Schüler Reform

Lore & Background

The Reform Pistole, often called the Schüler Reform, was produced between 1907 and 1914 at August Schüler's factory in Suhl, with some licensed production at other factories. It is sometimes referred to as the Breveté, a stamp on the magazine indicating 'patented', or by its patent number D.R.P 177023. The design replaces the cylinder of a double-action revolver with a magazine-like block containing four chambers and barrels arranged vertically. Each barrel holds one cartridge, and the entire assembly slides down into the frame, similar to the clip of a top-load bolt-action rifle or the chamber block of a harmonica gun. When loaded, the uppermost barrel stops slightly below the hammer. A small spring-loaded stud at the bottom rear of the magazine provides friction to prevent it from falling out. The trigger connects to a lever that moves upward when pulled, engaging a rack-like series of indentations on the back of the magazine to raise it so the next barrel aligns with the hammer. At the end of the trigger pull, the hammer is released and fires that round. The lower three barrels have a small hole drilled into the barrel above them; when fired, gas from the round ports into the barrel above, ejecting the cartridge case rearward. The hammer has a large extension on top that deflects the shell away from the user's face. The bottom-most barrel has no next round to eject it, so that shell must be removed manually. A notch on the top of the magazine aids in removing it upward by pinching with the forefinger and thumb.

Reader's Guide

The Schüler Reform represents a distinctive attempt to address the bulk of traditional double-action revolvers by substituting a vertically sliding block of four barrels and chambers. Its mechanism, which raises the block via a trigger-linked lever engaging indentations, mirrors the indexing action of a revolver cylinder but in a linear fashion. The gas-porting system for ejecting spent cases from the upper three barrels is an unusual solution, though the bottom barrel requires manual extraction. The pistol's production was limited to the years 1907–1914 at August Schüler's factory in Suhl, with some licensed manufacture elsewhere. Its legacy lies in its mechanical ingenuity and rarity, as the design did not see widespread adoption. The Reform is sometimes known as the Breveté or by its patent number D.R.P 177023, reflecting its patented nature. Today, it is primarily of interest to collectors of early 20th-century firearms and those studying alternative pistol actions.

Did You Know?

• The Schüler Reform uses a vertically sliding block of four chambers and barrels instead of a revolving cylinder.
• Gas from a fired round is ported into the barrel above to eject the cartridge case rearward.
• The bottom-most barrel's spent case must be removed manually, as there is no barrel above to port gas.
• The pistol is sometimes called the Breveté due to a 'patented' stamp on the magazine.