Bergmann-Bayard pistol

The Bergmann-Bayard was a German-designed, recoil-operated semi-automatic pistol produced under license in Belgium. It grew out of the Bergmann Mars of 1901, the first Bergmann design aimed directly at the military market, which was tried against the Mauser C96, Mannlicher, Browning and Luger pistols. When no German firm could complete a Spanish order for about 3,000 pistols, Theodor Bergmann turned to the Belgian maker Anciens Etablissements Pieper, who sold it under the Bayard trademark. Spain adopted the Model 1903 in 1905 and the Model 1908 followed. Denmark adopted the Model 1910, took 4,840 of the first batch, and later built the improved Model 1910/21 in Copenhagen from 1922 to 1935; it stayed the standard Danish sidearm until 1946, when the Browning Hi-Power replaced it. German forces took over 1,000 to 2,000 Model 1910 pistols from the occupied Pieper factory, and Finland received some from Germany during its civil war. Its 9mm Largo cartridge became a long-lived Spanish pistol round. The article lists Denmark, Finland, Greece, Germany and Spain among users.