Deutche Werke Ortgies Patent 7.65mm Pistol (146590)

This Ortgies Patent pistol is in very good condition externally, and has only minor marks to the original blued finish and wood grips. The barrel is in poor condition, having almost no rifling and some slight pitting.

Although German, Heinrich Ortgies lived in Liege for several years. There he designed an automatic pistol which he patented in 1918. Following the First World War he returned to Erfurt, where he began making the 7.65mm Ortgies pistol. The pistols were a considerable success, despite the depressed post war market, and around 10,000 were made. Subsequently Deutsche Werke of Erfurt purchased the patents, stock and tools from Ortgies and continued manufacture. Ortgies himself appears to have taken no further interest in firearms after this.