SOLD - ANIB Ortgies Pistol

6/10/20 - This is a near-mint Ortgies pistol in original box with cleaning rod and original manual, the first such example we've encountered or offered. Original blue rates around 99% with almost zero wear, though there are a few small areas on each side of the pistol with freckling. Excellent bore and an original magazine.  The grips are also original but have been embellished on each side by a previous owner.  The box has some repairs done by tape but is in good shape overall and still has its structural integrity.  The pistol has a Germany export mark and the manual is in english, so this would indicate it was intended for sale in the US.  

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These pistols were produced in 6.35 mm, 7.65 mm, and 9 mm Kurz variants, and this one is the 7.65mm variant. Although not expensive, at the time it was of advanced design and high quality construction with relatively few parts, well sealed against dirt. Metal components were forged or machined, and assembly in general made no use of screws, even securing the wooden grips with metal clips, although some examples do incorporate a single screw for that purpose. The hammerless action depended on a spring-loaded striker to fire the cartridge. As in early Colt and Browning pocket pistols, the Ortgies striker also operated as an ejector as the slide traveled backwards after discharge. Unusual design features included the safety and the magazine. The safety was a lever inset into the back of the grip and, with the gun cocked, forced backward out of the grip into the "safe" position by spring tension from the firing pin upon depression of a button under the slide. Thus, engaging the safety simultaneously reduced tension on the firing pin spring. To disengage the safety, a shooter simply would squeeze the grip, pressing the lever forward and locking it flush with the back of the frame.