Roth-steyr M7 And Its Battle Story

[Douglas Jr.]

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I´m back with another old battle horse. Let me present you my somewhat weary Roth-Steyr M7 (or Repetierpistole 1907), serial number 6631, made by the Waffenfabrik Steyr. Chambered to the 8mm Steyr, it has a fixed magazine feed by a clip with 10 rounds. Those pistols were made between 1907 and 1914 by two plants: Waffenfabrik Steyr (60,000 guns made) and the Budapest Arsenal (30,000).<o></o>

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Intended to be used by the Cavalry – the infantry units used the Steyr-Hahn 1912 - , they were later issued to mountain troops as well aerial detachments (Fliegertruppen). Very well made, those guns remained in use up to WWII, with some second line troops and partisan groups. Note that the gun does not have the visible pin on the right side, which is typical of early production guns.<o></o>

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One the most interesting things in this gun is the trigger system. It works as a pre-historical double action system: when you pull the slide, the firing pin remains in an intermediary position (semi-cocked). When you press the trigger the firing pin goes back even more until be released and hit the bullet.<o></o>

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But it was the small disc in the center of the right wodden grip that leads me to one of the most exciting research of my collector´s life. In fact the inscription in the disc – 15 D R 182 – means 182<SUP>nd</SUP> gun of the 15º Dragoon Regiment. <o></o>

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Knowing this, I started to research the unit. (At this point I´d like to thank the Members of this forum as well Mr. Glenn Jewison from the Austro-Hungarian Army Forum. In the following you will read about the battle story of this unit (and where my particular gun was used during the World War I).
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Douglas.

[Douglas Jr.]

ROTH-STEYR M7 - part II

The complete name of the unit was Dragoner Regiment Erzherzog Joseph (Archduke Joseph) Nr 15 and the regimental Headquarter before the War was Wiener-Neustadt. until the late summer of 1916 Dragonerregiment Erzherzog Joseph Nr.15 was an integral part of the 21st Cavalry Brigade of the 4th Cavalry Division. As usch it was deployed exclusively on the Galician front against the Russian Army. It took part in the great cavalry battle at Jarowslawice on <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:date Year="1914" Day="21" Month="8">the 21st of August 1914</st1:date> when it came into action against the Russian 10th Cavalry Division.

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[Douglas Jr.]

ROTH-Stey M7 - part III

It saw further action at Zloczów from the 26th to 28 August, the Gnila Lipa on the 29th and 30th August, Rawa-Ruska - Lemberg from 6th to the 11th of September followed by the withdrawal behind the River San and further to the River Dunajec. It advanced to the San again from 4th to 12th October and at Przemysl from the 10th Oct to 4th November. Following the action at Lawrów the division withdrew to the <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 /><ST1lace>Carpathian Mountains</ST1lace>, saw further fighting on the upper Dunajec and at the battle of Limanowa-Lapanów in the first two weeks of December 1914.

The regiment spent the winter of 1914/15 in the Carpathian Mountains and then took part in the Gorlice-Tarnów offensive in May, the engagemant at Sanok and the pursuit of the Russian forces to the East seeing fighting at Luck and at Rowno in the late summer. It remained on the Southern Sector of the Eastern Front throughout the remainder of 1915 and the first part of 1916.<?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O /><O></O>

[Douglas Jr.]

ROTH-STEYR M7 - part IV

At some stage either in late 1916 or early 1917 the the 15th Dragoons were detached from the 21st Cavalry Brigade and became utilised as Divisional Cavalry Squadrons. A summer 1918 Order of battle shows squadrons under command of the following divisions:

1. Schwadron - 25th Infantry Division<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o></o>

2. Schwadron - 4th Infantry Division<o></o>

3. Schwadron - 13th Schützen Division<o></o>

4. Schwadron - 46th Schützen Division

[Douglas Jr.]

ROTH-STEYR M7 - part VI

Wartime Regimental Commanders:<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o></o>


Oberstleutnant/Oberst Otto Graf von Huyn: Dec 1910- Sep 1914<o></o>

Oberstleutnant/Oberst Alfred Brósch Edler von Fohraheim: Sep 14-Dec 17<o></o>

Oberstleutnant/Oberst Franz Neusser: Dec 17 - Nov 18<o></o>

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Well, this time this gun really tealked to me. You all can imagine how our mind becomes fulfilled with images of cavalry charges on the frequently forgotten Eastern Front during that war. <o></o>

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This gun really surprised me and I decided to share this (long) story with you all. Hope you enjoy it.<o></o>

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Regards,<o></o>

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<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1lace>Douglas</st1lace>. <o></o>

[Douglas Jr.]

ROTH STEYR M7 - part VII

Another overall view of this old battle horse. Now we can imagine where it was ninety years ago...

[Douglas Jr.]

ROTH-STEYR M7 - part VIII

And here are the owners... Mountain trooper during the WWI. The guy on the left is holding a Roth-Steyr. The Machine gun is a Schwarzlose M1908.

Great pic!

[Douglas Jr.]

ROTH-STEYR M7 - part IX

Here is the last view!

[Bill Grist]

Roth Steyr

Very nice Roth-Steyr,and very good story.. I have one Dated 1909, Austrian unit marked in the marking disk 15-D-R-27. With 09 dated brown holster..What is unique about this weapon is that it was reissued By the Germans to the R.F.V. (REICH FINANCE) in 1939. The holster has a additional date of 39 and the R.F.V. control or inventory numbers on the pistol are in the same sequence as a 1939 manufactured Walther pp issued to the R.F.V. This weapon was brought home by a GI. at the end of WW2 wfg

[Ronnie Fry]

Wonderful Story!!

Here is the last view!

Doug,
Thanks so much to you and those who assisted you in this spellbinding history. You have brought to life what most of us can only imagine about our hobby. This old Steyr is really a "star". The photos are great as well.

Kudos to all involved in this effort!!

Ronnie

[Douglas Jr.]

Thanks...

Hi folks,

Thanks for your kind words. As I said on another thread, I always love pistols with this kind of mark.

Regards,

Douglas.

[Matt Weber]

Douglas,

I agree. A truely great pistol, and expertly researched history of it! Very well done my friend!

I too, love to research the historical aspects of some of my firearms. Unfortunately, sometimes it is next to impossible if you don't have markings such as yours, or a paper trail to follow.

Matt

[Edtul]

Roth-steyr M7 and its battle story

Great thread Douglas. I'm a new member "threading" my way through this site. My M7 is SN 38237 and 16LR 150 on the handle circle. It's in very good condition. Question; are the clips available for this? I would like to have one at least to round the gun out. Thanks,
Edtul

[Jan Balcar]

Very interesting early pistol without disconnector. Note the missing disconnector spindle on right frame side. Late pistols have modified trigger system with disconnector (Austrian patent No. 40 397). Early pistols were commonly reworked.

[JoeW]

They are an interesting pistol, especially when trying to field strip one. Watch out. I would consider the trigger pull system to be a safety mechanism rather than a double action. It is the only safety on the pistol. The initial trigger pull permits the striker to move when the pull is completed. There is no other safety on the pistol and the trigger safety was designed for safety by mounted forces that could use only one hand. The design was used in modern pistols.

A double-action semi-auto action would be found in the Vz 38. My M7 is marked for use by the Austrian Federal Gendarmerie on the grip disc. As the pre-Anschluss Gendarmerie was absorbed into the III Reich Gendarmerie, the gun remained in service.

Stripper clips are scarce, but can be found. You might look up Howard Resnick at the next large show like the SOS or gun show held during the same weekend.