Ran across a blued Steyr GB today. Pistol and one mag on consignment for $725.00. Except for wear on top of the barrel the gun is probably 99%. Mag looks just as good, no buggered up feed lips, dents or dings, etc. A friend of mine with an FFL bought one back in the mid 1980's. Don't recall if it was new or used but it was the greenish parkerized finish. Don't remember what he paid and even though I shot it once or twice at the range I don't remember anything about the experience.

When handling the one today I was immediately reminded of my Beretta 92FS with regards to the grip. Almost an identical feel. Now like most folks I like my 92 just fine but the grip is a bit on the thick side. This Steyr felt the same, a little thick but doable. I haven't done any extensive research on the auction sites for pricing yet but off hand I don't that $725.00 is that bad at least for something I would basically purchase to add to the collection more than as a regular shooter or carry piece. I'd figure on paying less than sticker since it's a consignment piece. Maybe $675.00?

Did notice that prices on even well used mags are out of sight, $180-$250 per mag! I'm sure someone would have done it if it were possible but I wonder if a mag for a different pistol could be modified?

IIRC the GB, at 18+1 was one of the highest capacity 9x19's of it's time. The H&K VP70 was also 18+1 and I think it came out a little earlier so the GB probably wasn't the first to have this capacity. Anyone currently have a GB and care to voice an opinion on either the gun, value or both? TIA

Oh, the serial number on the GB was 07451 so if the 15,000-20,000 production figure is correct this one was some where in the first 1/3 to 1/2 of production if that has any bearing.

On a side note I ran across a NIB Rogak a few years back for $450.00. I knew it was predecessor to the GB but even NIB the workmanship was terrible. Gaps, rough edges, sloppy fit, you name it. Even as a potential collectible I don't think I would have taken it if it had been free.

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I think GB and VP 70 are tied for the heaviest trigger pull on a production gun from a major manufacturer. If they only sold 15-20 thousand of them, that is a pretty poor sales record. The Rogak was an interesting idea (very high mag cap.) but poorly executed. Apparently the engineering of the trigger mechanisim was so bad even Steyr couldn't figure out how to make them shootable. Considering the lack of mags, holsters or parts available, I don't think they will ever appreciate much in value. More of a curiosity or prime example of a great idea that didn't work out.

I have two; a blued Commercial and a phosphate Military. They're extremely accurate and very pleasant to shoot. I love mine!





I owned a VP70 back in the 80's and sold it because of the horrible trigger pull. The VP is a striker fired polymer frame gun with about a 20# trigger pull that's the same for every shot. Emptying a magazine was quite a work out! There's no comparison between it and the GB. The Steyr is a conventional DA/SA semi-auto with a steel frame and a slide mounted decocker. The DA pull is a bit heavy (nothing like the VP), but the SA pull is crisp and very manageable.

Disassembly of the Steyr is as simple as it gets, but the gun does get really dirty because of the retarded blow-back action. All the combustion gasses are dumped inside the slide. The reliability of mine has been flawless. Replacement parts are virtually non-existent (if needed), holsters are hard to find and as you noticed, magazines are very pricy. $675 sounds like a fair deal and I would encourage you to go for it. Cool guns!!

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I also have two, including one that is unfired since leaving the factory. Plus I have some spare parts

I like mine. As already noted, it does not have a target trigger however for a combat trigger I have no complaints. Mine is also quite accurate and reliable.

Hopefully aftermarket magazines will be availble early next year. They have been in the works for a while.

At the asking price of $725, I would probably make that purchase even thought I am already an owner. However I would also try and get them down a bit.

I remember when they first came out. I wanted one bad and I still keep an eye out for them. If that had been sitting in front of me in that condition I do not think I would walk away from it.

Well remember when they first hit the market. Local gun shop had a couple, but found them hard to move and no more were ordered.

Objections at the time were they were uglier than a SIG. The black crinkle finish paint used on some frames did not help any either. And the gas port precluded shooting cheap reloads using lead bullets.

Today such guns are not considered ugly, and it's almost rare to come across 9mm ammo with unclad lead bullets.

Owners stated they were quite accurate. It was designed specifically to allow a fixed barrel so as to increase accuracy over a tilting barrel design.

Interesting gas hesitation lock known as the Barnitzke system. Serious students of various firearms actions should probably have one of these in their collection, or the less common Rogak. Ditto those who collect 9mm handguns or just semi-auto handguns of all makes. The gas system had merit (indeed the HK P7 uses a gas lock) but the gun was just poorly executed. It's a dead end in the evolution of the "Wonder Nine".

It was designed for the Austrian Army. Steyr had made all their previous handguns and thought they were a shoo-in. Then a plastics designer named Gaston Glock came up from nowhere with a pistol design and suddenly Steyr was out in the cold.

"IIRC the GB, at 18+1 was one of the highest capacity 9x19's of it's time."

It's also one of the largest automatic pistols of all time...I had one and it was accurate and never once even tried to jam or fail to feed. The polygonal rifling means you cannot shoot lead bullets. I like to cast my own bullets for cheap practice, so that killed it for me. In it's day the size was just getting to be a factor. Right about the time these were available we were starting to see some reasonably sized nines that could more easily be concealed.

Years ago had an acquaintance in North Texas who attended Gun Site with a Steyr GB where he was severely criticized for his use of a "minor" caliber. He was determined to go back to his next Gun Site class with a 9mm load that would make Major and proceeded to reload accordingly. 2 cracked frames later he gave up. Minor is still minor.

shottist, nowadays there is a 9mm major. It's called a .357 SIG.

But if times had been a bit different, it could have been 356TSW

I recall first seeing them in area gun stores during the early 1980's. People were interested in handling them, but no one wanted to buy one as they were too big, too clumsy, too pricey, and it wasn't a Colt 1911 in .45ACP which was the only semi-auto handgun that "real men" would carry.

I knew a deputy that had a part-time job working as a cattle detective, and as his area of operations was remote, and back-up was very far away, armed himself with a Model 66 with a 4.0 inch long barrel on his belt, and carried the Steyr GB in a shoulder holster under a light jacket as his back-up gun.

On one occasion, he caught some guys trespassing on one of the ranches he patrolled. The bad guys got the drop on him, took his revolver, and tied him up so they could make their escape. The deputy was able to get his hands free, drew his Steyr GB and started firing at the bad guys as they were driving away. One of his last rounds hit the driver in the back, and he was able to catch and detain the bad guys. Following that incident, quite a few LEOs I knew gave the Steyr serious thought as a back-up gun.

Regards,

Dave

I'm gonna try and run back by and check it out again tomorrow. As I mentioned the only wear I found was on top of the barrel near the muzzle which I presume is the result of firing. Could someone please post a photo of the top of the barrel for me on a GB with some rounds through it so I can compare? TIA

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