Schwarzlose 1898
 

Wanted to share my recent acquisition. An elusive unicorn of the early semiautomatics made by a perhaps underrated Prussian master. Out of ~ 30 pieces I have seen on the web - this one seems even more rare in its 8+1 capacity( normally 6+1). It,s also in excellent shape.

I think this is a very gracious and comfortable pistol, with many amazing and quite modern mechanical features like rotating locking bolt.

Here,s the video of a few shots I took( kept it too close- got hit by ejecting shell) and a detailed dive into it,s interesting mechanics

https://youtu.be/jOJOTT75gR4?si=kfTd-pJIbOzszTHr

https://youtu.be/IhELmRfT_Ds?si=3ZdfSGCYkwWENRNi
Thanks

I kinda like these... Ian McCollum did a piece on serial number one. He points out that there is a design foible that potentially risks the upper's coming back into the shooter's face.:eek: Be careful!

Beautiful gun STEINBVG :thumbup:
and nice pics too :cheers:

The slide rearward movement
 

Thanks. The same Ian says about the early Browning Colt pistol models.
However, Ian didn't have chance to explore the gun in details as I did. The Bolt /slide is stopped by the Hold open lever which goes against the bottom frame and against the massive base of that 'flimsy loop'. I showed it in a video.

That loop does not play major role in stopping the bolt. It guides the bolt and the striker.
The cross pin that holds the 'loop' is close to 10/24 bolt size. And I am sure is tempered.

Ian's gun is an earlier model, My gun is newer, has a bit different loop and striker, might be biffier?

I am pretty sure Schwarzlose was good enough to see the potential weaknesses in his constructions and take care of them appropriately. But definitely, the gun could have been refined if had a chance.

But yes, if I ever shoot it again, I will have a chain saw helmet/visor on me just in case

Thanks
 

Did you guys notice that the wooden grips have similar look as Borchardt's and early Borchard-Luger's?- with smooth defined edging around the checkering. I guess it was an expensive fad back then?

I do find technological advance fascinating, how when a technologies time has come people come up with different designs all over

With the pistol we have Mauser, Borchardt, Schwarzlose all in a similar timeframe
Ditto with the Automobile with inventors from Germany (Benz), United States, Canada (Chevrolet)
and the airplane with the Wright Bros in the US, and Pearse in New Zealand

For each there were many other inventors - I am just interested in the compressed timeframe,
Although there was quite a gap between Leonardo Da Vinci and Igor Sikorsky
Leo was hampered by lack of any appropriate engine