Rare Bittner Lever Action PISTOL & Mares Legs:

I "tripped-over" this Bittner Lever- Action Pistol (1893)  while researching 'mountain man guns' !

- don't know about you - but I'd never heard of a handgun having a lever action - unless you count the Steve McQueen 'Mares Leg' cut-down rifles of  T.V.-movie fame (infamy?) ("Wanted - Dead or Alive")

Rossi 'Ranch Hand' - both Chiappa & Henry make a 'Mares-Leg' too.

 

The Bittner is rare as less than 500 were built - they had a six inch octagonal barrel in 7.7mm calibre - when cocked by the trigger ring the bolt stayed back until the trigger ring was moved to the rear releasing the bolt to strip and chamber a round then the trigger was pressed as it entered the ring through a slot in the rear circle.

 

Built by Gustav Bittner in 1893 - he called them the " Repetir - Pistol"

The magazines (clips??) are rare - and the cartridges are apparently like hens teeth (or 'Rocking-Horse Poo)

Bittner Repetir-Pistol - few photographs and even less information - I doubt that there's any youtube Bittner video! - Well I had to check!...

Good taste in side-arms & a "Mares Leg" - "Oh Yeah - That's what I'm Talking About".

"Big Daddy"

 

New Zealand Law defines any firearm shorter than 762mm (30 inches) as a pistol - the Henry Mares Legs are 'bout 25 inches.

Marty K.