Horst Held   =   Antique Handguns

  e-mail   held@ectisp.net
phone  972-775-8704           fax  972-775-3553
541 Lynnie Pennie Lane              Midlothian, Texas 76065

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Dreyse pistols and revolvers
the measurements are in Rheinische Zoll (= Prussian, German Inches) which about 10% bigger than English Inches

 

army revolver, please see page "Reichsrevolver"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DC = DREYSE & COLLENBUSCH, circa 1850's made needle fire pistol marked DC and the Prussian eagle on the breech of the 7¾" barrel. Serial # 359 on breech and under the right side lever, that one can swing around 180 degrees. Cal. .58 smooth bore. Double or set triggers. Fully stocked with varnished walnut, and grips is checkered with a for the time typical flared grip. This is one of Dreyse’s many tries to sell besides his successful rifle also handguns to the Prussian army.
Extremely rare pistol in excellent condition     $4,500.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

F. v. DREYSE
SÖMMERDA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dreyse target pistol, serial # 31943, cal. .22, 6¾" octagonal barrel with dovetail front sight, set trigger, more than 90% bright blue on barrel,
frame kept in the white,
flared and crisp checkered grip, made before 1896 because no mandatory proof stamp, high quality pistol in excellent condition.     $1,500.

 

 

 

   ◄  closed

 

  open for loading

 

 

 

 

  Cal. 0,34
  6 Gran Pulver

 

 

 

Dreyse lady's rifle, serial # 3437, cal. circa .38 for a paper-needle-fire-cartridge, please see picture below.  14½" octagonal barrel with fixed front sight and adjustable rear sight,
numbered 37.
The metal parts are grayish, and it appears that those were not blued or  browned. The nice grained wood with cheek-piece and checkered. Overall length circa 31". Very good condition.    $2,250.

 

the next two pictures are only for information:

 

for comparison the lady's rifle and a Dreyse marked pistol from below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dreyse's Damengewehr = lady's rifle, Cal. 0,34 (Rheinische Zoll as common measurement at the time in Prussia) = 8.90mm, in U.S. circa .38, 6 Gran Powder.

 

 

in 1864 or later made weapons with v. DREYSE, who was knighted in 1864 and then signed v. DREYSE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

action closed

 

 

 

 

 

 

action open for loading

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

number 7163
M M proof,
normally used for Marine = Navy

 

 

 

 

Cal. 0,34"
6 Gran Pulver

 

 

 

 

 

N. Dreyse, Sömmerda,
1850's needle fire salon pistol, serial # 7163,
cal. 0.34 inches and "6 Gran Pulver",
6¾" octagonal barrel with front sight. One the barrel are proof stamps M M in gothic letters. Half-stocked with channeled grip, furniture typical vine engraved. After pushing part of the action backwards it is possible to lower the right hand side lever to open for loading. After closing and pushing the breech in position there is the holder of the needle looking out reminding of being loaded. With the pull of the trigger the needle hits the paper cartridge. Scarce pistol.
A similar pistol is pictured in Lugs' book Handfeuerwaffen, # 385.
Fine condition     $3,250.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting Pellet Cartridge  pistol probably German by Dreyse & Collenbusch; made according to the flared grip ~ 1840's Biedermaier-style. The 3½" octagonal Damascus barrel with four grove rifling in .28 caliber. Casehardened breech section with side lever opens the priming chamber and cocks the spring mounted firing pin. German silver furniture. Full walnut stock with checkered wrist and horn fore-cap. Right side of stock behind side lever fitted for uncommon hook safety. Length overall 10½". Left picture in carrying position, right picture in loading position, open on top for pellet Excellent condition, only ramrod missing. Butterfields 08/25/97, Lot 540        $3,375.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

serial # 2018 with barrel inscribed "Fabr. v. N. Dreyse."
= fabricated by Nicolaus Dreyse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Franz Dreyse, Sömmerda, 1860's Needle fire revolver, serial # 1695, cal. 0.35 Prussian inches and "12 Gran Pulv.". 4" barrel, about 70% bright blue remaining. Frame and trigger guard with typical fine vine engraving, checkered walnut grip. A good description of the type of revolver is in Muster’s Revolver Lexicon, item 51. Scarce in excellent  condition like this revolver   The revolver is one of the few still having the needle in place.    $5,250.  

early revolver with F. DREYSE, who was knighted in 1864 and then signed v. DREYSE.

 

 

 

serial # 2128, cal. 0.35 $5,000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dreyse.jpg (12474 bytes)

 

v. DREYSE, serial # 5232, probably the only known cased revolver

 

 

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