Bergmann-Bayard 1910/21 done!
 

Just purchased this little gem:
http://i52.tinypic.com/2n06h6x.jpg
http://i52.tinypic.com/4tq4ut.jpg
http://i56.tinypic.com/2whjvq0.jpg
http://i56.tinypic.com/2nb6q1z.jpg
http://i53.tinypic.com/50r58x.jpg
http://i52.tinypic.com/98c2di.jpg
http://i54.tinypic.com/20rmfrs.jpg
http://i52.tinypic.com/2unxbb9.jpg
It's in very good condition mechanically (even the bore looks great), so I'm tinkering with the idea of stripping the nickel plating and restore it to factory original. However, the firing pin and its retaining pin have been replaced with parts that don't look original, possibly made by a gunsmith who didn't really know what they were supposed to look like.

After studying pictures and measuring the "home made" parts I have a pretty good idea of the dimensions and appearance, so I have already made a retaining pin that's "close enough" for display purposes. I would still like to make parts exactly like original, so I would like to know if anybody here has a similar pistol and can measure these parts for me.

Any info on the actual dimensions will be greatly appreciated!

...and here's what it looks like this afternoon. It took some work, research and a few hours on the lathe to get it fixed up, but I'm pretty happy with it. :)

WOW.....very nice

Outstanding!!! :thumbup:

Did you get the measurements you needed???

What cartridge does it shoot??? And what was the change from '1910' to '1910/21'???

That is a great looking piece. You do fantastic work.

Neil

You truly do EXCELLENT work!! That is most impressive. Thank you for the "after" photos.

The caliber is 9mm Bermann, but I believe that it will interchange with 9mm Largo. Not sure that I will ever shoot it, but ammo is available.

I got some dimensions from a Danish collector, but he only had a broken pin to measure so some dimensions were missing. I made a few brass prototypes, and when I had one I believed in I made one of steel. Then I found another Bergmann collector in TX, and he arranged for a gunsmith to make another pin and a locking pin, using original parts as a template. The locking pin in it now is one I made, using the pin from TX as a template but with a slightly different design. I also had to make the brass escutcheons and the grip screw, as the old parts wouldn't fit the repro grips. In other words, it was a long journey to get it right. :)

Olle,

A first rate job!!

Mike:rockon:

Awesome !!!
Thanks for sharing
What method did you use for the plating removal?
Bill

One of the best I have ever seen.
Thanks George

Lovely job. I would put that in my gun case in a heartbeat. You are a craftsman. Thank you for rescuing an otherwise sorry relic. Well done, Sir!

I use Caswell's nickel stripper. It's quick and safe, takes all the plating off and I have never seen it even touch the steel underneath.

Forgot to reply to Postinos question about the model change, and the easiest way to answer that is ro refer to Ed Buffaloes write-up: http://unblinkingeye.com/Guns/Berg/berg.html

If I understand things correctly, the 1910s already in use were also converted to the 1910/21 configuration so finding an intact 1910 would probably be pretty difficult.

Olie,
Found it
http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/metalx.html
Thanks !!!
Bill

Yep, B-9 is the one I use. The instructions say that you should heat it, but I get just as good results by degreasing thoroughly and leaving in cold solution overnight. Wire brush, rinse and repeat and that takes care of it. I know that some people are worried about etching, but I have never had a problem with that. As a matter of fact, when I stripped this one I found several areas that still looked plated so I soaked it again. It still wouldn't come off, but after wiping it with cold blue I realized that it was the polished steel under the nickel, still with a bright shine to it despite being soaked for two days. In other words: I'm not worried about etching at all.

Great job!
It is great to see such work on otherwise lost guns.
Congratulations!
Douglas

Nice surprise, coming to the bottom, "after" pic! Sweet work, indeed. Thx for sharing.

David Parker