Schulhof repeating pistol SN 1
Sold in auction (March 2014) for $13,800.00
SN 1. Cal. .320 SHORT REV. Repeating pistols were the
immediate predecessors to semiautomatic arms. All required a manual movement to chamber
and discharge the cartridge. Sometimes, both actions were performed simultaneously. In
most cases, upon release, a loading bar or lever would spring back to its original
position. Schulhof was credited with having developed several types of repeating pistols
in about 1884. This version has a 4.25? bbl with a fixed front sight and no rear sight.
Serial number 1 was applied under the bbl and repeated on the forward frame. Faint British
proof marks appear on the left side of the barrel and frame. A finger loop lever under the
receiver was used to close the bolt. Having traveled to its final position, the trigger
can be pulled to fire the gun. Only a small nudge is required to push the finger loop
forward the opening being completed by spring action. Loading was accomplished through the
butt into a tubular magazine channel through the butt up to the breech with ratchet
feeding mechanism and secured by a sliding serrated button. Though awkward and cumbersome
by today’s standards, repeater pistols were an important development and provided the
foundation for more modern semiautomatics. PROVENANCE: Ex Visser Collection, Collection of
Dr. Geoffrey Sturgess. CONDITION: The pistol appears in-the-white and unlikely to have
ever been finished. The lightly cleaned surface has largely mellowed to a pleasant gray
with superficial staining. Excellent and all-original grips with coarse borderless
checkering. Minimal staining and handling dings. No chips or losses. Surprisingly bright
bore with sharp rifling and only minimal etching. Mechanically perfect though the finger
lever return spring is weak.
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