Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have serial number 30 of the Bergmann Model 1896 No. 2 “folding trigger” pocket pistol, one of fewer than 500 made before V. Charles Schilling admitted defeat and redesigned it with a normal trigger. The folding trigger seemed clever in 1896. Schilling installed a hinged forward-folding trigger ahead of the magazine, connected to the firing mechanism by a long transfer bar. The idea was to make the pistol easier to conceal in a pocket without snagging. Reality proved different. The design was accident-prone, and customers hated it. Less than a year later, Schilling released a second iteration with a conventional fixed trigger. That’s how fast this concept died in the marketplace.
The 5mm Bergmann cartridge fed from an en-bloc clip, another feature that seemed advanced but added complexity. The octagon barrel, commercial proofs, and checkered walnut grips show this was meant to be a quality pocket pistol for discerning customers. Pocket pistols needed to be simple and reliable above all else. Schilling’s clever mechanism added failure points and manufacturing costs without meaningful benefits. The market spoke quickly, and Schilling listened by reverting to a conventional trigger design that actually worked.
Most of our POTDs utilize images from our friends at Rock Island Auction Company, the premier firearms auction in the United States. Take some time to browse their current auctions – who knows, maybe you’ll find a piece of history to take home!
“V. C. Schilling Bergmann Model 1896 No.2 Pistol with Clip.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/4095/455/v-c-schilling-bergmann-model-1896-no2-pistol-with-clip. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Writer | TheFirearmBlog
Writer | AllOutdoor.com Instagram | sfsgunsmith Old soul, certified gunsmith, published author, avid firearm history learner, and appreciator of old and unique guns.
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