Franz Pfannl Boar Grip Breloque #2

Description

From abt. 1896, OAL 1 3/4" This is a Franz Pfannel with the early hunting theme with one side showing a wild boar, and the other a dog chasing a stag stamped in the silver grips, this is a very early model shown by the pointed trigger and hammer, later designs had rounded hammers and triggers, and AUS stamped sideways on the right side of the frame.
This is marked: PAT for Patent on one side,and FP on the other this stands for Franz Pfannel, the father of the Berloque Pistols. This has to be the most sought after 2mm pinfire gun out there.

The gun does have AUSTRIA with a sideways 0 next to it stamped on the barrel. This one is in amazing condition, it is VERY clean and looks as if it was properly stored over the years, the grips have a very nice patina to them. This gun is in perfect working condition.

This is listed as A1 Boar Grips in "The Tiniest Guns" by Bob Urso. This gun dates back from abt. 1896-1899.

The following information is from Bob Urso's book "The Tiniest Guns". This is the only book available for collectors of 2mm berloque pistols and is available on the web. 

Berloque or watch fob pistols were first produced in Austria in the late 1890s and continue to be manufactured there to the present day. In all that time, their history has been closely linked to that of Franz Pfannl. Recent research has established that all of the berloques manufactured prior to 1938 – the year the Goebharter company began making berloques – were designs either manufactured by, or licensed for manufacture by Pfannl.

In 1897 Pfannl began producing 2mm, pinfire, berloque pistols and rifles. Many are stamped with FP or PFANNL. His business grew to the point where he had 50 workers, and was manufacturing many mechanical items, including pencils. The Berloques were a big success and soon Pfannl?s factory was producing parts for other manufacturers in German and Spain, who would finish the guns with a variety of grips and markings.

From the early 1930s to the second World War, Pfannl created an interesting group of designs, for berloque, blank and Flobert pistols in calibers from 2mm through 6.

He and a friend, George Grabner, who owned a casting plant in Krems, had a plan to market, small, defensive, purse pistols for women. The guns would be loud, to scare off attackers, but would have little power. Grabner became his partner in the marketing of the Kolibri, however, he had no part in its design. The Kolibri is the smallest semi-automatic pistol ever manufactured and is much prized by collectors. The earliest of the berloque pistol was patented by Franz Pfannl on July 24, 1899.

Please click on the photos to the right to view close up photos with moe detail.