This pistol was originally designed by and manufactured by the Menz company in the post WWI era. In 1937 the Lignose company acquired the Menz company and factory in Suhl and manufactured this small blow-back, pocket pistol under the name of "Erben" meaning heir or successor. This design is very similar to the Walther PPK model except that it has a very unique safety which actually rotates the rear firing pin assembly sideways so that it is out of line with the hammer. It also has a bottom magazine release in lieu of the standard push button release typically found on the Walther design. Last it has a slide hold open device that was usually not incorporated on any of these small pocket pistols. The side of the slide is marked in three lines: "THEODOR BERGMANN ERBEN/WAFFENFABRIK SUHL/SPEZIAL-MODELL". It is fitted with a set of brown plastic checkered grips that are marked "SPECIAL" at the top of each grip. The right front side of the barrel, the rear of the slide and frame are all stamped with a single Crown/N commercial proof. It comes with one original magazine.

Fine with 90% plus original blue finish overall with edge and high spot wear with thinning on the right front side of the slide. The grips are in very good condition with nice matching color on both sides with a old repaired crack on the right rear side. An interesting early semi-automatic pistol design. Mechanically excellent.