Austro-Hungarian Rast Gasser Revolvers

Rast & Gasser M1898 Army Revolver

Maker: Rast & Gasser, Ottakring, Vienna, 1898-1918
Type: solid-frame revolver
Caliber: 8mm Rast & Gasser (8.1x27mm, 8.2x27.5mm)
Length overall: 8.86" (225mm) Barrel: 4.57" (116mm) rifled
Weight unloaded: 850g
Magazine: 8-chamber cylinder
Muzzle velocity: 787 fps (240m/s)

'Red' photos courtesy of CollectibleFirearms.com

The last handgun to carry Gasser's name was the 8mm Rast & Gasser Model 1898 service revolver (double action), adopted by the army of Austria-Hungary. This revolver was intended for issue to NCOs and officers of the army, altough most appear to have found their way into military use by direct purchase. The M1898 was a very well made weapon that had several unusual features for a revolver. One was a method of stripping which was effected by pulling down on the trigger guard. Another was the very positive safety. This 8-shot solid-frame pattern had an ejector rod beneath the barrel. The Abadie-type loading gate on the right side of the frame behind the cylinder disconnected the hammer from the trigger when it was opened for loading. The trigger mechanism could be used in either a single or double-action mode. The angular Rast & Gasser had its grip too square to the bore to aid instinctive shooting. The frame is marked 'PATENT RAST & GASSER WIEN' above the trigger. The serial numbers are on the left side of the frame and barrel, an on the cylinder. During WW2 the M1898 revolver was still in widespread use in Central Europe and the Balkans, and numbers were in use with the Italian Army. The main reason for this retention was undoubtedly the high standard of manufacture used in this revolver.

Cylinder removal:

1. Turn the loading gate to the horizontal opened position
2. Pull the ejector assembly latch downward and turn it slightly, so it's side lug will lock it in position
3. Pull the ejector assembly and the attached cylinder base pin forward out of the frame
4. Remove the cylinder toward the right.

Acceptance date - Serial numbers tabulation:

Wn15:  41989 -  53400
Wn16:  71364 - 102700
Wn17:
Wn18:  173056 - 187391

Rast & Gasser M1898 Revolver with Tambour patent grip safety

An extremely rare version of the Rast Gasser M1898. This revolver has an additional grip safety, patented by Joseph Tambour of Wien, patent #9360. Only 4 revolvers are known with this modification. May worth US$5000.
This revolver is referred to on page 248-49 of Joschi Schuy's Gasser Revolver book.
Known serials: 10499

Rast & Gasser M1898 Belgian 7.62mm Revolver

The copy of the Rast & Gasser M1898, made by Manufacture Liegeoise d'Armes ('ML'). 'ML' is stamped on the cylinder. Caliber 7.62x39mm Nagant.
The cylinder and the barrel were redesigned for the Nagant cartridge. The barrel and the butt were shortened to make the revolver smaller.

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