Manufactured in Copenhagen, this is a rare example of a DRS Model 1916 Schouboe semi-automatic pistol. Originally developed by Jen Theodor Suhr Schouboe as a 7.65mm in 1903, the design was revisited and scaled up to take a proprietary 11.35mm cartridge manufactured by DWM. The bullet used in this cartridge definitely stands out as unusual, being a highly lightweight round constructed with a wood core and an aluminum jacket and base. In contrast to a typical hardball 45 ACP round at 230 grains and 830 FPS out of the muzzle, this 11.35mm bullet weighs 63 grains and clocks in at about 1600 FPS. When the round was tested by the Army in 1913, it was noted as producing little recoil and a very bright muzzle flash, while being less accurate than the issued 45 and only achieving about 2.14 inches of penetration on oak boards at six feet. In the final evaluation, the Schouboe design was found to have a simple and durable mechanism, good balance, and generally satisfactory in testing, but it was not superior to the already accepted Colt 1911. Blade font and dovetailed notch rear sights, with the serial number "354" on multiple parts. Takedown is very fast, with a pushbutton latch on the back of the slide and a hook on the underside of the barrel holding the entire upper assembly to the frame, allowing the pistol to be broken down to the slide, barrel and frame in seconds without tools. The grips are smooth metal construction, with an unmarked blued steel magazine retained by a novel heel catch that surrounds the magazine well in a stirrup arrangement and engages a notch in the front of the magazine.
Fine, with 60% plus of the original blue finish, showing mild spotting, edge wear and handling marks overall. Some patches of heavier pitting are present on the top of the slide and the left side of the frame above the trigger, with the rust neutralized via polishing. The grips are very fine, showing some light scratches, and the magazine is fair with active spotting and some denting and creasing of the metal in the catch notch. The catch spring is a bit soft, and the trigger does not consistently reset; otherwise, the pistol is in mechanically good order. A rare opportunity to own a unique competitor to the Colt Model 1911 Pistol.
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