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Austro-Hungarian STEYR Pistols |
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Manufactured by OEWG Steyr 1908-1914 and 1921-1939? Type: automatic pistol (blowback) Chambering: 7.65mm Auto (.32acp) Length overall: 6.38" (162mm) Weight unloaded: 22.2oz (630g) Barrel: 3.62" (92mm) rifled 6 grooves, rh Magazine: 7-round detachable box |
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Originally intended for commercial sale, this pistol was built to the patents
of Nicolas Pieper of Liege, Belgium. This was an unusual blowback pistol with a
tip-down barrel. The barrel was retained with a pivoting bolt and it was held by
a thumb-latch barrel-locking mechanism. The recoil-spring rod ended in a hook
engaging a lug on the slide, disengaging automatically when the breech was raised. The Steyr gun differed from the Pieper pattern in the following minor details: The angle of the pistol grip was increased, the grips were attached with 2 screws instead of 1, the barrel was lengthened, the rear sight was revised. This was a favorite private purchase pistol for Austro-Hungarian Military officers and Police departments. Manufacture was suspended in 1914, resumed in 1921, and continued until 1939(?), however no post-1928 dates have been reported. The pocket version of this Pistol is the Steyr-Pieper M1909 |
The Legend on the left side of the receiver: 'OESTERR. WAFFENFABRIKS-GES. STEYR'
and on the left side of the barrel: 'PAT.No.9379-05 u No.25025-06'. A 1910 dated
pistol has a 3rd Patent number here 'No. 16715-08', however several other samples
show this 3rd patent number on the right side of the pistol.
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The Legend on the right side of the receiver: 'N. PIEPER PATENT' and on the right side of the barrel: 'NPv' (a Nitro-Proof mark) and further forward: 'PAT.No.40335'. Both grips have the 'OWG' logo and 'STEYR'. |
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This pistol was manufactured in 1911 and LandWehr accepted in 1914. Military acceptance marks are not common. |
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Post-War pistol with the new Austrian 'STEYR' logo grips, but the slide-grip
area is similar to the pre-war version. The left and right side legends are
similar to the pre-war version except 'MADE IN AUSTRIA' was added after 'STEYR'
on the left side of the receiver. 
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Due to some problems experienced with the original 1908 slide, a more heavy
duty slide was designed, which was used to replace old slides. A hard rubber recoil
buffer was also added at the back of the new slide. Once the updated slide is
installed on the M1908 it become the M1908/34. This photo shows a 1928 dated pistol, has original style grips, but it lacks both left and right side legends. Some sources indicate these pistols were manufacured until 1939, however no post-1928 dates were reported/confirmed yet |
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A 1921 dated pistol with post-war 'STEYR' marked grips. There are no legends on the '08/34' slides. |
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1930's Austrian State Security Police issued pistols were marked with 'SW' (Sicherheitswache Waffen) on the rear grip strap. |
1910: 18800 1911: 23960 - 32760 (some accepted Lw14) 1912: 1920: 43406 1921: 42500 - 48361 1923: 51991 P 1928: 54350 P - 59200 P