fixed cylinder with mechanical rod ejection. It is chambered for the 11.3mm cartridge and fitted with a 7.3" round barrel. The non-fluted cylinder holds 6 rounds. The frame and barrel were iron, not steel. Checkered wooden grips with lanyard loop. Built by the Austrian firm of Leopold Gasser, and marked “L.GASSER, WIEN, PATENT, OTTAKRING.” Weight is about 53 oz., or 3.3 lbs., making it one of the heaviest military service revolvers of its time. When the Model 1878 was introduced and adopted by the Austro-Hungarian army, the Model 1870 was sold to the Balkan States and was sometimes referred to as the “Montenegrin” revolver.
Model 1870 • Courtesy J. B. Wood
Model 1870/74 Gasser Trooper’s Model
Similar to the above model but built with cast steel instead of iron. It was issued from 1874 to 1919. Built by the Austrian firm of Leopold Gasser. Weight is still about 53 oz.
Model 1878 Officer’s Model
Because the Model 1870 revolver was so heavy and large, Johann Gasser, Leopold’s younger brother, designed a smaller version chambered for the 9mm (9x26) cartridge. The barrel length was 4.8" and the overall length was reduced as well. The weight of this revolver was about 27 oz.
Model 1898 Rast & Gasser
This model was built on the Schmidt-Galand double action solid frame with 8-round cylinder with loading gate and mechanical ejection rod. Chambered for the 8mm cartridge and fitted with a 4.5" round barrel. The caliber was too light to be effective as a military sidearm. The firing pin was a spring-loaded frame-mounted plunger instead of the more common hammer mounted type. Checkered wooden grips with lanyard loop. In service from 1898 to 1938. Weight is about 33 oz.
Courtesy Geschichte und Technik der europaischen Militarrevolver,
Journal-Verlag Schwend GmbH with permission
Model 1898 • Paul Goodwin photo
STEYR
Osterreichische Waffenfabrik Gesellschaft GmbH,
Steyr (1869-1919)
Steyr-Werke AG (1919-1934)
Steyr-Daimler-Puch, Steyr (1934-1990)
Steyr-Mannlicher GmbH, Steyr (1990-)
Steyr Model 1893 Gas Seal Test Revolver
Chambered for the 8mm cartridge this 7-shot 5.5" barrel revolver was built by Steyr as a prototype for the Austrian army. Fewer than 100 were built. Several different variations. It is recommended that an expert be consulted prior to a sale.
Courtesy Geschichte und Technik der europaischen Militarrevolver,
Journal-Verlag Schwend GmbH with permission
Roth Steyr Model 1907
Based on the patents granted to Karel Krnka and Georg Roth, the 8mm Model 1907 had a rotating barrel locking system and was the first self-loading pistol adopted by the Austro-Hungarian army. It was also the first successful double action automatic pistol. Add 20 percent for early Steyr examples without a large pin visible on right side of frame, or for those made in Budapest instead of Steyr.
Courtesy Joseph Schroeder
Steyr Hahn Model 1911
The Steyr Hahn was originally introduced as a commercial pistol but was quickly adopted by the Austro-Hungarian, Chilean, and Romanian militaries. Magazine capacity is 8 rounds. Weight is about 30 oz. Commercial examples were marked “Osterreichische Waffenfabrik Steyr M1911 9m/m” on the slide, have a laterally adjustable rear sight, and are rare. Austrian militaries are marked simply “STEYR” and the date of manufacture, while those made for Chile and Romania bear their respective crests. Some of the Romanian or Chilean contract pistols have been imported to the U.S. recently. These were refinished and had the crests ground off.
During WWII the Germans rebarreled a number of Steyr Hahns to 9mm Parabellum for police use, adding “P.08” to the slide along with appropriate Waffenamt markings. The German army designation for this pistol was “Pistole Mod 12(o).”
Steyr Hahn Model 1911 with Chilean crest • Courtesy Orvel Reichert
Close-up of slide showing conversion number “08” for 9x19 caliber • Courtesy Orvel Reichert
FEG (Frommer) Stop Model 19
Introduced in 1912 and took a whole new approach compared to any of the pistols this company had produced to that point. It is still unconventional as it uses two recoil springs in a tube above the barrel and resembles an air pistol in this way. It is chambered for 7.65mm or 9mm short and has a 3.75" barrel. The detachable magazine holds 7 rounds, and the sights are fixed. This locked-breech action, semi-automatic pistol was a commercial success. It was used widely by the Austro-Hungarian military during WWI. It was manufactured between 1912 and 1920.
Courtesy James Rankin
Glock 17
Adopted
