POTD: The Other Lightning – Werder Model 1869
Sam.S 04.04.23
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have lighting! No, not the beloved (or dreaded) Colt 1877. This is the Werder Model 1869 Single Shot Pistol. These guys and their slightly older brother, the Werder Rifle, were accepted into the Bavarian military as the standard issue small arm. These were hand-picked out of military trials by the 23-year-old king at the time. They performed very well at trials showing of an impressive rate of rapid reloading and firing which gave them the nickname blitz or lightning. The Werder Model 1869 Single Shot Pistol showed up as a slightly scaled-back model for troops whos main roles did not require a rifle. They used a slightly smaller/shorter 11mm cartridge. The operation was very simple. Load the cartridge, cock the “hammer” (which closes the tilting block and primes the ejecting mechanism), fire, press the ejection lever in front of the trigger and repeat.
“Manufacturer: WerderModel: 1869Type: PistolGauge: 11 mmBarrel: 8 inch part octagonFinish: blueGrip: hardwoodFixed sights, with “575.1C.R4.”(struck out) over “B1sR4 13″ on the right side of the frame.”
Lot 6423: Werder Model 1869 Single Shot Pistol. (n.d.). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved April 3, 2023, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1032/6423/werder-model-1869-single-shot-pistol.
