Barrel length 12.9 cm, weight 0.97 kg, year of manufacture 1914, no proof - collector's gun, condition 2.
Acceptance on the right "W-n Adler 14". The Steyr pistol M.12 was originally intended as an export weapon for Romania. Due to the outbreak of World War I with an unexpectedly high demand for handguns, the M.12 was introduced more or less hastily in the fall of 1914 as an ordnance pistol in the k.u.k. Army. Our piece is in practically mint condition with only the slightest signs of wear. Rare opportunity to acquire a mint condition M.12! The predecessor of this pistol, the Steyr 1911, looks at first sight like the M.12, but differs in a few technical details. For example, the front sight is fixed to the slide, while on the M.12 it is adjustable in the dovetail. The Model 1911 was introduced in Chile as an army pistol and the M.12 initially only in Romania. The weapon system of both models has a rotary barrel lock and is loaded with loading strips of 8 cartridges. After World War I, the M.12 was used not only in the successor states of the Danube Monarchy, but also in Austria by the First Federal Army and the Gendarmerie. After the "annexation " in 1938, the Austrian M.12s were changed to 9 mm Luger caliber in Steyr and used by the now German police. After World War II, the M.12 still served with the Austrian Federal Gendarmerie until the introduction of the FN-Browning High-Power M35.
Founded in 1864 by Josef Werndl as an arms factory and sawmill, it became the Österreichische Waffenfabrik ÖWG in 1869. With over 15,000 employees, ÖWG was the largest arms manufacturer in Europe. In 1626, the company became Steyr-Werke AG. The period between the two world wars was marked by several renamings and expansions, and after the Second World War, a large conglomerate was formed, which, in addition to weapons, also produced trucks, tractors, gearboxes, roller bearings, engines and the Pandur wheeled tank, until the various divisions were outsourced or sold. Some of the inventions and developments have had a lasting influence on weapons technology, including the tabernacle breech, the Mannlicher M1895 multi-loading rifle, a self-loading pistol and, of course, the world-famous Mannlicher Schoenauer hunting rifle. But also more modern systems like the SSG69, the AUG or the Monobloc continued the success story of Steyr Mannlicher until today.

Category: Pistols