This is a rare example of a "Russian Contract" Model 1898 Schwarzlose self-loading semi-automatic. It has been estimated that there were less than 1000 of these Russian contract pistols actually manufactured for the "Russian Social-Democratic Party" who were plotting insurrection against the Czar. Prior to their delivery they were confiscated at the Russian border and issued to the Imperial Russian Frontier Guards. This model was designed by Andreas Schwarzlose of Prussia, who was most noted for his early water cooled machine gun designs. Any of these early pre-1899 semi-automatic pistol designs are extremely rare and can almost be considered, prototype in design as so few were ever produced. This pistol has a very unique, solid, one-piece, rotating bolt that has a series of locking lugs machined in around the bolt head that fit into a similar machined, breech end of the barrel. The rear of the receiver also has a small lug that engages a small race-way on the underside of the bolt, so that when a cartridge is fired, the pressure of the cartridge actually drives the barrel slightly rearward, which in turn pushes the bolt rearward, which starts to rotate the bolt, due to the small lug in the receiver. As the bolt moves farther rearward, the bolt continues to rotate and unlocks from the breech end of the barrel and in turn extracts and ejects the cartridge. A very similar mechanism(s) is used on both the Johnson automatic rifles, Swiss K31 and even the M16 series of rifles. This model of pistol fires the 7.63 Mauser cartridge and has a machined steel clip that loads through the butt of the pistol. It has double cocking levers on the rear end of the bolt with a striker acting as a loading indicator on the rear of the pistol. It is fitted with a high front sight and a rotating/adjustable rear sight that is graduated from 1-5 (100-50 meters?). The right side of the barrel, upper receiver and bolt all have the 1891 era German "Double Crown/ U" proofmark, with the top of the receiver having the two-line, "Russian Cyrillic" markings. It is serial numbered "490" on the lower receiver, trigger, magazine bolt and striker with the magazine numbered "453" on the base plate. It is fitted with a set of checkered walnut grips and originally, it probably had a rust blued finish with a straw colored trigger, cocking indicator and two large levers on the left side. For a pistol produced in 1898 with a radically new design or operating system this pistol actually looks like a real semi-automatic pistol.

Very good with 40% of the original finish with the balance a brown patina. The heavily worn walnut grips are in good condition with dark walnut color showing clear distinct checkering on both sides mixed with even honest wear and handling marks overall. Mechanically needs work, although the breech retracts. The Russian markings on top of the bolt are clear and distinct with the Cyrillic markings clearly readable, as well as proof marks and serial numbers. This is a very rare Russian Contract Model 1898 Schwarzlose semi-automatic pistol with probably not more than a handful still in existence. Certainly for the advanced early semi-automatic pistol collector.