Deactivated WW1 German Imperial Military Contract 1908 Pieper Bayard Pocket Pistol

This is a rare WWI German Imperial Military Contract 1908 Pieper Bayard Pocket Pistol. As the name suggests it was first introduced in 1908 and is one of the smallest pistols ever built for its cartridge size (7.65mm or .32). This example was manufactured under German supervision by Anciens Etablissements Pieper in Herstal, Belgium and and bears the WWI Imperial German army Gothic inspection stamps. Around 100,000 of these pistols were procured by Germany during the Great War with serial number range from 100643 to 199947. This pistol being number 172527. The size made it an ideal boot, pocket or hide away pistol, and analysis of those that were unit mark indicates that they were prodominently issued to machine gun regiments who required a small compact sidearm. This lovely example has matching numbers and its original grips and magazine. Included is a modified holster for this pistol. Note the magazine pouch has been modified / shortened to house the short Bayard magazine. Deactivated with a working action.