Only approximately 500 of these pistols are believed to have been manufactured between 1896-1898. Originally patented in 1896 in Austria, Gustav Bittner's pistol is an excellent example of the "manual repeater" class of handgun. The rival to the single and double action revolvers of the early cartridge era, manual repeaters were brought to an end by the quick rise of innovative smokeless semi-automatic pistol designs around the same timeframe of this handguns conception. Bittner's design uses a rotary locking bolt operated by a ring lever and a fixed bar lever for the trigger and feeds via an internal magazine loaded with en bloc clips. Blade front and elevation adjustable notch rear sights, with "PATENT/BITTNER" above the Bittner trademark marked on the right of the frame. The frame is elegantly machined and high quality casehardened with distinct colors, with a set of checkered walnut panels covering the magazine spring and a pair of checkered fine walnut contour grip panels. "400" along with "3" and "9" marked on the left of the grip frame, with "400" also handwritten on the interiors of the grip panels, and "200" marked on the left of the barrel. Includes a leatherette Bittner presentation case with white silk type lining on the inside of the lid with a diagonal green ribbon that reads "Bittner'sche Repetir Pistole" and the fitted bottom section of the case has a green felt lining, containing a rare nickel plated stripper clip with five RWS headstamped 7.7mm Bittner rimmed cartridges (some appear to be deactivated), a small glass oil bottle with Bittner label, bore brush, and screwdriver.

Excellent, retains 98% original blue finish on the barrel with very light wear visible around the muzzle and 95% plus vibrant original case colors with some minor spots of outer flaking. The wood is also excellent with crisp checkering, a few light handling marks, and defined edges. Mechanically excellent. Case is fine, with some minor storage related wear and absent one latch.