Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have a Schulhof Manual Repeater. Josef Schulhof’s 1884 toggle action manual repeater; a pistol so mechanically complex it makes you wonder if anyone actually wanted to shoot it. About 36 made. That tells you everything. Schulhof’s design uses a ring lever ahead of the trigger to operate a toggle link bolt action hidden inside the frame. Magazine runs through the grip with spring-loaded teeth holding cartridges. A moving arm advances rounds as you cycle. The hinged left grip panel doubles as a loading gate.
Serial number 3. One of the earliest examples. The “Pat. Schulhof” signature on the left sideplate shows the inventor was proud enough to put his name on it. By 1884, proven repeating designs from Mauser and others were already available. Schulhof’s toggle link system added complexity without clear advantages. Engineering for engineering’s sake. These oddball mechanical experiments attract serious collectors even when they flopped commercially.
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!
“Schulhof Toggle Action Manual Repeater Pistol.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/4095/454/schulhof-toggle-action-manual-repeater-pistol. 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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