[George]

Dear Friends:

A local gun shop has a Stenda for sale. He is asking $125.00 but room to negotiate he said. I did read Jan Stills posting on BEHOLLA’S AND A MENTA.

Serial number is #61232 and is in very nice shape. I did not note all the marking because at the time I was not interested in the pistol. I believe it is a commercial model. Magazine appears to be original to the pistol. It also has a light brown holster. The leather holster is made from very thin leather and has some brown scrolling around the edges. The guy said that the gun came in with the holster and looks original to gun.

For $100.00 I am temped to purchase this pistol. At first glance I thought it was rather ugly pistol. After researching the pistol it is growing on me and feel it would be a nice pistol to own.

Could someone please advise pricing on this model and when based on serial number when manufactured. Any information on this Stenda would be most appreciated.

George

 

[jacobtowne]

I think that all Stendas are commercial. They ceased production about 1926, about SN70,000. There's a post at gunboards.com, the Military Handgun Forum, that has some background info. on the pistol.

I'd buy any old pistol for $100 provided it's complete and in working condition.

There's also a Forum below that specializes in Imperial German handguns.
JT

 

[Greg G]

I'm with JT. A good condition pistol, in good working order, with a correct magazine and a holster for $100? How can you get hurt? Of course, I would pay $1 to watch two flys fornicate so I may not be a good judge of value.

 

[r_t_darc]

I'd be sure to get the gun at this pricepoint.
I already have a Beholla, but am intrigued by
the Stenda's improved slide takedown system.
Just my twopence worth...

Rich

 

[George]

Dear Friends:

The seller agreed on a price, $115.00 with includes New York sales tax. He will put the gun and holster aside for me until I make the hike to his shop.

Can anyone provide with a site as to where I can view a Stenda besides the one I am purchasing. The Stenda does not have a hole in the side of the receiver and for the life of me I can not remember what is there to field strip the pistol.

Any pictures and all pictures would be most appreciated.

Regards,

George

 

[George]

I put a deposit on the Stenda this afternoon and filled out the New York paperwork. I took some pictures at the gun shop. I went back and fourth weather to purchase it cause I noticed the left grip appears to an aftermarket and the right side has a slight crack from over tightening the grip screw. Overall it looks in nice shape for a pistol that's 80+ years old.

I was surprised that the magazine has no marking. I also noticed that there are no markings on either side of the slide! I thought this was rather strange. This pistol has me second guessing as to weather I should have purchased it. I just I put myself in this position when I decided to purchase something that I have no knowledge of! What the heck, how bad can I get burnt for $125.00!

Would truly appreciate you input on this pistol.

Regards,

George


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[jacobtowne]

From what little I know about Stendas, I'd say it was definitely post war, since it has the improved takedown mechanism.
JT

 

[George]

Dear Friends:

I would like to see if someone could lend a helping hand. I fired my Stenda for the first time a week or so ago. Pulled the slide and dropped it on a full magazine. Pulled the trigger and bang everything worked fine. It ejected the spent case.

However, I could not fire a second round! I pulled the trigger and is moved but nothing there. I field striped the gun and put it all back together again it just fired once and would not fire a second round.

I suspect the that the firing pin spring may be he problem but not sure! Would really appreciate if anyone has experienced this problem with their STENDA, BEHOLLA & MENTA!

Regards,

George

 

[augie]

Do you realize all the fun you're having with this gun that you got for a pittance? I leave bigger tips than you paid. Enjoy and Happy New Year.

Augie

 

[George]

Dear Augie:

This little gun with holster is very nice and price was reasonable. The fact that will only fire one shot really does not have me too excited, yet I would like to make it right.

Regards,

George

 

[Jack Lawman]

quote:Originally posted by George


I could not fire a second round! I pulled the trigger and is moved but nothing there.

George,
Never saw one of these guns before, but I love to play garage gunsmith.

Does this pistol have a hammer to strike the firing with (as opposed to a spring striker a la Glock)?

I'm guessing it has a hammer. When the trigger is moved on the second shot, do you hear or feel anything indicating a hammer drop?

When you carefully (live round in the chamber) disassemble after the first round, try to diagnose the condition of the hammer. Is it cocked or does it ride back down without being locked back by the sear? Based on your description, it sounds like a trigger/sear/disconnect/hammer problem.

There are two distinct operations at play here... one works, the other doesn't. Firstly, when you operate the slide by hand to chamber the first round, your finger is off of the trigger, and everything works as it should.

Secondly, after firing the first round, recoil blows the slide back, your finger is still depressing the trigger from the first shot , a second round chambers, but the firing mechanism does not reset properly. I'm going to guess that the finger on the trigger is causing the problem. Your problem could be that whatever design feature your pistol has to let the hammer reset with a depressed trigger is not working.

Or your problem could be any of a dozen other things.

Most firing pin springs I have seen push the pin back away from the primer to ensure a strike on the primer only when the hammer drops onto the rear of the pin. These springs can get gerfucked (that's a German word I think) and impede the forward movement of the firing pin, but not likely in such a way that it would be OK on the first round and bad on the second.

On many pistols, you are able to set and drop the hammer manually with the slide removed. Maybe you can try that with the trigger in various degrees of depression. Just make sure not to let the hammer slam home onto the frame... cushion its fall with your thumb or a rag.

Having never seen a Stenda, this post may be completely irrelevant, but I hope it helps in some way. But be warned, garage gunsmithing is dangerous business. This information is posted for informational purposes only, regardless of how informative or uninformative you may find it. To be absolutely safe, use a certified gunsmith... or better yet... never pick up another gun as long as you live!

Jack