Hi folks,<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o
></o>
<o> </o>
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>
<o> </o>
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>
<o> </o>
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>
<o> </o>
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>
<o> </o>
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).
<o></o>
Douglas.
></o><o
> </o>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><o
> </o>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><o
> </o>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><o
> </o>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><o
> </o>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).
<o
></o> Douglas.
Comment