[Patronen]

Anyone seen seen any other3A's with clips like this one? Can't make out s#. German site. Sale ongoing right now.

It looks like someone just stuck that Walther looking mag in the gun. It doesn't look to be secured.

 

[Humble Pie]

Matt, regarding Bergmann serial numbers - many of the Bergmann guns had no serial numbers visible from the outside of the gun when assembled. In fact, I would say this is almost the norm for the Bergmanns, the only exceptions I have observed being Model 3A No. 82, whose serial number is located "a la Lignose", and the later ones beginning with Model 2 No. 3139. I have not seen external slide serial numbers on Bergmann vest pockets between those two guns.

For most Bergmann Models 2 and 3 the only way to ascertain the serial without stripping the gun is to remove the magazine and look inside the well where the frame number is located (at the bottom on the right side). For the Models 2A and 3A it may also be possible to get the serial from the backside of the cocking piece (early Lignoses have the full number marked there - not having examined a Bergmann 2A or 3A I don't know if this was the case for them as well).

 

[Matthewlux]

S# 35661 verified with owner. A 2 model on Armslist. Ask price 375.

http://www.armslist.com/posts/15500...gham-alabama-handguns-for-sale--ww2-bring-back-lignose--25-cal-semi-auto-pistol

 

[Matthewlux]

Lignose 3 on egun.de. Rough shape #16848. Sold well short of 200 euros

 

[Matthewlux]

New 2 Lignose on GunBroker. SN 10873. Sold for right around $378. Looks like the slide may have been reblued but not the receiver

 

[Matthewlux]

#38404 3a, steel cocker for sale for $695

 

[Humble Pie]

Matt, thanks for all the contributions! I do appreciate them even though I haven't been keeping up with the thread as much as I used to.

 

[Matthewlux]

Parts kit available at site in pict including the impossible to find cocker. But not cheap. #42862. Steel cocker, either 2a or 3a not known

 

[lifesizepotato]

Wow, nice avatar, Matthew. Did you create it? Very appropriate. You do love these Lignoses, don't you?

 

[Matthewlux]

I just spent too much time scrubbing the ends of the Interwebs looking for Bergmanns and Lignoses and found this rendering. Seemed cool. And after looking at all these post I'm beginning to think I may be obsessive-compulsive! Luckily, I've reached the end it the Internet and it is just new listings here on out! Which is good- that should give Bob a chance to catch up!

 

[Matthewlux]

3A on GunBroker. 52555. Sold for $606. Obviously steel cocker at that late serial number. Looks to be in very good shape. It does bring up a question I have often wondered about. Why do some have very distinctive white lettering on the slide for the Lignose stamp and the serial number, and most do not? I realize some is wear based, but for instance looking at this gun, it is blazing white, including serial number, whereas compared to many other guns with 99% bluing that don't have the white. Why/what is this? What is the actual chemical process behind the white? Anyone?

 

[Humble Pie]

Matt, some collectors paint the markings for better visibility. The guns didn't come from the factory like that. I'm unsure of the exact composition of the paint, but some have suggested Wite-Out was used and there probably were other substances as well.

I've encountered some guns, probably from very old collections, with painted markings that simply would not clean out using any methods I was comfortable applying to a collectible firearm. For this reason (in addition to the fact that painted markings look obscenely ugly), I have come to deeply resent this practice. It's one thing to do it temporarily for a photo shoot so that the markings are visible for educational purposes in a book, etc., but in my opinion totally reprehensible to leave it on for long periods of time where it can harden and cure. I don't know what some of those old-timers used, but the damned stuff can be downright impossible to remove in a safe and gentle manner.

If you encounter a gun with such paint on it, and it doesn't come off with Hoppe's No. 9 and your standard plastic-bristled toothbrush, please leave it and don't risk hurting the finish on the gun. Perhaps other members have methods of removal they would like to share, but I cringe to think of anything more aggressive than the toothbrush.

 

[Matthewlux]

Rare Lignose in a box. 3A, sold on GunBroker for $756. #52656 Based on the notice, it looks as though this was originally imported into Canada. The back side is the original owner application from Karl Gustafson in 1946. Unfortunately no cool tins, manuals, cleaning rod, or cleaning supplies to ogle this time!

 

[Humble Pie]

That is a beauty, Matt. The new owner must be very proud; I know I would be if I had had the cash to bring it home. So rare to find one with the box.

What is the piece of paper in the lower left-hand corner of the first photo (says "NOTICE" at the top)?

 

[Matthewlux]

Bob- I just added/edited my old post rather than add another post.

Very interesting early Lignose 3a on eGun.de (8643) with Bergmann grips and what appears to have been a plated brass cocker that has lost most of the finish. Or is it a re-blue and someone tried to blue over the whole gun including the brass? Based on the number, most were all brass then. Very interested to see what people say about the finish.

 

[emount]

Bob (and friends),
Here is a Lignose 2a that I just recently picked up. Serial Number 45340. I have wanted one of these interesting little pistols for a long time. It appears to be correct and the price was reasonable.
Regards, Earl

 

[Humble Pie]

Very interesting 3A, Matt. Hard to say for sure about the blued finish. Regarding the unusually dark hue of the brass cocker, I believe it is simply heavily oxidized. I have seen other brass cockers that came close to this one in terms of color, though not quite this extreme.

Earl, that is a handsome 2A. I saw that one when it came up for sale and I'm glad you were the one who grabbed it. As you mentioned, the price wasn't completely insane, which is heartening given the bizarre and unpredictable behavior of bidders when these guns go up for auction. It is nice to be able to obtain one from a simple sale at a fair price.

On Gunbroker, I no longer find it possible to predict what one of these will bring even within a couple hundred dollars. The two desirable and all original late 3As that Matt posted above have sold recently at auction for what I consider to be less than value - no. 52656 with box and no. 52555. The box accompanying no. 52656 is extremely rare and though the gun has a little freckling it is very nice. No. 52555 is downright gorgeous (a 98% gun from what I can see in the photos) and I was bewildered to see it barely break $600. I can't figure this one out. Do many bidders see the correct and original late high-polish blue and think it is refinished?

On the other hand, I have seen obviously refinished 2As and 3As sell right up in the same price range and on more than one occasion for much more (a couple broke a thousand dollars). It is discouraging to see this kind of activity because it suggests that there are people out there who can't tell the difference between the good and the bad - but they have the money to outbid the ones who can.

 

[Matthewlux]

#23870, 3A in great shape, 95% blue cocker on egun.de. This same guy is selling a 3, 3A, and 2A. Can't make put the serial number on the 3, but it appears to be in the best shape I've seen on a 3. I emailed requesting number on the 3 but no reply. The 2A, blue cocker #29643, isn't in as good of shape. Only selling to those with German papers. The #23870 may be important as it looks to be on the transition from the brass/"nickel" and the blued cockers.

 

[Matthewlux]

Picked up this great holster and clip on eGun.de for my spare 3 that doesn't have a holster. Great find

 

[Humble Pie]

Matt, thanks for your continued contributions to the thread, they are always appreciated. I am preparing to make another significant update to the serial number list on page 1, with at least a half-dozen or so new entries.

Do I correctly interpret your post above to mean that you are a lucky Model 3 owner? Did you buy the one on Armslist with the smeared grip logos?