Very Odd Borchardt...

[Ron Wood]

Dave,

The stock was fabricated to look like a "normal" stock but was never intended to be grasped by the shooting hand at the wrist because, as you have noted, you would not be able to reach the trigger (unless you were ET!). Its length certainly suggests that it was designed to provide a "straight arm" hold.

The Borchardt was a locked toggle action. However, it did employ a toggle lock which, like the 1900 Model Luger, was superfluous since the middle axle was below the other two. It required a roller at the back of the rear toggle link to cam the toggle joint upward during recoil and unlock the action.

Even though Sam Cody exploited the showmanship and style of Bill Cody, his Borchardt is none the less historically significant, and pictures of this gun have appeared in gun references on several occasions over the years. Sad that it has been deactivated, but even at roughly $10,500 it belongs in an advanced collection.