A RARE 7.8MM (BERGMANN) BERGMANN NO. 5/1897 SELF-LOADING PISTOL, NO. 396, WITH SHOULDER STOCK NO. 534 with blued round barrel fitted with blued block-mounted pyramidal blade fore-sight, the slide stamped 'Pistolet Bergmann / Patent Brevete S.G.D.G.', frame with blued adjustable open-sights from '100' to '1000' metres, side-safety, associated box magazine (not numbered, probably later, top clip chipped and detached) with circular inspection ports corresponding to its housing, and chequered hard-rubber grips with Bergmann gothic 'B' on each face, with associated leather shoulder-stock holster serial numbered 534, with side pouch and suspension strap, and with some original finish throughout 7.7 cm; 3 in barrel (2) The Bergman model 1897 underwent trials by both the Swiss and British military before being ultimately rejected. The British rejected it as they were looking for a 11mm calibre weapon. Around 800 pistols of this type are believed to have been made most of which went to commercial customers. See Ezell 1981 p. 369.