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TWO BEHOLLA’S AND A MENTA, SUPPLEMENTARY ARMY PISTOLS
Manufacture of the Beholla started in 1915 at Becker and Hollander in Suhl, Germany. 22 are reported in the 5 to 43853 serial range and almost all bear a German military acceptance stamp. Some in the later serial range bear a trigger guard eagle ( termed Prussian Eagle). About 45,000 were manufactured for the wartime German Army.
BEHOLLA SERIAL NUMBERS AND DESCRIPTIONS (Military stamped unless noted otherwise)
5 (no military stamp)
360
774
2096, (groved wood grips)
4074
5492
5494
7689, (plastic grips)
14849
15401
16064
16461(trigger guard eagle)
19597
22718 (trigger guard eagle)
23756 (trigger guard eagle)(groved wood grips)
25545 (trigger guard eagle)
27293 (trigger guard eagle)
27397
27858 (trigger guard eagle)
29507 (groved wood grips)(trigger guard eagle)
30003
30019 (trigger guard eagle)(groved wood grips)
36767(trigger guard eagle)
37310 (trigger guard eagle)
40094 (trigger guard eagle)(checkered wood grips)
43853(no military stamp)
The Menta is basically the same pistol as the Beholla except that it was manufactured by August Menz in Suhl, Germany. Only 4 are reported in the 1432 to 10638 serial range. Only three of these, sn 9566 (plastic grips), 10567(plastic grips) and 10638, bear the German military acceptance stamp. (This same pistol was also manufactured as the Leonhardt and Stenda)
Both the Beholla and Menta are listed in the August 8, 1917 dated list of pistols offered for sale by the Prussian Army Arsenal to officers. (Still Volume I, page 127) The Beholla is listed at 41 marks and the Menta at 35 marks.
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MENTABEHOLLAa1.jpg
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Figure 1. Top to bottom: Beholla, serial number 7689; Beholla, serial number 40094; and Menta, serial number 10567. All three bear the C/D German Army acceptance stamp. In addition, the Beholla in the middle bears a Prussian Eagle on the front trigger guard.
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MENTABEHOLLAa2.jpg
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Figure 2. Beholla, serial number 7689. Left side. It bears an Imperial Army C/D on the left frame; and a commercial C/N on the left frame, left slide and left barrel.
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MENTABEHOLLAa3.jpg
33.6 KB
Figure 3. Beholla, serial number 7689. Right side, showing the manufacturer name, Becker & Hollander.
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MENTABEHOLLAa4.jpg
42.77 KB
Figure 4. Beholla, serial number 7689. Left side, markings details.
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MENTABEHOLLAa5.jpg
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Figure 5. Beholla, serial number 7689. Showing inside of matching horn grips.
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MENTABEHOLLAa6.jpg
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Figure 6. Beholla, serial number 7689, with Imperial military holster and extra magazine.
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MENTABEHOLLAa7.jpg
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Figure 7. Beholla, serial number 7689, with open Imperial military holster.
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MENTABEHOLLAa8.jpg
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Figure 8. Holster manufacturing hallmark, 1917 date, and Imperial B.A. XII (12 th Army Corps) 18, stamp.
Manufacture of the Beholla started in 1915 at Becker and Hollander in Suhl, Germany. 22 are reported in the 5 to 43853 serial range and almost all bear a German military acceptance stamp. Some in the later serial range bear a trigger guard eagle ( termed Prussian Eagle). About 45,000 were manufactured for the wartime German Army.
BEHOLLA SERIAL NUMBERS AND DESCRIPTIONS (Military stamped unless noted otherwise)
5 (no military stamp)
360
774
2096, (groved wood grips)
4074
5492
5494
7689, (plastic grips)
14849
15401
16064
16461(trigger guard eagle)
19597
22718 (trigger guard eagle)
23756 (trigger guard eagle)(groved wood grips)
25545 (trigger guard eagle)
27293 (trigger guard eagle)
27397
27858 (trigger guard eagle)
29507 (groved wood grips)(trigger guard eagle)
30003
30019 (trigger guard eagle)(groved wood grips)
36767(trigger guard eagle)
37310 (trigger guard eagle)
40094 (trigger guard eagle)(checkered wood grips)
43853(no military stamp)
The Menta is basically the same pistol as the Beholla except that it was manufactured by August Menz in Suhl, Germany. Only 4 are reported in the 1432 to 10638 serial range. Only three of these, sn 9566 (plastic grips), 10567(plastic grips) and 10638, bear the German military acceptance stamp. (This same pistol was also manufactured as the Leonhardt and Stenda)
Both the Beholla and Menta are listed in the August 8, 1917 dated list of pistols offered for sale by the Prussian Army Arsenal to officers. (Still Volume I, page 127) The Beholla is listed at 41 marks and the Menta at 35 marks.
Download Attachment:

55.65 KB
Figure 1. Top to bottom: Beholla, serial number 7689; Beholla, serial number 40094; and Menta, serial number 10567. All three bear the C/D German Army acceptance stamp. In addition, the Beholla in the middle bears a Prussian Eagle on the front trigger guard.
Download Attachment:

33.16 KB
Figure 2. Beholla, serial number 7689. Left side. It bears an Imperial Army C/D on the left frame; and a commercial C/N on the left frame, left slide and left barrel.
Download Attachment:

33.6 KB
Figure 3. Beholla, serial number 7689. Right side, showing the manufacturer name, Becker & Hollander.
Download Attachment:

42.77 KB
Figure 4. Beholla, serial number 7689. Left side, markings details.
Download Attachment:

53.69 KB
Figure 5. Beholla, serial number 7689. Showing inside of matching horn grips.
Download Attachment:

53.86 KB
Figure 6. Beholla, serial number 7689, with Imperial military holster and extra magazine.
Download Attachment:

46.39 KB
Figure 7. Beholla, serial number 7689, with open Imperial military holster.
Download Attachment:

47.42 KB
Figure 8. Holster manufacturing hallmark, 1917 date, and Imperial B.A. XII (12 th Army Corps) 18, stamp.