I always wanted both the .25 and .32 examples to complement my other pocket/vest collection. Prices went up on them and my interest went in a different direction. I’m still interested enough to look out for perfect examples at low prices.

I watched a .32 on GB this last Sunday and didn’t understand the final bid of $3,077.02. Must be a very special one. The Germany marked grip panels to me is different. I’ve seen Germany marked on the right side of frames for importing, or is it exporting?

Any idea what makes this Ortgies so extremely special?

Jim

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They are neat little guns. I don't think they are THAT neat however. I paid about $275 for mine a few years back. It is a solid, reliable and functional pocket pistol. I had no idea there was any collectors interest in them.

Perhaps it had a letter showing provenance, connecting it to a high ranking/notorious personage.
I have a 25 ACP, typical between the wars German worksmanship, finely finished, finely fitted.

Looks like a standard two line to me. I have them in all three calibers, blue, bright nickel, matte nickel, side safeties, and Germany stamped grips. Very nice little pistols but I can't imagine what would make one worth that much money.

Same story for me and my shooter grade 32. Like it a lot.

That's not your typical 2 line Ortgies. "D.W.A.E." marked guns are said to be extremely rare.

I have no idea if that was an appropriate price, but 2 people obviously thought so.

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"I also cook."

"Side safety's"??


I have two, and the only safety either one of them has is a grip safety.


When you squeeze the grip safety, it locks in the forward position. When you push the button at the rear of the left side (where you would expect a thumb safety to be) it releases the safety, which pops back into the off position.


This button is also used in disassembly of the gun. But it is not a safety.


Your gun has a safety on the side?

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I always take precautions

I reached out to David Rachwal, (Handguns Of The World,) and yes because of the DWA marked slide it is rare. He said it was the first .25 example he has EVER seen. (I mistakenly said .32)

David has seen thousands of firearms so that explains it.

Thanks for the replies.

Jim

A friend of mine used a .32 Ortgies as a carry piece. He liked it a lot. He broke the firing pin. Had my F-I-L tig weld it and I reshaped it so it fit. Carried it for as long as I know.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

I first saw this on another site. Asking why this pistol was so valued. The responder said it is "the ultra-rare 7th version" with the slide marked in a certain way. The pistol looks unfired, and the poster seems to be an authority. Still, a lot more money than one I'm willing to buy even at $300.

WOW! I missed the ‘t’ in the title & thought “WHOA! This dude is on the wrong forum…

Sam

Sure it wasn't just wishful thinking?

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Release the Kraken

I've been an Ortgies fan for about 5 years. After reading as much as I could find about them, I finally purchased this nice .25acp ( 6th Variant ) in 2019. I'm constantly looking for nice examples of .32 and .380. So far the guns seem to be either poor examples or rare and special examples.

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John

I've attached below a photo of mine, in .32 caliber. A quite ingenious design in many respects. Streamlined exterior, with definitely a minimalist aspect to it which is enhanced by its requiring no screws whatsoever to assemble.

Here's a really comprehensive article on these: https://unblinkingeye.com/Guns/Ortgies/ortgies.html

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

I've got a run-of-the-mill 32 shooter. Like it a lot. It carries, handles, and shoots great.

LGS here has one every once in a while. Never sell them over the counter, always goes on line.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

Had one about 40 years ago for awhile. A .32. I think I paid about $50 for it. I remember it was missing some part, and I filed out a replacement that fit. I didn't shoot it very much. I never thought they were uncommon or very desirable as I have seen many of them over the years. Indeed, they have no screws, a fairly ingenious design.

I imagine this would certainly have to be the most expensive Ortgies ever sold: Deutsche Werke Ortgies Pistol 6.35 mm auto | Rock Island Auction

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

I have too many of them! All three calibers, all three finishes, and until just now I thought I had all of the slide variations. The side safeties are somewhat scarce and simply lock the grip safety in the safe position.

The first Ortgies exported were stamped Germany on the grips, the later were stamped on the frame.

They are really fine little firearms. I had a .25 and a .32 for years. I think the firing pins may be a little fragile, particularly on the .32 as mine broke as well. Numrich had them for a while.

Both mine were "bring homes" and had some eagle stamped on them....

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Even older, even crankier....

Some folks like the Ortgies but the Gunsmiths that write about semi autos do not consider them as quality well designed guns.

There's nothing deficient about their quality per se, but as I understand it the design relies on some very tight dimensional tolerances, to a degree that slight internal wear can put them out of order. On that basis, I can see why gunsmiths would dislike them.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

I have owned a number of them over the years. There have been only two common problems I've seen mechanically. The disconnector is rather precisely fitted and I've encountered a couple that had worn enough to start giving issues (one of which gave me real fits trying to fix!). The other is a broken leg on the striker. it is split to pass over the grip safety bar and the sear side does occasionally break.

Other than that I would say they show good machine work and were well made guns. Really the biggest problem I've seen isn't with the action but with the grip design. They fit into an undercut in the front and a spring loaded retainer pushes into a slot in the back of each grip. It is common to find them broken, often with some backwoods repair to the grip or replaced with an aftermarket or homemade grip............ And sometimes those have broken and been repaired too.

Yeah, like I said. The Ortgies is not considered to be one of the better designs by experienced gunsmith-writers.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"