Clement Model 1902
Charles Ph. Clement · Pistol · Out Of Production · 1902
Also known as: Clement Mle 1902, Clement Automatic Pistol Model 1902
Overview
The Clement Model 1902 is a Belgian semi-automatic blowback pocket pistol designed by Charles Philibert Clement and built in Liege. It is the earliest of Clement's automatic pistols and the immediate predecessor of the better-known Model 1903, from which it differs only in minor early-production details. Chambered for the proprietary 5mm Clement cartridge, it is distinguished by a recoil spring mounted above the bolt and a fixed under-slung barrel. The 1902-to-1903 transition happened very early in production, so surviving Model 1902 examples are exceptionally rare.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 440 g (15.5 oz) |
| Overall Length | 130 mm (5.12") |
| Barrel Length | 70 mm (2.76") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 313 m/s (1027 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 88 J (65 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 15 m (16 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Slide Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 5mm Clement (5x18mm SR) · primary — also known as 5mm Clement Auto, 5x18mm Clement, 5mm Charola
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Recoil Spring Above Bolt, Fixed Barrel, Ebonite Grips
Production
Production years: 1902-1903
No precise total survives; the Model 1902 is considered extremely rare, with only a few known examples before production shifted to the Model 1903.
Origin
Country of origin: Belgium
Designer: Charles Ph. Clement
Discontinued: 1903
Notes
The design was protected by British patent No. 5180 of 1903. Only a handful of Model 1902 pistols are known to survive, making it a scarce collector piece. The 5mm Clement cartridge fired a long, lightweight bullet that was inadequately stabilized and tended to tumble in flight.
Background
The first pistol from the Belgian gunmaker Charles Clement, the Model 1902 was superseded almost immediately by the near-identical Model 1903, leaving so few 1902s in existence that surviving examples are prized by early-automatic-pistol collectors.