. You could try a .22 lr standard velocity to see if it would chamber. I would not push it with high velocity loads, but it ought to do fine with standards.

If it is indeed smaller than .22, it is a 4mm as made for indoor shooting before modern target pellet guns came out. Ammunition would be tough; Sellier & Bellot still lists it but I have not seen it in a US catalog. One place shows 4mm, or did.
http://www.iss-internationalshootersservice.com/ammunition.html

 

[Kendal Black]

If there is no caliber marking anywhere, you're faced with a puzzle. Could it be made for 6mm Flobert cartridges?

Competition free pistols these days are .22 LR, but I don't know if what you have is an antique version of that, or instead a very sophisticated parlor gun--which could be 4mm, .22 or 6mm.


I'm stumped. A gunsmith can measure the chamber for you.

 

[Murcielago]

She remembers her grandfather shooting with it (in the US), so my gut was .22 something-or-other, but my .22 boresnake wouldn't fit in the barrel & my cleaning rod was very snug. I haven't tried to chamber anything in it yet.

 

[Dafas]

Are there any numbers underneath the barrel? Usually there are the crwon BUG and then a 3 or 4 figure number like 527 or 611..? Most of the early German scheibenpistolen were made for blackpowder cartridges or 4 or 6mm flobert. Very soon after that they transferred to smokeless cartridges. It could be a 6mm flobert, 6mm bosquette, 6mm shot - long or LR.

There is a wonderful book by Otto Halfmann called 'Die Scheibenpistole'. The only thing is it is in German!! I'll see what I can look up for you..

Kind regards, Dafas (Netherlands)

 

[Dafas]

It might be ... a LANGENHAN model 1912 - Hera -. The only things that worries me a bit are the grips and rear sight..? I don't know if they are original of later ad-ons. It could very well be the original thing mind you!

For more details mail me and I will send you a copy of the detail drawings. dafas(AT)kpnmail(DOT)nl

GRZ Dafas.

 

[chatz]

Same Here... Trying to Find More Info as Well

Hey I have a pistol that looks very similar to that... it has all of the same markings as well. On the side of mine, however, it has 5.2 m/m and 22 L stamped on it. My pistol came in a set along with a very old case... the other pistol in the set is in the photo. They are old match pistols. My other pistol in the set says Venus Pistole on it along with 22 L as well. They are in fact made in Germany, my other pistol states it, and the other pistol's serial is 56196.

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[BCRider]

The original Murcielago gun looks like it could be a slightly later or more upscale version of the one shown by chatz. The receiver markings look extremely similar as do the overall metal parts. The grips and rear sights are different but that could be due to different years or different model levels.