Laumann Model 1891 repeating pistol
Sold in auction (March 2014) for $25,875.00

SN 15. Caliber 7.8mm. Josef Laumann, of Austria, made a very small number of manual repeater pistols prior to his collaboration with Schönberger. These large frame guns had a very distinctive silhouette, largely due to their forward, angulated magazine housing made to house a stripper clip. This particular gun, one of only three noted by Mötz and Schuy (Vom Ursprung der Selbstladepistole), has a browned 4.75” barrel with a fixed half-moon front sight. A groove in the rear of the receiver acts as the rear sight. There are no manufacturer’s markings or proofs. The only marking on this pistol is the serial number 15, appearing on the left side of the barrel and repeated on the adjacent receiver. Other than the barrel, most major components and some minor components were color case hardened, including the frame and its sideplate, finger ring, trigger and the independently mounted finger stop mounted on the frontstrap. The bolt is in-the-white and the safety fire blued. Operation is like most repeaters, whereby a spring loaded finger ring cocks the pistol while moving the bolt forward, simultaneously chambering a cartridge. When cocked, the rear of the firing pin extends from the bolt. Pressing down on the serrated arm of the safety allows the trigger to be pulled. Cartridge feeding was via a special stripper clip, not present, that was released using the 1/2? checkered button mounted on the right side of the receiver. Grips are checkered, bordered walnut, retained by a single transverse screw.Cartridge feeding was via a special stripper clip, not present, that was released using the 1/2? checkered button mounted on the right side of the receiver. Grips are checkered, bordered walnut, retained by a single transverse screw. PROVENANCE: Collection of Dr. Geoffrey Sturgess, illustr. TBLAP, “pictured Vom Ursprung der Selbstladepistole”, page 116, 117. Ex-Visser collection. CONDITION: At least 90% of the browned finish remains on the barrel. The color case hardening has begun to fade, particularly on the receiver sideplate and on most of the top and right side of the receiver, where the color is transitioning to gray. The same fading involves the backstrap, such that the overall case color is about 70%. The bolt has been recently polished, especially at the rear, and the end cap resurfaced. Wear on the fire blued safety is consistent with the overall use. Excellent original grips with only minimal handling, no losses or chips. Bright bore with shallow rifling and only minor oxidative erosion.