[George]

Stopped by local gun shop this afternoon and saw a Steyr 1916 for sale. Did not have a digital camera so was not able to take pictures to post. On the right side of trigger guard was WM16 and serial number is 9053. There is a K stamped on many places.

Gun seems to be matching and in 60-70% overall. They are asking $400.00. Is this something I should have in my collection?

Regards,

George

 

[Olefogey]

George,
It is definitely something you should have in your collection, however, I feel that $400.00 is a little high for a Steyr in 60-70% condition.The "K's" indicate manufacture by Steyr Waffenfabrik. I don't remember the other letter for Hungarian manufacture. All the parts in your pistol should have a "K" any other letter would indicate mixed parts. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong. By the way....they shoot very well (9mm Steyr). It didn't happen to have an 08 stamped on the left side of the slide and an E/L? Those are German Police reworks in 9mm Parabellum.

Dave

 

[PAOLO]

Dave
The R marking is on the parts of the FEGYVERGYAR made M07(only)guns.On the M12 guns you can find (else from the K letter) some little letters in a circle(they mean that the part was originally made for a Romenian M12 gun and the part was changed later or it was originally used for assembling an Austrian M12 at the beginning of the Military Austrian Army production(in 1914 the production changed without any discontinuation from the Romenian contract to the Austrian Army one-more the first Austrian Army ones are some fully Romenian markings bearing ones with the Wn14-eagle proof mark on the right side near the trigger(instead of the Romenian Arabian Fenix proof).
About the 08 marked ones,some are WW1 reworked guns,some are new made(1919 marked)made from leftover parts.

 

[Olefogey]

Paolo,
Thanks for the clarification. I have an M07, Austrian made, And the Hungarian one. I, erroneously thought that the K's and R's applied to the M12 also.

Thanks,

Dave

 

[George]

Dear Friends:

Here are the pictures of the Steyr. Any information would be much appreciated.

George



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[PAOLO]

George
You are very lucky indeed!
You've found a not so usual Bavarian Contract 1916 M12 Steyr.In 1916 the Bavarian Army needed to get more handguns(more than the numbers that DWM and Erfurt plants were able to issue) and placed an order to the Steyr Factory.The order was filled with 10.000 guns in 1916 and 6.000 guns in 1918.The guns differ from the plain Austrian Army ones only for the serial numbers(they dont include any letter-they run from 1 to 16.000 in a continous running).The gun looks like in good conditions,and the price in very far from the one of such a gun in Europe.
George
Next time,please,don't post a 10 minutes 22 pics bunch for what is possible to describe with 6-7 pics!(I know it's not my duty to suggest such things,but I was going to close the downloading when I saw that it was TOO long!)

 

[George]

Dear Paolo:

Many thanks for the information on this Steyr Hahn. My thinking is the more the better when it comes to pictures. However I sometimes forget that others do not have broadband cable internet connection and the pictures take a long time to download!

Thanks again Paolo for your posting and I assure you I will not post so many pictures on my next posting. However, I did reduce the pictures from 2576X1932 to 800x600 resolution! Thanks again my friend.

Regards,

George

 

[PAOLO]

George
I forgot a basic fact in my judge about the gun:Is the barrel matching?

 

[George]

Dear Paolo:

I did not know how to field strip the pistol so I do not know if matching or not. I have a book that shows how to field strip the pistol and I attempt this to see if matching. I read somewhere that there are 4 places that are stamped with matching numbers, frame, slide, barrel and another I forget at the moment.

With the slide pulled back I did not see any numbers on he barrel. One thing I did notice that the screw right above the safety on left side of the gun is out to far and the safety lever will not go all the way up. I guess the crew just has to be screwed further.

Are these pistols pretty straight forward field stripping or does it get tricky.

George

 

[George]

Regarding my Bavarian Steyr Hahn 1916 M12, I am please to advise that the barrel is matching to the gun and bore is great!

I was able to field strip it and re assembled it with out to much trouble. First times are always an adventure.

However, in two different reference gun books, it states to always insert the takedown latch bar from the right to left. However one book says to insert the takedown latch bar with the arrow up and the other says with arrow down. Would appreciates some options in this regard.

Also on the top of the slide, right behind the rear site, there is a number 2 followed by letter C. Can someone advise what these stamps mean.

Thanks again for all the information.

Regards,

George

 

[PAOLO]

George
Please look at the pics on my post about the 1918 Steyr M12 .That's the way the latch bar has to be inserted.

 

[George]

I am looking to purchase some reloadable 9mm Steyr ammo.

Regards,

George

 

[Olefogey]

Fiocchi makes it. I have fired quite alot of it any am quite satisfied.

Dave

 

[George]

Dear David:

I see Fiocchi makes it but they are currently out of stock and non in the pipeline! A distributor quoted me @34.99/box or 50 rounds. May I ask from who you purchased it do you have a lower price and do they stock it?

Regards,

George

 

[Olefogey]

The fellow I got it from was "Big Steve". He owns UNITED CARTRIDGES and is always at the Forks of the Delaware, Allentown Show or the "Big E" in West Springfield. I can't seem to put my hands on his phone number right now. I see you are from NY... Maybe you should try one of those shows if you are not too far upstate. The next one in Allentown is the 12th & 13th of Feb. I remember paying either $16.00 or $22.00 a box at the time. The trouble with Fiocchi is that you can only buy case lots to get a decent price. Sometimes they will only sell you a full case. Good Luck!

Dave

 

[George]

Dear Dave:

Thanks for the information. I attended the Albany, New York show this weekend with 450 tables and there was no 9mm Steyr to be had!. There were two ammo suppliers there however neither had the 9mm Steyr. My guess is because it is on backorder from Fiocchi.

I generally attend the Big E Gun Show in West Springfield, MA but next show is not until June 2005.

How many tables is the Forks of the Delaware Gun Show? I have never attended that show. It appears that it would be a 4-1/2 hour drive and that's a pretty good haul.

I would appreciate if and when you find Big Steve of United Cartridges telephone number so I could purchase from him. I don't need a case cause this Steyr Hahn is not something I am going to shoot on a regular basis. Once I have 150-200 empties I reload and will be all set.

Dave, what do you do with your spent 9mm Steyr brass? Possibly I could purchase it from you?

Thanks again for your help.

Regards,

George

 

[Olefogey]

George,
The Forks of the Delaware Show is about 800 - 1000 tables. It is supposed to be an Antique Arms Show, However I have purchased quite a few Axis pistols there. They just expanded the Allentown Fairgrounds exhibit hall to double the size.
At the Albany show, if one of the dealers was on the top row to your left when you enter and the other guy was diagonally opposite also on the top row.... I know them both. The guy on the left is Big Steve and the other guy is named Bob...he usually has his wife with him.
Sorry about the brass, I reload also!! If I come on any (loaded or empty), I'll pick them up for you and e-mail you. I promise i'll keep the price down!!! )


Dave

 

[George]

Dear Dave:

Have you been peeking over my shoulder? I can tell by your description that you must have attended the Albany, New York Gun Show as well. Yes you are 100% correct. Then I have meet Big Steve on several occasions as he is at most of the gun shows I attend. Since he is out of stock and Fiocchi has non on the way I do not believe he will have any 9mm Steyr available in the near future.

MY FRIEND DAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you reload, could you spare a box of Fiocchi 9mm Steyr if you happen to have one available? If not I understand.

The stuff in see online e bay I sure is Berdan(SP?) primers and would be a SOB to reload.

I guess I best keep on looking.

Regards,

George

PS Where about in New York are you located? Northern or Southern?

 

[Olefogey]

Dear George,
Sorry, I only have about 150 cases that I load. I did have quite a pile of old military stuff that went off at least 3 out of 5 cartridges!! The ones that didn't go off I pulled the bullets and used them to reload.
Actually, I live in lower New York...Westchester County.

Dave

 

[George]

Dear Dave:

No problem at all. Something that is scarce as hens teeth is not something one was to get rid of.

I found some GECO 9mm Steyr ammo made in Germany. It's a fair price but I am sure that this does not have a boxer primer and not reloadable.

I would appreciate if someone would confirm this.

Regards,

George

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