The Bergmann 1896 is a one-of-a-kind pistol, but here are three surprising facts you probably don’t know. First up, it had a feature you’d normally find on revolvers—a folding trigger. That’s right. On the No. 2 model, the trigger could fold up, making it easier to slip into your pocket. For a semi-automatic pistol at the time, that was practically unheard of and made it incredibly convenient for close-quarters self-defense.
But here’s the downside: the 5mm Bergmann cartridge was one of the weakest rounds of its era. It had less power than even a .22 Short, which meant it didn’t pack much of a punch. This lack of stopping power hurt the pistol’s reputation despite its innovative design.
And here’s the twist—you’ve probably heard that the Borchardt C-93 was the first commercially successful semi-automatic pistol. But the Bergmann 1896 might have actually beaten it. With around 2,000 No. 2 pistols sold and even more No. 3s, it quietly outperformed the Borchardt in terms of units sold, making it a sleeper success.
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