Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! This bizarre little target pistol from Belgian maker Auguste Francotte takes the distinctive toggle-action from Luger/Borchardt pistols and reimagines it as a single-shot .22 target gun. Serial number 10 suggests it’s from very early production, making it an even rarer find. What catches your eye immediately is that distinctive toggle mechanism on top. While it looks like it came straight off a Luger, this one is manually operated rather than automatically cycling with recoil. The shooter would break open the toggle to load a fresh .22 round directly into the chamber. These specialized European target pistols were built for serious competitive shooting before World War II, when European pistol competitions were highly formalized affairs with very specific equipment requirements. The Francotte name was respected for quality craftsmanship, though they’re far less known than contemporaries like Walther or Hammerli. The Belgian commercial crown proofs on the frame and barrel confirm its heritage, while the Francotte company logo on the left rear frame above the serial number “10” helps date it to the early 20th century when toggle-action pistols were still considered cutting-edge technology.
“European Luger/Borchardt Style Francotte Single Shot Pistol.” Rock Island Auction Company, https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/4094/459/european-lugerborchardt-style-francotte-single-shot-pistol. Accessed 14 Apr. 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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