Description

W+F Bern P-44/16 Experimental – Mid-Production Prototype on P-43 Frame | 9x19mm

This offering is a rare Waffenfabrik Bern P-44/16 Experimental, chambered in 9x19mm, and based on the standard Swiss P-43 Bern service pistol. This specimen is part of a limited-run mid-production prototype series exploring gas-delayed blowback operation, representing a transitional platform leading to the P-47 development program.

This example retains the original factory checkered front strap and checkered walnut grips, consistent with mid-production standards. The frame and slide are both factory-modified to accommodate the experimental gas-delayed system—evident in precise hand-fitting, filing, and component alterations. These modifications were implemented in-house at W+F Bern as part of a controlled trial and are not user-altered.

All numbered components are matching, including the original serialized magazine. The firearm exhibits typical wear from the factory modification process, including partial blue loss and mechanical fitment marks. These are consistent with documented examples from the same development lineage.

The bore is mint, with sharp rifling and no signs of pitting or corrosion—indicative of minimal use, likely restricted to controlled test firing.

This P-44/16 is an exceedingly rare and historically significant firearm, offering insight into Swiss military experimentation with recoil mitigation and delayed blowback mechanisms during the mid-20th century. A crucial collector piece linking the operational design philosophies of the P-43 and the later P-47.

 

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