Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! The Bittner repeating pistol represented one of the last manually operated magazine-fed handguns before semi-automatics took over in the late 19th century. Designed by Gustav Bittner and entering production around 1896, the Bittner was a beautifully crafted, lever-action five-shot using a Mannlicher-style clip. Its 7.7mm rimmed cartridge, likely inspired by the .320 revolver round, gave it better ballistics than most period pocket pistols. Bittner incorporated a flat spring in the magazine housing to feed cartridges upwards into the rotating bolt. The action cycled via a ring lever below the trigger guard. Estimates suggest some 2,000 to 3,000 Bittners were manufactured through 1897-1898. While the limited, proprietary ammunition doomed its longevity, the Bittner’s high-end workmanship and clever mechanics make it exceptionally valued today. As semi-autos emerged, the Bittner repeating pistol faded rapidly into history.
“Manufactured c.1896-1898. No visible proof stamps or dates.
Manufacturer: Bittner Gustav
Model: Repeating
Type: Pistol
Gauge: 7.7 mm
Barrel: 6 inch octagon
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grip: walnut”
Lot 4209: Bittner Repeating Pistol – Scarce Bittner Repeating Pistol. (n.d.-bh). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved December 3, 2023, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1034/4209/bittner-repeating-pistol.
POTD: The Last of The Manual Repeaters – The Bittner Repeating Pistol
