Early manual repeating magazine pistol by Franz Passler of Vienna. The top of the frame is marked "PATENT/PASSLER/WEIN". This gun functions as shown and described in Franz Passler's U.S. patent number 385,875 titled "Magazine Fire Arm" originally filed October 20, 1887 and granted July 10, 1888. The patent description states "The object of said invention is to provide improved means for holding and releasing the magazine, feeding the cartridges to the space or passage before the breech-bolt, expelling the shells, and withdrawing all obstructions to the entrance of a new magazine..." The bottom of the frame has an opening for insertion of a sheet metal en bloc clip, which is held in place by the spring loaded magazine catch, which has a knurled outer surface able to be pressed for releasing of the en bloc clip; this style of magazine catch is one of the earliest of its kind and seen on a lot of later guns throughout history using box magazines. A long spring loaded cartridge lifter runs underneath the barrel and pushes upwards into the magazine well for positive feeding of cartridges, acting like the spring follower inside of a modern day magazine when paired with a loaded clip. Pulling the ring lever backward pushes the bolt forward. At the rearward most point of the ring levers travel, the stand alone trigger is bumped by the users finger which drops the striker firing pin. This allows for a rapid rate of fire by pulling the ring back repeatedly. The pistol is also designed to be able to chamber a round without firing by pulling back on the ring lever using a finger on the outside edge, and once the ring is all the way back with a closed bolt and cocked firing pin, ready for a pull of the trigger. The firing pin recocks each time the ring trigger returns all the way forward, which requires only slight pressure, and firing requires less effort than with the traditional double action revolvers from the same era. Rear mounted sliding safety below the bolt, operated by pushing it to the left in order to block the rear end of the bolt, which locks the bolt in the closed position. If already cocked, the safety will also enter a catch under the rear of the protruding firing pin. Moving the safety to the right allows for full operation. This is an extremely important evolutionary pistol, functioning as a rapid repeater with an early magazine system towards the end of the black powder era, and predating smokeless powder semi-automatic pistols. Serial numbered "196" on the left of the breech end of the barrel and frame, and marked on the left of the barrel "GUSS-STAH-L". Includes a scanned copy of the U.S. patent documents. Provenance: The Clive Cussler Collection

Very fine, retaining 80% nickel finish with some edge wear, some patches of very light pitting, some light handling marks, and some light frosting on the grip straps. Grips are fine with some scratches and dents, and some light crazing. Mechanically excellent.