RARE Chrome Semmerling Corp LM-4 LM4 .45 ACP Derringer Pistol, 1979-1982
SOLD FOR: $4,676
LSB#: 240401TA001
Make: Semmerling Corporation of Boston, Massachusetts
Model: LM-4
Serial Number: 277
Year of Manufacture: 1979-1982
Caliber: .45 ACP
Action Type: Double Action Only, Manually Operated, Removable Magazine Fed Pistol
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “MOD. LM-4 / PATENTS PENDING” and “SEMMERLING CORP. / BOSTON, MASS.”, the right side is marked “CAL. .45 ACP” and “STD. MIL. SPEC. CTG. ONLY / 277”. The right side of the frame is marked “277”.
Barrel Length: 3 5/8”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated ramped blade integral to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a square notch integral to the rear of the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered black plastic panels. The right panel is cracked at each mounting screw. There are a few scattered minor nicks and scratches. The checkering is well defined. Overall, the grips are in about Good condition.
Type of Finish: Satin Chrome
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 10 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 97% of its metal finish. There are a couple of tiny flecks of finish loss on the muzzle at the seam between the barrel and the slide. There are a few scattered minor scratches and scuffs. The action shows minor operational wear. The screw heads have strong sockets. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Fine condition and would rate Excellent but for the cracks in the grip.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The double action only trigger pull is smooth. The slide can be pulled forward to extract a fired case and pulled to the rear to load the next cartridge. There is a lever on the right of the frame which can lock the slide, the trigger must be depressed slightly, then the lever pressed down and held, then the trigger released to set the lock. The lock disengages automatically if the trigger is depressed. We did not fire this handgun. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a single 4-round magazine.
Our Assessment: While this pistol seems quite unconventional, even weird, everything makes sense once the design principle is laid out. How do you make the most compact, concealable, most reliable, most durable, and simplest repeating .45 ACP pistol? In the late 1970s, you track down engineer and inventor Philip Lichtman and you get the Semmerling LM-4. With only 33 parts, manual operation and a locked breech, it’s about as simple and reliable as a repeater gets. At about 5 1/4″x4″x1″x1/4″, it’s about as small as you’ll get a repeating .45 ACP. Constructed from S7 tool steel and with parts examined by x-ray multiple times during production, you won’t find many tougher guns. While extensive hand-fitting, attention to detail, and a refusal to cut corners likely ended up pricing the Semmerling LM-4 out of production, it certainly succeeded in fulfilling its goals. Fewer than 600 of these pistols were produced before the name, design and tooling were sold to American Derringer and Semmerling closed their doors. It is speculated, based on the strict requirements for durability, reliability and concealability, that the pistol was developed at the behest of some shadowy government agency, but they were also offered for retail sale and are now quite the hot collector item. This example is a very rare factory satin chrome finished pistol. The pistol itself is in wonderful condition with a great bore and strong mechanics, though the right panel has cracks as are common for this model. This exceptionally well built and exceedingly rare pistol will make a great addition to any collection. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California -Bud
