Gasser
The Gasser firm of Ottakring, Vienna, and St. Polten designed and produced the majority of military handguns adopted and used by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Leopold Gasser began operations as Leopold Gasser K.u.K. Hof-und Armee-Waffenfabrik in 1862 to manufacture revolvers based on the Beaumont-Adams patents (Ezell, 1981: 90). The family business eventually passed on to his brother, Johann, in 1871 and finally to August Gasser in 1903. The firm reorganized as Rast & Gasser but eventually went out of business about 1912. During its heyday, Gasser proved to be one of the most prolific arms makers in central Europe, manufacturing some 100,000 pistols a year. These included weapons not only for Austria- Hungary but also for a number of Balkan powers. The firm’s better-known designs were based on the Lefaucheaux double-action mechanism and known as the Montenegrin Gassers, owing to their popularity and association with that kingdom.
Gasser-Kropatschek Model 1876
Gasser Model 1898 Army Revolver
Gasser-Kropatschek Model 1876 and Rast & Gasser Model 1898 Army Revolver
The Gasser-Kropatschek Model 1876 Officer’s Revolver is essentially a scaled-down model 1870/74 redesigned by Alfred Kropatschek and chambered for a caliber 9mm cartridge. As manufactured by Gasser and a number of other firms, examples of the Model 1876 often exhibit lavish engraving, inlays, and grips in keeping with their owners’ status. The Rast & Gasser Model 1898 Army Revolver marked the firm’s last significant contribution to pistol design and manufacture. It is a solid-frame, 8mm revolver with an eight-cartridge capacity. Capable of both single- and double- action operation, the Model 1898 is loaded through a loading gate that is also fitted with a safety device preventing the pistol from accidental discharge when open. An ejector rod is fitted beneath the barrel, and field-stripping is accomplished by pulling down on the trigger guard to open the mechanism. The Model 1898’s main defect lies in the extremely severe, L-shaped drop of its grip that ruins its natural aiming characteristics. Still, it is an exceptionally well-made and -finished weapon, and numbers continued in service in central Europe and Italy through World War II.
Roth-Steyr Model 1907
Roth-Steyr Model 1912
Roth-Steyr Models 1907 and 1912
Austria-Hungary finally moved to replace its aging Rast-Gasser revolvers with the Roth-Steyr 8mm Pistol Model 1907 and the 9mm Steyr Pistol Model 1912. Österreichische Waffenfabrik Gesellschaft (Steyr) manufactured some 60,000 Model 1907s; Fegyvergyr of Budapest produced another 30,000. The Model 1907, or Repetier Pistole M. 07, served as Austria’s first semiautomatic pistol and, issued to the Kaiserliche und Königliche Armee (Ku.K), saw wide use during World War I. Its well-publicized use by aircrews during the war also earned it the title Flieger-Pistole (Flyer Pistol). Austrian pistols were stamped with the Austrian double-headed eagle and date, with Hungary marking its pistols with the country’s crest and date of issue. A brass disk fixed to the right grip panel denoted regimental issue. In addition to Austria-Hungary, the Model 1907 also saw service with the Australian Air Service.
The Model 1907 is a recoil-operated weapon and was designed by Georg Roth and Karel Krnka. Its 10-round internal magazine in the grip is loaded with chargers or stripper clips. The Model 1907 is also somewhat unusual in that although the action of the breech mechanism reloads the pistol it does not cock its striker. The striker was activated by an independent trigger mechanism that, as in a double-action, required a deliberate and heavy trigger pull to cock and fire the pistol. This feature was most probably intended as a safety measure, as the Model 1907 was initially destined for issue to cavalry units. It may have lessened the chances of accidental discharge while on horseback, but unfortunately for infantrymen and others it did make the Model 1907 difficult to aim accurately. The Roth-Steyr was a well-built weapon but was expensive and difficult to manufacture. It was also somewhat bulky, with a large knob on the rear of its bolt, giving it something of the appearance of a child’s ray gun.
The most widely issued semiautomatic pistol among Austrian forces during World War I was chambered for the 9mm Steyr cartridge and was known by a number of names. It was variously called the Model 1911 (or M11) in its civilian version, the Steyr Pistol Model 1912 (or M12) in its military form, and officially as the Selbstiade Pistol M12. It was also popularly known as the Steyr Hahn, (hahn meaning to “hand” or “hammer”), in contrast to earlier hammerless models. Some 250,000 Model 1912s were manufactured and issued before Steyr ended its production in 1919. The Model 1912 was also used by Chile and Romania, and during World War II a number were rebarreled to 9mm Parabellum and issued to Nazi troops. The slides of Nazi reissue Model 12s were stamped “08” to distinguish them from their original 9mm Steyr chamberings.
Unlike the Model 1907, the Model 1912 was more conventional in its outer appearance, superficially resembling the squared lines of the Colt-Brownings of its day. Still, the eight-round magazine, although located in the grip, was not removable and was charged by means of stripper clips guided by a slot machined into the top of the slide. It was also fitted with a hold-open device that keeps the slide open after firing the magazine’s last cartridge. This was a distinct advantage to combat troops in that it alerted them to an empty magazine in the heat of battle. The Model 1912 was equipped with a thumb safety on the left side of the frame near the hammer, and another safety prevents the pistol from discharging unless the slide was fully closed. Despite such measures, it was still possible for the Model 1912’s main safety to become partially disengaged, allowing it to accidentally fire.
The locking of the action was accomplished by means of corresponding slots and ribs in the barrel and inside of the slide. Upon ignition, the barrel and slide remain locked during the initial recoil, but as the bullet passed through the barrel the internal cams twisted the barrel to the left, freeing the slide and allowing it to continue in its rearward cycle. This movement opened the action to eject the casing, cocks the pistol’s exposed hammer, and strips a fresh cartridge from the magazine. The Model 1912 was a rugged pistol but, as were other Steyr designs, already outdated when it was introduced, owing to its lack of a detachable magazine.
