The collectors' gun market has undergone a revolution in recent decades that has profoundly changed its essence. Whereas until a few decades ago the only, so to speak, "modern" firearms that were offered to collectors were Luger and early Mauser pistols, and English and Ferlach fine rifles/shotguns ruled the roost, the situation has now changed dramatically. Those who follow us regularly will already have understood that today those who spend really big sums of money on a collector's gun are also and above all looking for modern (meaning by this term those from the beginning to the end of the 20th century), not to say contemporary, firearms. Let us recall as an example the Radom Vis 35 pistol with serial number 12 that was sold by Hermann Historica in 2021 for the considerable sum of 58,000 euros. If we consider that this is a military pistol manufactured in Poland in 1935, we can understand how new collectors are now also attracted to guns in which the historical aspect goes hand in hand with the technical one.
Korth and Korriphila, skyrocketing prices for two modern classics
Proof of this assumption comes immediately from lot 1228: the piece with the highest sale price in sale number One Hundred is a Korth Model 13E pistol with serial number 003, thus not only belonging to the very first production, but certainly handmade by the founder of the German company, Willy Korth. This revolutionary and highly refined semi-automatic is chambered in 9mm caliber, features briarwood grips and is in almost mint condition, accompanied by the original plain cardboard box. The anonymous collector who won it had to shell out the handsome sum of 42,000 euros. A little less was enough to bring the hammer down on lot 1203. A Korriphila model HSP 701 semi-automatic with a five-inch barrel, also in 9mm. Again, this is a maniacally crafted pistol featuring a proprietary roller-delayed system, designed by Edgar Budischowsky in the late 1970s and manufactured in the 1980s. The Korriphila model HSP 701 pistol for sale in auction number 100 has the serial number 709, retains approximately 99% of its original finish, and is accompanied by a luxury Italian leather-lined combination lock case. The final sale price was €30,000.
Hermann Historica: Heckler & Koch PSP and P7, stars in the Jubilee auction
A few weeks ago, we told you about the interesting collection of Heckler & Koch P9, PSP, P7 pistols and various transitional models for sale in the latest Hermann Historica auction, predicting that they would make a bang – and so they did. The Heckler & Koch PSP pistol (lot 1168) in 9mm Luger caliber with serial number 239, the last to be marked in this way (from serial number 240 upwards it will be called P7) was sold for the handsome sum of 10,500 euros. Does that sound like a lot? You ain't seen nothing yet! In fact, lot 1169, i.e. an H&K PSP in 9mm Luger calibre with serial number 008 built in 1979 and belonging to H.B. Lockhoven fetched the final price of 22,000 euros, more than double the previous one.
The PSP that belonged to one of the shooters in the Heckler & Koch demonstration team, with serial number 053 and accompanied by two slides (one of them with sporting sights) and the original holster, was also sold for 11,500 euros (lot 1166). Same price for the version with serial number 025 without slide stop manufactured in 1977 and delivered to the German police in 1978, as evidenced by an enclosed delivery note (lot 1167). Finally, a Heckler & Koch P80 pistol with serial number 40188, a trial gun for the Austrian Army tender (lot 1599), was sold for an impressive 19,000 euros. The pistol, chambered in 9mm Luger, belongs to a batch of 15 examples that were delivered to the Austrian army for the second round of tests that did not have the desired outcome for the German manufacturer, and led to the adoption of the Glock 17 as a sidearm. The great rarity is also given by the olive-green plastic grips with the Voere logo and P80 designation, while the marks lack any mention of Heckler & Koch.
We remain on the subject of military pistols with a real gem that seems to have come straight out of a James Bond story: this is the PSS-1 "Vul" silenced pistol in 7.62x42SD caliber complete with shoulder holster, made by TOZ in Tula in 1986. It is a Russian pistol designed specifically for very low-profile operations, with a maximum range of 25 metres.
It fires a very rare sealed cartridge, in which at the moment of firing the gases push a piston that travels a short distance inside the cartridge case, propelling a cylindrical 9.3-gram bullet out of the barrel. Since the gases and muzzle flash remain inside the cartridge case, the gun makes no noise or muzzle flash upon firing. The gun, complete with its packaging and accessories, went for €10,000.
Mannlicher and Laumann, the fascination of "archaic" guns
However, the beautiful and complicated pistols belonging to the "big bang" semi-automatics still fascinate and interest collectors. The proof is the remarkable sum of 26,000 euros needed by an anonymous collector to take home a splendid Mannlicher 1894 example that was tested for adoption by the Swiss army. It is one of the earliest semi-automatic pistols in history, equipped with a blowback system and chambered in 6.5 Mannlicher. Manufactured at the end of the 19th century in no more than 70 examples by the Fabrique d'Armes in Neuhausen, Switzerland, this pistol bears the serial number 58 on the frame and bolt, and more than a century later is in excellent condition, with a 99.9 per cent original finish (although some later rebluing can't be ruled out). Even the extremely rare Laumann Model 1891 in 8mm Schönberger caliber with serial number 29 has found a new owner who paid 15,000 euros to go home with this pistol which, although a repeater, is considered an essential milestone in the development of semi-automatic pistols that would shortly change the face of handguns. The example sold by Hermann Historica shows period rebluing and is fitted with non-original grips, but this does not seem to have adversely affected its value and desirability.
We conclude with a rifle from another era, which has enchanted enthusiasts. Lot 1977, a wheellock rifle that belonged to Emperor Ferdinand III of Austria (1608-1657). This refined rifle has an ebonised walnut stock richly decorated with mother-of-pearl inlays. Double set trigger. Built around 1650 in the Polish town of Cieszyn, this 12.5 mm caliber firearm has a finely decorated octagonal barrel inlaid in silver, eight-groove rifling and folding rear sight. It is an admirable example of what today we would call a custom gun, intended for use on hunting trips by the highest representatives of the nobility. If one considers its antiquity, its excellent state of preservation and the fact that it belonged to a historical figure, the final sale price of 15,000 euro does not seem too high either.
On the Hermann Historica website you will find the results of all the latest auctions and further information on upcoming events.
