RARE Semmerling Manually Operated Slide LM-4 .45 ACP Hard Crome Plated Repeating Pistol 45ACP
Sold For: $6,138
LSB#: 130515MP01
Make: Semmerling
Model: LM-4
Serial Number: 135
Year of Manufacture: 1980s
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Manually Operated Slide, Repeating Pistol
Markings: The right side of the slide is marked “Cal .45 ACP”, and “Std. Mil. Spec. Ctg. Only / 135”. The left side of the slide is marked “Mod. LM-4 / Patents Pending” and “Semmerling Corp. / Boston, Mass.” The left side of the frame is marked with the serial number “135”.
Barrel Length: 3 5/8”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a fixed blade. The rear sight is a notch in the top of the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are smooth dark walnut, nicely grained. There are no visible cracks or losses. The grips rate in about Excellent overall condition.
Type of Finish: Hard Chrome Plating
Finish Originality: All Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp and deep. There is fouling from firing in the bore, but there is no apparent erosion.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 99% of its metal finish. There are a few handling/compression marks on the left side of the frame. It is difficult to tell if this occurred after leaving the factory. There are few other marks of any kind. The screw heads are sharp and undamaged. The markings are clear. Overall, this handgun rates in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly, if not weirdly. We did not fire this handgun.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Two four shot magazines are provided.
Our Assessment: From Wikipedia:” The goal of the LM4 was to achieve a combination of the highest practical firepower in as small and light a gun as possible, so as to be easily concealable. This was approached by selecting the service caliber of .45 ACP for its proven stopping power and opting for a manual repeating mechanism to minimize bulk and weight and ensure flawless operation in the most difficult situations. Because of this the LM4 was first offered to the U.S. Army and government agencies. The Semmerling LM4 has 33 parts (including screws), making it one of the simplest guns ever made. In the original design, every part except for the springs was made of high-quality S-7 tool steel. Every pistol was Magnafluxed (a method of testing ferrous metals for surface and subsurface flaws) twice in their assembly, making the LM4 one of the most carefully constructed pistols produced. Each pistol was essentially handmade to order with production averaging a little over ten pieces a month, while maintaining very strict quality control procedures to ensure a high degree of reliability and functionality. Of the LM4 model, only about 600 were ever produced. Although the Semmerling was intended as a back-up pistol for those most at risk of having their primary weapon taken from them, some adopted the pistol as a “hide-out” weapon. Capable of a “shot-a-second” firing rate, a practiced shooter can achieve an outstanding shooting performance. With the magazine loaded and a round in the chamber, the Semmerling LM4 is capable of carrying five .45 ACP rounds.” That pretty much says it all. This is a rare and high quality handgun. Colonel Jeff Cooper was a big fan.
