Only 10 specimens were manufactured of this Austro-Hungarian experimental pistol in 1896/97 for the second troop trial with selfloading pistols in history. It took place in 1898 in Austria - Hungary. There is only one other specimen known to be in existence worldwide, and this was sold in the USA in 2013 for almost US-$ 30,000. Archaic locking system with long recoil, double action trigger, magazine for 10 rounds, to be loaded by stripper clips. Total length 265 mm, barrel length 170 mm, chequered dark walnut grip panels. Blued finish of housing, lock plate, barrel sleeve and nut. Condition is very good except a spot on rhs of housing and little spotting on the white small parts. A special feature of this specimen is a gold inlaid king's crown with monogram "CC" on top of the housing where usually the serial number is located. In all likelihood this pistol was a representative gift for the Danish Crown Prince Christian Carl (Christian Carl Frederik Albert Alexander Vilhelm; *26. September 1870 +20. April 1947), who became King Christian X of Denmark in 1912). According to the consigner, this weapon was in the hands of the Serbian Royal Family before WWI, as the Serbian Royal Family is distantly related to the Danish Royal Family. However, it is unlikely this weapon was originally made as a gift, and more likely that it originated from a specimen which was returned to the company after the 1898 troop trials. This is opposed to the Roth-Theodorovic pistols from the 1895/96 troop trials which were retained by the military. It most likely was manufactured not outside the serial range of the 10 troop trial pistols. When this pistol was converted to a gift it was re-finished and engraved on the top, where one would usually find the serial number, with the gold-inlaid monogram “CC” adorned with the Danish crown. Likewise, the fact that the blank parts of the action were circle-polished as high-quality components points towards this special refurbishment, especially as this is not a feature one would usually find on Roth-Theodorovic pistols. Roth-pistols were tested in various European countries like Germany, Great Britain, Norway or Portugal. As one of the largest ammunition factories of the pre WWI period Roth exported military cartridges to a lot of countries in the world, e.g. 8 x 58 R Remington rounds to Denmark. See MÖTZ/SCHUY, Ursprung der Selbstladepistole pp 443. This gun is an extremely rare item of European selfloading pistol development history. No proof marks, Condition I-II.

Category: Pistols