This baby pistol is cute!
 

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=274996464

Could you tell me what's fair market value for this one? "2009 Standard Catalog of Firearms" says around $400....... what's the typical cost though?

In that condtion (excellent for a Mann), the catalog price is about right, and perhaps even conservative. I think the $700 starting price is high, but I won't be surprised if it sells at that. These little Mann pistols are relatively scarce.

Pistols Of The World says the 6.35mm version was manufactured from 1920 to 1924...(Contrary to the seller)...

1.65" barrel; 5 shot mag; 9 oz total...

It doesn't seem to have any sights...I wonder why???... :p

Rich....there's an ever rarer National Match version with a 800 yard graduated sight...............................:evilgrin:

It has sights. Front sight is so small, hard to see in pix #13, but it's there. Rear notch is that long slot on top of the receiver. I guess the effective range is about 5 yards.

It looks like a little fish for some reason :roflmao:

I have a strange fascination to buy it and put it in a fish tank.

http://i42.tinypic.com/8ximfn.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/29mk303.jpg

Don't ask, I have no idea why this gun looks like that fish, but it does.

ha ha, I lol'd - having a pet is a big responsibility

It could be a deadly little fish if not handled properly.
:evilgrin:

Very interesting gun. Have never seen one in person.
Whenever I see a unusual gun like this,I always wonder how it breaks down for cleaning or repair.That gear like knurling on the tip of the barrel bespokes a tricky procedure.
Definitely a pocket pistol with only a sighting channel.
Fun stuff.
Alvin, you need it!
Bob

I definitely love this baby gun. If it were not because I just impulsively bought another vL&D Large Ring C96 a few days ago, I would bid on this one. Whenever I saw those nice Large Rings, I lost control on myself. Probably paid $300 above its book value,,,, but it's done then it's done. Have to take a break.

There was an article "The Mann Pistol" published by J. B. Wood on Gun Collector's Digest 5th Ed.

He saw serial number postfix "-20", "-21", and "-2" (probably 1920, 21, and 22). And highest serial number observed was 25897-2. So he estimated around 26,000 were made in three years, and the production stopped in 1922 due to Walther Model 9, which was introduced in 1921, was a superior vest pistol and it's hard for Mann to compete.

I think it is one of the most interesting pocket pistol designs ever put for production.
And I like the one showed on the link. Go after it, Alvin!!!

Doug, current gun market is pretty much a deadlock. Seller is unwilling to lower the asking price, and buyer is unwilling to pay more. As a collector, I play both buyer and seller. I could not lower my asking price either, because everyone else does not. Without selling, I don't have the $$ to buy (I mean ... that's in general theory, not really for this particular instance).

I have been looking for a FN 1905 in poor condition for long long time. I just need its sear spring because the spring on my gun was broken during shooting. There are many FN 1905 in the market, but it's so hard to find a cheap FN 1905. It's not an expensive pistol, very nice original one is for sell around $300. I suppose one in poor shape should be dirt cheap, right? No! no matter it's covered with rust, pits, or it's reblued gun, everyone asks $200-$250..... not including shipping.

Deadlock.

Alvin, there's something strangely alluring about that pistol. I know what you mean about the prices, though I'm more a buyer rather than seller.

Alvin, Over on Jan Still's forum there is a thread on these and observed numbers. I think Wood's highest observed number is now not the highest I have the article by Wood, it's interesting.

Dave

I have noticed the same thing. I found a severly beat up and pitted Mauser 1914 in a local ad the other day, and was hoping to get it at a decent price as a parts donor for other projects. Heck, no. The guy was dead set on getting $300 for it ("That's what they go for on Gunbroker"... Ever heard that one?), so I just had to wish him good luck. Trading seems to be the only way to get any fair deals right now, no money changing hands and nobody gets their little feelings hurt.