Museum-weapons

The Bergmann 1910

The Bergmann Mars was produced in 1901, and was the first Bergmann design aimed squarely at the military market, with a comparatively powerful 9×23mm Bergmann round. It aroused the interest of a number of armies and was the subject of several trials in competition with the Mauser C96, Mannlicher, Browning and Luger pistols.

The patent owner, Theodor Bergmann, was unable to organize volume production in Germany, and licensed manufacture to the Belgian company Pieper, of Liége. They produced the weapon until 1914, as the Bergmann-Bayard. The gun used a dedicated 9mm Bergmann-Bayard cartridge. At the same time, the Bergmann–Bayard model 1910 was adopted by the Danish military. A total of 4,840 M1910 Bergmann Bayards was initially delivered to the Danish Army. The pistol was produced in Belgium until 1914, when production ceased during World War I and never resumed. The Bergmann–Bayard was later produced in Denmark from 1922 to 1935.

Several modifications to the original design, such as an improved extractor and bolt; a screw to retain the sideplate instead of a spring-loaded catch; and a new grip design extending the full length of the backstrap to the frame were made. The original grips were made of Trolit, a checkered plastic material similar to Bakelite. It was, however, prone to chipping and warping, and the majority of new 1910/21 models was fitted with checkered wooden grips. The pistol magazine is still double-row, designed for 6 ammunition caliber 9 × 23 mm Bergmann (9 mm Largo). The trigger mechanism of the pistol is the same - single with the external location of the trigger. The fuse is also still located on the left side of the frame at the trigger.

With the beginning of the First World War and the occupation of Belgium by Germany, the production of pistols did not stop. Anciens Etablissements Pieper produced pistols by Bergman Bayard for German needs. During this period, pistols with serial numbers from 15000 to 16000 without Danish receiving stamps were manufactured. Production in Belgium was completely stopped after the end of the war, only a small number of weapons with 17000 serial numbers were assembled from the remaining parts. This Pistols serial number is 16446

The Bergmann was the personal weapon of Gregoris Afxentiou, a leading member of the Greek Cypriot organization EOKA (Ethnike Organosis Kypriakou Agonos). EOKA's aim was to bring an end British colonial rule in favour of union between Cyprus and Greece.Their campaign of violence in support of this aim led to the declaration of a State of Emergency in Cyprus between 1955 and 1959. Afxentiou died in March 1957. He refused to surrender after being cornered in a cave by British Army units.

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History

The Brown Bess

Remington 1864 “Rolling Block Rifle”

This week for Firearm Friday we are bringing you the Remington 1864 “Rolling Block Rifle” The Remington Rolling Block was developed from the 1863 pattern .50 calibre split breech carbine issued to the US Cavalry during the American Civil War. This earlier weapon was designed by Joseph Rider and Leonard Geiger to fire the same cartridges as the Spencer carbine. The split breech rifle lacked a hammer spur because it self-cocked when the breechblock was opened. In 1865, Rider improved the split breech design to create the rolling-block action which was named the "Remington System” The medium-strength action developed some headspace issues with new smokeless powders coming into use by the late 1890s. A heavier-style action was produced for later smokeless cartridges, although there were still issues with some ammunition. In 1867, the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway was the first military to adopt the rifle as the standard military rifle. Around 250,000 military rifles and carbines and 85,000 civilian rifles in Sweden, were produced under license by Carl Gustafs Stads Gevärsfaktori and Husqvarna Vapenfabriks Aktiebolag, and about 53,000 rifles in Norway by Kongsberg Vaapenfabrik. The British Empire purchased rolling-blocks to arm the Egyptian Army during the 1870s. These were made in Liège, Belgium, in .43 Egyptian calibre and were issued with a sword bayonet. Rolling-block rifles were used against Muhammad Ahmad's Ansar Dervishes during the Mahdist War, including at the Siege of Khartoum where General Gordon met his end. Guns with decorative brass Islamic crescents and Arabic inscriptions on the buttstock are not uncommon on the collector's market. The French acquired 210,000 Egyptian rolling-block rifles to make up for a shortage of the standard-issue ...