More elegant than Luger?

STEINBVG · 01-08-2021, 07:42 PM

Tried to search this forum for a reference to an obscure prototype by Silverman-Maxim 1896. It,s unobtainable. Only 3 I believe exist.
I,m in love with this pistol, I wish a reproduction was made.
The patent paperwork is available online.

The simplicity and the silhouette well ahead of it,s time.

I find it to be extremely modern and attractive pistol.

Just wanted to share.

gunnertwo · 01-08-2021, 07:47 PM

You could always buy a Japanese Type 14 or the Ruger Mk4...

:-)

G2

spangy · 01-08-2021, 08:42 PM

You could have grabbed one in 2014 for the low low price of $37,500.00 STEINBVG.

A very beautiful gun ... def ahead of its time.
But more elegant than Luger ?? NO
https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/...ntoryid=413879

Reminds me of animal tranquilizer pistols
https://i.imgur.com/a2e1k0J.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/B6kLall.jpg

DonVoigt · 01-08-2021, 08:51 PM

Not to me. JMHO.

gunbugs · 01-08-2021, 10:10 PM

The lines are along the same as the Kimball 30 carbine pistol.

HerrKaiser · 01-08-2021, 11:29 PM

IMO the original, dished toggled Lugers are the height of firearm elegance.

A nod must be made here to S&W model 10 (and similar Colt revolvers) from me.

MikeP · 01-08-2021, 11:57 PM

You sure picked the wrong bunch to run this by,
Epic faux pas.

Doubs · 01-09-2021, 02:10 AM

Just my opinion but compared to a 1906 Luger, that is one ugly duckling without hope of ever being a swan.

STEINBVG · 01-09-2021, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunbugs

The lines are along the same as the Kimball 30 carbine pistol.

Or many other target pistols to follow...

STEINBVG · 01-09-2021, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeP

You sure picked the wrong bunch to run this by,
Epic fax pas.

Agree...my bad.

STEINBVG · 01-09-2021, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doubs

Just my opinion but compared to a 1906 Luger, that is one ugly duckling without hope of ever being a swan.

Luger pistol had a chance and an ugly duckling for a father...
I wish Silverman in the shadow of Maxim had a similar chance to refine his creation and who knows...

Kiwi · 01-09-2021, 08:40 AM

Minimalist does not always equal elegance

But we are entitled to our opinion
I prefer Luger

sheepherder · 01-09-2021, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STEINBVG

Luger pistol had a chance and an ugly duckling for a father...

Excuse me??? The C93 Borchardt was and still is one of the most captivating of all automatic pistols.

Put the C93 at one end of a table and a P08 at the other, and which do you think will receive the most attention? The Borchardt was a ground breaking design with a powerful cartridge that in itself was a giant step forward.

STEINBVG · 01-09-2021, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepherder

Excuse me??? The C93 Borchardt was and still is one of the most captivating of all automatic pistols.

Put the C93 at one end of a table and a P08 at the other, and which do you think will receive the most attention? The Borchardt was a ground breaking design with a powerful cartridge that in itself was a giant step forward.

No arguments on those points.

I personally find bulky Borchard or C96 to be extremely attractive and sticking out of the line of an average silhouettes of modern handguns.

But despite the innovations and some commercial success, wasn,t Borchardt,s bulkiness and awkwardness a reason that it was transformed into much more comfortable , proportionate and aesthetically pleasing and beloved by millions Luger?

I merely point out aesthetics...not popularity. Although Luger has scored on both.

And yes, some will find Silverman unattractive , but hell if it doesn,t stick out of line of early self loading pistols.

I,m also a big fun of Scwarzlose pistols, very impressive engineering and I guess to a lesser degree aesthetics- but again it,s arguable.

Heinz · 01-09-2021, 11:36 AM

You might look into the National Automatic Pistol Collectors Association. They have an online presence, it may be members only, but if you have wide ranging interest in automatic pistols it is a good source and some folks there are into those ugly off brands like Mannlicher and Mauser

http://www.napca.net

wlyon · 01-09-2021, 12:05 PM

Diverse tastes is what makes life interesting.

Roadster 02 · 01-09-2021, 04:20 PM

Attractive = Colt Python, Anaconda, SW 29, P04 in that order. IMHO

Heinz · 01-09-2021, 06:59 PM

You missed the Sauer 1913 and 38H , and the Browning 1910, ...and the whole Smith and Wesson K frame series prior to the new bluing.
And I think you have the order wrong
I guess Bill Lyon was right. :-)

STEINBVG · 01-10-2021, 05:52 PM

You might recognize this good looking and mechanically different handgun more than likely influenced by Luger aesthetics and ergonomics.

Does anybody possess it?

Heinz · 01-10-2021, 06:51 PM

I do not but you will find lots of Lahti's here. Simpson Ltd currently has several for sale

01-08-2021, 07:42 PM	#1
STEINBVG User Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: NEW JERSEY Posts: 143 Thanks: 117 Thanked 176 Times in 70 Posts	More elegant than Luger? Tried to search this forum for a reference to an obscure prototype by Silverman-Maxim 1896. It,s unobtainable. Only 3 I believe exist. I,m in love with this pistol, I wish a reproduction was made. The patent paperwork is available online. The simplicity and the silhouette well ahead of it,s time. I find it to be extremely modern and attractive pistol. Just wanted to share. Attached Thumbnails

01-08-2021, 08:42 PM	#3
spangy Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 607 Thanks: 2,984 Thanked 1,047 Times in 422 Posts	You could have grabbed one in 2014 for the low low price of $37,500.00 STEINBVG. A very beautiful gun ... def ahead of its time. But more elegant than Luger ?? NO https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/...ntoryid=413879 Reminds me of animal tranquilizer pistols https://i.imgur.com/a2e1k0J.jpg https://i.imgur.com/B6kLall.jpg __________________ Whoever said that "money can't buy you happiness" never bought a Luger. WTB - Take Down Lever & Trigger Plate (#90) for an Imperial Artillery.

01-08-2021, 08:51 PM	#4
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,677 Thanks: 1,439 Thanked 4,347 Times in 2,038 Posts	Not to me. JMHO. __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

01-08-2021, 11:29 PM	#6
HerrKaiser User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: South Carolina Posts: 800 Thanks: 750 Thanked 793 Times in 376 Posts	IMO the original, dished toggled Lugers are the height of firearm elegance. A nod must be made here to S&W model 10 (and similar Colt revolvers) from me. __________________ -QM Looking for Mauser S/42 toggle train #22

01-08-2021, 11:57 PM	#7
MikeP User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: ILL Posts: 686 Thanks: 36 Thanked 452 Times in 198 Posts	You sure picked the wrong bunch to run this by, Epic faux pas. Last edited by MikeP; 01-09-2021 at 01:59 PM. Reason: sp

01-08-2021, 07:47 PM	#2
gunnertwo User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Nampa, Idaho Posts: 605 Thanks: 803 Thanked 909 Times in 351 Posts	You could always buy a Japanese Type 14 or the Ruger Mk4... :-) G2

01-08-2021, 10:10 PM	#5
gunbugs Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska. Home of the best moose. Posts: 635 Thanks: 335 Thanked 1,139 Times in 377 Posts	The lines are along the same as the Kimball 30 carbine pistol.

01-09-2021, 02:10 AM	#8
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,670 Thanks: 769 Thanked 1,611 Times in 525 Posts	Just my opinion but compared to a 1906 Luger, that is one ugly duckling without hope of ever being a swan.

01-09-2021, 08:40 AM	#12
Kiwi User Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Wrong side of the Delaware river Posts: 291 Thanks: 199 Thanked 413 Times in 162 Posts	Minimalist does not always equal elegance But we are entitled to our opinion I prefer Luger

01-09-2021, 11:36 AM	#15
Heinz User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Greenville SC Posts: 1,004 Thanks: 377 Thanked 410 Times in 180 Posts	You might look into the National Automatic Pistol Collectors Association. They have an online presence, it may be members only, but if you have wide ranging interest in automatic pistols it is a good source and some folks there are into those ugly off brands like Mannlicher and Mauser http://www.napca.net

01-09-2021, 12:05 PM	#16
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,614 Thanks: 3,140 Thanked 2,519 Times in 939 Posts	Diverse tastes is what makes life interesting. __________________ Bill Lyon

01-09-2021, 04:20 PM	#17
Roadster 02 User Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Rocky Mountain High Posts: 298 Thanks: 163 Thanked 230 Times in 78 Posts	Attractive = Colt Python, Anaconda, SW 29, P04 in that order. IMHO

01-09-2021, 06:59 PM	#18
Heinz User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Greenville SC Posts: 1,004 Thanks: 377 Thanked 410 Times in 180 Posts	You missed the Sauer 1913 and 38H , and the Browning 1910, ...and the whole Smith and Wesson K frame series prior to the new bluing. And I think you have the order wrong I guess Bill Lyon was right. :-)

01-10-2021, 05:52 PM	#19
STEINBVG User Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: NEW JERSEY Posts: 143 Thanks: 117 Thanked 176 Times in 70 Posts	I thought it was a Luger...mistake You might recognize this good looking and mechanically different handgun more than likely influenced by Luger aesthetics and ergonomics. Does anybody possess it? Attached Thumbnails

01-10-2021, 06:51 PM	#20
Heinz User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Greenville SC Posts: 1,004 Thanks: 377 Thanked 410 Times in 180 Posts	I do not but you will find lots of Lahti's here. Simpson Ltd currently has several for sale