This is a very rare example of an extremely unique and desirable Dieckmann Model P 66 semi-automatic pistol. These Dieckmann pistol were developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s by a promising German engineer who emigrated from West German to Canada in the late 1950s. He quickly gained a reputation for a exceptional gunsmith and leather craftsman in Canada. Based on his years of studying various weapons designs he developed these early semi-automatic pistols chambered in 22LR. They have several unique designs; three of which he was awarded a U.S. patent for. Those being: 1) a very unique and certainly one of a kind "curved, front loading" magazine or clip that loads through the front grip strap, (instead of the pistol butt). Not only was this unique but it allowed the overall grip frame to be shorter, saving weight and material but it also allowed a variety of grips to be easily installed. 2) a "one-piece" co-joined "firing pin and extractor" assembly. This one is very interesting in that it is a stamped assembly with the firing pin offset to the right at about the 1 o'clock position and extractor just slightly more offset at about the 2 o'clock position. This arrangement allowed the correct strike/impact of the firing pin on the rim of the cartridge but then left a full intact cartridge rim for the extractor to grab on to and extract the spent cartridge. 3) the last patent was for a complete "one-piece", quickly removable "firing assembly", that includes the hammer, sear, ejector, all springs and pins. This last item is similar in concept to the Tokarev pistol and it would allow the owner to render the weapon completely inert by just removing the complete firing assembly. The pistol itself has a similar outward configuration to the Ruger, and High Standard pistol being manufactured in the late 1960s and early 70s and is a very well manufactured and machined pistol, that has a very smooth action and light crisp trigger pull, with a medium target weight barrel that is weighted at the muzzle somewhat like a Anschutz rifle. The side of the frame is marked "P66" followed by a three-line markings of: "BRIDGEPORT FIREARMS CO./BRIDGEPORT CONN. U.S.A./PATENTED IN U.S.A." followed by a circled "BFC" logo. The right side is marked: "MADE IN U.S.A./CAL. 22 L.R." with the serial number "X3" stamped on the lower front edge. It has a fixed target front sight with an adjustable target rear sight. As noted it has a smooth one-piece walnut grip, that is held on by a single screw on the bottom of the butt. This very unique and rare pistol is accompanied by copies of the Patent Registration certificates and mechanical details for each one for the three item noted above. A newspaper clip from a early 1960s, Canadian newspaper with a picture and information of Rolf Dieckmann. Several articles from six different gun magazines from the mid 1970s describing and detailing these wonderful pistol and the various unique features.

Excellent with 99% of the blued finish overall showing minor handling and testing overall. The grips are also in excellent condition with no visible handling marks. All the documentation and articles are in excellent condition. A really unique and one of a kind rare Dieckmann Prototype P66 semi-automatic pistol.

This is an excellent example of another one of the rare Dieckmann P66 semi-automatic pistols only this one is an original Bridgeport Arms factory cutaway pistol. These pistols were usually used for training for armorers and assemblers. Most likely it would have been to show and or explain the inter-working of the gun in relation to the various U.S. Patents obtained on these guns. On this example the complete right side of the pistol has been cutaway to show the complete inner workings of the gun to include the three areas where the designer received a U.S. patent on. You can clearly see the unique one-piece co-joined firing pin and extractor, along with the curved, front loading 9 shot clip and separate, removable firing assembly. This example also includes 9 dummy 22LR cartridges so that you can demonstrate the loading, feeding and cycling of the actions. The left side of the pistol has the full factory legend the same as lot "A", with no other markings on the right side.

Excellent with 97% of the blue finish overall with wear on the edges and high spots overall. The grips are also very fine plus condition with minimal handling marks from use and demonstrating the inter workings of these rare pistols.