Bittner repeating pistol
Bittner's pistol (Bittner repeating pistol) is one of the most recognizable in appearance of the pistols, having a design based on the use of a charging lever. In America, Volcanic pistol was similar in design.
European gunsmiths have created many models of pistols similar in design, but the Bittner pistol is probably the final stage in the development of the non-self-loading weapons, embodied in their design the best engineering solutions. Sometimes it is called the most elegant gun of the end of the 19 century.
The designer of the weapon is Gustav Bittner (Gustav Bittner), descended from hereditary gunsmiths, known in the 17 century. Gustav Bittner founded his factory in 1860 with his brother Raymond and another co-owner Wenzel Fückert in the town of Weipert in Bohemia (formerly Austria-Hungary, now the territory of the Czech Republic). In addition to pistols, the company Gebrüder Bittner, which was the name of the brainchild of Czech gunsmiths, was engaged in the manufacture of hunting rifles.
Starting around 1880, Gustav Bittner began work on creating a magazine pistol. Several experimental samples were created and, at the beginning of 1890, a prototype Bittner pistol appeared, which was almost the same as the first industrial production models. A characteristic feature of the weapon was the presence of wooden inserts with notches on the sides of the front of the frame under the chamber.
For his pistol, Bittner developed a special cartridge that had a sleeve with a flange and a cap of central ignition. The cartridge received the designation 7,7 × 17 Bittner. Other names of the cartridge 7,8х17R, EB 78. The length of the cartridge 26,5-27,0 mm, weight of the cartridge 8,35 gr. The mass of powder charge 0,30 gr. Gunpowder was used both black and smokeless. Bullet shell, had a caliber 7,7 mm. The length of the bullet 14,10-14,25 mm, weight 5,35-5,5 gr.
Pistol on many sites and auctions is called Bittner repeating pistol, Model 1893, i.e. Bittner's pistol model 1893 of the year. However, the authors of the book “Vom Ursprung der Selbstladepistole. (Österreichische Pistolen - Band 1) ”is called the pistol Repetierpistole System Bittner 1896.
1896 year the authors of the book Josef MÖTZ and Joschi SCHUY associated with the date of receipt of the patent. Gustav Bittner 17 October 1896 in the Prague patent office received a certificate for the design of the gun, the loading of which occurred with a special lever.
The gun Bittner had an octahedral trunk. The upper edge of the trunk was covered with a special anti-glare notch. Sights consist of an adjustable rear sight with applied graduations from 50 to 150 meters and a front sight. The fly was triangular in shape in a groove in a shape resembling a dovetail.
Power pistol was carried out using a special five-charge packs (clips), which fit the cartridges. The supply of cartridges was carried out by a spring feeder mounted in front of the frame. After the cartridges were used up, the pack fell out of the window at the bottom of the frame.
The frame of the pistol on the back side looked asymmetrical, thanks to the design of the firing mechanism and the lid on the left side of the frame. The metal parts of the pistol often had a beautiful color with transitions of various shades, resulting from the hardening of weapon parts.
The pistol has a round cross-section. At the rear of the gate there was a protruding rounded tip with a grooved surface. The shutter during reciprocating movement rotated, locking the barrel.
The pistol was reloaded with a charging lever with a ring-shaped tip. A slot is made in the back of the ring to accommodate the trigger. For shooting, the index finger fit into the ring of the charging lever and move it forward.
Under the action of the charging lever, the shutter connected with it retreated to the extreme rear position. During movement, the bolt ejector removed the cartridge case from the chamber. At the same time, the feeder sent a cartridge to the line for filing.
Departing to the rearmost position, the bolt cocked and set the drummer on the combat platoon. The pistol fuse was a button located above the cheeks handle. Moving in a horizontal direction, the fuse blocked the trigger mechanism.
With the movement of the charging lever ring in the opposite direction (towards the handle), the bolt sent the cartridge into the chamber and turning around its axis, locked the barrel bore. Upon further movement of the ring, the trigger passed through the slot of the ring of the charging lever. The finger pressed the trigger, the drummer broke from the platoon and smashed the cartridge primer - a shot occurred. The shooting cycle continued until the cartridges ran out and the pack fell out of the frame's nest.
The Bittner pistol (Bittner repeating pistol) had a total length of 290 mm (the pistol with a serial number "305" had a length of 305 mm), a barrel length 137 mm (or 153 mm), weight 820 gr. Threaded bore with six right-side cuts.
The cheek handles of the Bittner gun were made of wood. On the surface of the cheeks was applied notch diamond shape. Fastening of the cheeks was carried out with the help of a screw, screwed into the left cheek, and a figured nut installed in the right cheek of the handle.
Brands and markings were applied to various parts of the weapon. On some pistols in the upper part of the chamber there is an image of an eagle with a numeral.
The characteristic marking of the Bitner pistol was the stamp on the right side of the weapon frame in the form of the text "PATENT BITTNER", as well as the intersecting letters "GB" under which the letter "W" is located. This abbreviation stands for Gustav Bittner, Weipert, or possibly Waffenfabrik Gebruder Bittner.
The gun was stamped with the test shooting protocol number (for example, “1069”) and the test year (for example, “98” - 1898 year).
Serial numbers of the pistol were placed on the lower part of the barrel, as well as on the parts of the frame under the cheeks of the handle and on the gate.
Gun Bittner (Bittner repeating Pistol) was completed, as a rule, with a pack (clip) for cartridges, leather holster, oil can and rubbing with a ramrod. At the present time it is very rare to find a pistol in a complete set, and the cartridges for it are also rare.
Bittner repeating pistol is a very rare weapon. According to expert estimates, no more than 3000 copies were released (the largest known 2831 serial number). The average price of a pistol in the antique market is 20-30 thousand dollars.
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