WWII Semi-auto: What is It?
A soldier, late in the War, took it from the body of a dead German soldier in Austria. It's a small double action piece in 7X65. It is very thin, with stainless receiver and slide and black plastic grip panels that bear the letters FLS in relief. Dimensions are approximately those of a small Berretta .380, although much flatter.
My nephew came into proprietorship of it recently. He says they fired the original rounds that were in the mag, however unwisely, and it worked perfectly!
It doesn't appear to be Browning-related, such as from the Belgian factory during German occupation. My guess is that it's of Austrian manufacture, out of some small factory.
Is this enough info for anybody to supply info and approximate value?
My nephew came into proprietorship of it recently. He says they fired the original rounds that were in the mag, however unwisely, and it worked perfectly!
It doesn't appear to be Browning-related, such as from the Belgian factory during German occupation. My guess is that it's of Austrian manufacture, out of some small factory.
Is this enough info for anybody to supply info and approximate value?
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It would be best if you could post some pictures, as your description is kind of vague.
The only pistol I'm familiar with that would have markings even remotely similar to the ones your describe, are the ones manufactured by Friedrich Langenhan. The later models were marked "FLS" = Friedrich Langenhan Selbstlader.
Unfortunately to the best of my knowledge though, the Langenhan pistols "WEREN'T" made out of stainless steel and not "Double-Action".
It's always possible it was some kind of experimental pistol that came out of a museum though.
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Well, I doubt it's stainless being of that vintage, so I would assume it to have 0 finish. Are there ANY other identifying marks? Serial number range? Since you said you "think" it may be austrian, how about Franz Stock? That would be my guess until I can get a little more to go on.
"When I cease learning...I'm dead"(Me)
"When I was 14 I used to marvel at how ignorant my old man was...by the time I was 21 I was truelly amazed at how much the old bugger had learned in the intervening 7 years!" Samuel Clemens
"History is written by winners"(Patton)
"You get a lot farther with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone!"(Al Capone)
"There is nothing lower than the human race...except the French" (Samuel Clemens)0 -
quote:Originally posted by 1KYDSTR
Well, I doubt it's stainless being of that vintage, so I would assume it to have 0 finish. Are there ANY other identifying marks? Serial number range? Since you said you "think" it may be austrian, how about Franz Stock? That would be my guess until I can get a little more to go on.
"When I cease learning...I'm dead"(Me)
"When I was 14 I used to marvel at how ignorant my old man was...by the time I was 21 I was truelly amazed at how much the old bugger had learned in the intervening 7 years!" Samuel Clemens
"History is written by winners"(Patton)
"You get a lot farther with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone!"(Al Capone)
"There is nothing lower than the human race...except the French" (Samuel Clemens)
Stocks were located and manufactured in Berlin.0 -
first guess is either a walther or a mauser. but then, the soldier could have gotten it off anyone himself. lets try to narrow it down. does it have an exposed hammer? is it round with a hole it it? describe the trigger? is there gap behind it or is it like a 1911a1 colt which is solid and disappears into the frame? without pics, we gotta do the 1000 questions. we'll get it.[8D] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by bobski
first guess is either a walther or a mauser. but then, the soldier could have gotten it off anyone himself. lets try to narrow it down. does it have an exposed hammer? is it round with a hole it it? describe the trigger? is there gap behind it or is it like a 1911a1 colt which is solid and disappears into the frame? without pics, we gotta do the 1000 questions. we'll get it.[8D]
Good idea bobski! got this picture off the net. This is what the Langehan pistol used by the W W I German Military looked like.
Some were actually marked "F.L. Selbstlader". Different varations were made during and after the war, some without the large "lever" mounted on the rear portion of the slide, with plastic/hard rubber grips and in .25 caliber. In profile, they all were similar though.0 -
rufe-snow and company: That's it! I got more info, and it IS an F.L. Selbstlader. Thanks! Anybody know what they might be worth? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by NickCWinter
rufe-snow and company: That's it! I got more info, and it IS an F.L. Selbstlader. Thanks! Anybody know what they might be worth?
The W W I pistol ( as pictured ) that was used by the German Military, would be worth more then the later commercial models made in the 20's, "IF ORIGINAL".
In your first post you noted that the finish was "stainless". Unfortunately this means to me that it has been either nickle plated or polished bright. If correct this would have a negative effect on it's collectors value as a W W I Military Pistol. My 2? if it doesn't have the original finish $100 to $200, depending on condition.0 -
Here is some pictures of a Langehan 32cal semi- auto 1914? I would like app value if anyone can help.think I might part with it works great. 0 -
Sorry I posted pictures of a Walther 32 semi- auto 1915 here is the
Langehan0 -
The Langenhan that you have was produced only during the war years, 1915-1918, as a substitute standard.
All the scribes claim it's unsafe and not to shoot it, but I shoot mine.
Ian Hogg did a real good write up on the FLS concerning the bad engineering of the breech block. Just make sure the knurled nut on the rear is kept tight and you won't have a problem.
Yours is also the final incarnation of the pistol, the earlier models had an open ejection port.0
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