Auction number 106 of Hermann Historica took place regularly on November 4 and 5, 2025. In a previous article, we gave you some tips on the most interesting pieces and their starting prices, which in some cases was exceeded by a little, in others by a lot.
This is the case with the Walther PP in 7.65mm Browning, manufactured in Zella Mehlis and finely engraved, which belonged to Munich Police Chief August Schneidhuber, who was assassinated on 30 June 1934 during the infamous "Night of the Long Knives" (lot 2680). It is a gun that belonged to a historical figure and was later donated to Dr. Koller, Munich's police chief from 1988 to 2003. In addition, it has the special technical feature of a thicker barrel, which makes it different from all other Walther PPs; thus, it combines historical value with a unique technical variant. With a starting price of 5,000 euro, the Walther PP sold for 14,500 euro.
But let's start from the beginning, with one of the first lots (2010) that perfectly embodies what has been the star of gun auctions for years, namely the fine hunting shotgun. In this case, it is a 16-gauge side-by-side percussion combination gun, with 73-cm long Bernard Damascus barrels, made by Anton Vinzent Lebeda in Prague, where this craftsman was active from 1797 to 1857. A master gunsmith and royal warrant holder from 1852, Lebeda made numerous guns for Emperor Franz Joseph I.
Lebeda specialised in making combination firearms, with a smoothbore and a rifled barrel that could be side by side (as in this case) or over and under. The side plates, barrels, trigger guard and patch box cover are finely engraved with fine floral and animal motifs. The stock is lacquered light walnut with checkering and elongated German cheek rest. The shotgun features a double set trigger in the front trigge, and still has the original loading ramrod and sling swivels. The original dark wooden case houses a complete range of accessories such as a patch cutting tool, powder flask and bullet mold. The inside is lined with green cloth, with the inscription "A.D. Lebeda k.k. landesbefugter Gewehrfabrikant in Prag" in gold print on the lid. The starting price was 2,500 euro, but it eventually fetched 7,400 euro.
Lot 2110 takes us straight across the Atlantic, where the Far West epic was being lived. And it is hard to imagine a gun as emblematic of the era as this Winchester Model 66 lever-action carbine in .44 Henry, in nothing short of excellent condition. The serial number 14731 has made it possible to trace the year of production, which is 1866.
The 20-inch long barrel and magazine tube are slightly spotty, the brass receiver has a beautiful patina. The original stock is lacquered walnut, the brass butt plate has a flap through which the cleaning rod is accessed, also original. When it was introduced on the market, the Winchester 66 immediately gained the nickname of "Yellow Boy" due to the color of the receiver and became a gun that symbolised the conquest of North America. Finding an original example, complete with all parts and in this condition is not easy and the lucky collector who took it home had to shell out a whopping 14,500 euros.
Lot 2136 takes us back to Germany, where collectors are crazy about Heckler & Koch pistols manufactured in the 1970s and 1980s. This is a 9mm H&K PSP semi-automatic, with serial number 165 in original box. The pistol bears German proof marks from 1978. On the left-hand side of the slide we find the company name on two lines, on the right side the caliber specification, serial number and proof mark. The original bluing is intact, the grips are made of black polymer. In the original box, which is slightly damaged, we find the factory test target, user's manual, spare magazine, tools and cleaning rod. Offered at a starting price of 1,600 euros, this interesting pistol in almost like-new condition brought the auctioneer's hammer down at the remarkable final price of 9,000 euros, more than four times the starting price. This tells us that the real collecting fever for the H&K PSP and P7 is still there, at least in Germany.
The opening photo of this article is lot 2276: a third-generation Colt 1873 SAA revolver, in .45 Long Colt, with mismatched serial numbers, fully engraved by master engraver Claus Willig. Claus Willig is the heir to a dynasty of German engravers and over the years has specialised in revolvers, creating some of the most sought-after "one of a kind" models for collectors. The entire gun is covered in engraving of exceptional quality, with tendrils beautifully integrating bolt heads and ends; the model name is inlaid in gold on the left side of the barrel, as are all the outlines of cylinder, frame and the sides of the hammer. The copper-colored trigger guard is fully engraved, with the engraver's signature on the front. The revolver comes in the original Colt wooden box inlaid with green baize. As new Colt SAA holster in tan hide, marked "American Sales & Mfg Co / Laredo, Texas" in an oval, "Hand-crafted / Made in USA" and "44 Cal" with 24 cartridge loops. The lot also includes Horst Trigatti's book, The American Legacy, Würzburg 2008, in German language, detailing four revolvers engraved by Claus Willig. With a starting price of 5,800 euro, this spectacular piece sold for 6,200 euro.
And to stay on the subject of engraved American pistols, here is another great classic in an artistic version: lot 2285 is a 9mm Colt MK IV Series 70 semi-automatic engraved by Josef Widmann. The pistol has serial number 70L08673, a 5-inch barrel with mirror-like bore. On the barrel and slide are Austrian proof marks, and Rohof importer's mark ("ROH" in an oval). The factory markings on the left side of the slide are inlaid in gold, on three lines, consistent with this version. Gilt low profile front sight paired to an adjustable U-notch rear sight. Black high-gloss finish, trigger and hammer are gold-plated. Walnut burl wood grips, the left one with a thumb rest. The entire surface of the pistol is covered in engraving of leaves and tendrils of exceptional quality, the work of Austrian master engraver Josef Widmann active in Ferlach. Outlines inlaid in gold, even on the muzzle, the barrel bushing, thumb and grip safety, and hold-open lever. On the top of the slide gold-inlaid monogram "WK". In this case the engraved Colt was sold at the same starting price of 4,800 euro.
Lot 2632, which we already mentioned as a potential highlight, is a rare Mauser Tankgewehr M1918 anti-tank gun in 13x92R caliber, serial number 1290. Produced in almost 16,000 examples, it was the first weapon designed and built specifically to hit armored targets. It was chambered for the 13X92 R cartridge that used an armor-piercing bullet with hardened steel core weighing approximately 51.5 g, with an initial velocity of approximately 785 m/s. The weapon was used to hit the crew of enemy tanks by piercing their thin armor plates. The barrel is 98-cm long, with a slightly dull bore; minor corrosion in the muzzle area. The chamber area is marked with the Mauser banner above the date "1918" and has various imperial acceptance marks. The original barrel finish is 90%, and the breech end quite rubbed, otherwise in good condition with some patina and spotting. Complete with original tube-steel style bipod, in good condition with no corrosion. The overall length of this interesting anti-tank gun is 169 cm. The starting price was 10,500 euros and after a close challenge between buyers it was sold for 18,000 euros.
We conclude our summary of auction 106 here, reminding you that on 12 November 2025, "Historic and modern firearms" auction number 107 will be held exclusively online, with 1,024 lots including pistols, revolvers, shotguns and rifles. You can browse the catalogue online at this link.
