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 1877, as indicated by markings on the barrel. The receiver displays Imperial Russian Double Headed Eagle and Cyrillic letters, "PK". Mismatched serial numbers. Different numbers are stamped on the barrel and bolt. No serial numbers are present on all the remaining parts, which is correct for this model. 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: 48.50 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. The trigger guard shows some dents. Some patina and/or surface rust 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. Two hairline cracks in the stock, just below the receiver (please, see pictures). Bore is in good condition only. Darkness in the grooves. The action is strong. Very scarce Imperial Russian Berdan M. II dragoon rifle! Antique. Serial# 238XX. (Ref. "Gun Collector's Digest" , "Russian Military Firearms" by Fred A.Datig, p.17).
