DESCRIPTION: Very scarce Imperial Russian single shot Berdan M.II dragoon rifle! Caliber: 10.67 x 58 mm rimmed. Designed by US Army General Hiram Berdan. Berdan M.II was patented in USA in 1870, and was adopted as a service weapon by only two states, Russia and Bulgaria. Some Berdans, from the Russian army stock, were also shipped to Serbia. At the time, Berdan II was among the most powerful service rifles and carbines in the World. These dragoon rifles were issued primarily to the Imperial Russian dragoon units. Berdans were still in use during the World War One, as secondary weapons. Some Berdan rifles and carbines in the Imperial Russian army service were converted to 7.62 x 54 mm Mosin-Nagant caliber. Many Berdans were captured by Austro-Hungarians and Germans, and consequently, were reissued to their armed forces. This particular dragoon rifle was manufactured in Tula in 1884, as indicated by markings on the barrel. The receiver displays Imperial Russian Double Headed Eagle and Cyrillic letters, "PK". Matching serial numbers, except for the bolt. The same numbers are stamped on the barrel, cleaning rod (!) and buttplate. Mismatched number is stamped on the bolt. No serial numbers are present on all the remaining parts, which is correct for this model. All the serial numbers are factory original, and they were not restamped. The rifle comes with an original cleaning rod. Fred Datig shows one of such rifles in his "Russian Military Firearms" story, published in the 5th edition of "Gun Collector's Digest" (p.17). Overall length: 48.25 inch. Barrel length: 28 inch. CONDITION: Overall, in NRA antique very good+ condition. Metal is mostly in white. The blue finish is preserved mainly in the protected areas. Occasional brown/gray patina. Some light patina on the buttplate. There are some cleaning marks on the receiver and barrel. The stock shows some usual handling marks, dings and scratches. The right side of the buttstock shows a fading cartouche. There are some hairline cracks on the right side of the stock, just below the receiver (please, see pictures). The stock is partially refinished. Bore is in low fine condition, with strong rifling. Some darkness in the grooves. The action is strong. Very scarce Imperial Russian Berdan M. II dragoon rifle! Antique. Serial# 3XX. The rifle comes from my family member collection of military firearms.
Ref. "Gun Collector's Digest" , "Russian Military Firearms" by Fred A.Datig, p.17).
