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Austro-Hungarian Steyr Pieper Pistols |
Manufactured by OEWG Steyr 1909-1914 and 1921-1939?
Type: automatic pistol (blowback)
Chambering: 6.35mm Auto (.25acp)
Length overall: 4.92" (125mm)
Weight unloaded: 11.5oz (325g)
Barrel: 2.24in (57mm) rifled
Magazine: 6-round detachable box
Originally intended for commercial sale, this is the pocket version of the
Steyr-Pieper M1908 pistol and 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 pocket pistol for Austro-Hungarian Military
officers and Police departments.
Manufacture was suspended in 1914, resumed in 1921, and continued until 1939.
The 1939 date is questionable, as no post-1928 dated pistol has been reported.
The grips have the 'OWG' logo and 'STEYR'.
The Legend on the left side of the frame: 'OESTERR. WAFFENFABRIKS-GES. STEYR'
and on the left side of the barrel: 'PAT.No.9379-05 No.25025-06'. The manufacturing
date, such as '14.' for 1914 appears on the left side of the barrel.
Pistol shown with the slide open.
The Legend on the right side of the frame: 'N. PIEPER PATENT'
and on the right side of the barrel (not all pistols): 'NPv' (Nitro-Proof mark)
and further forward on the barrel: 'PAT.ENGL.No.16715-08 + No.40335'.
Pistol/holster photos courtesy of Darrell Goss
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Post-War pocket pistol with the new Austrian 'STEYR' logo grips. 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 on a 1928
dated pistol as shown:
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1909 - 12342 A 1914 - 46900 A 1921 - 65500 A 192? - 104933 A 1928 - 127800 A