Steyr-Hahn Model 1912

Checkman · Oct 27, 2021

One from the vault.

An early Christmas/Birthday gift from my wife today. A Steyr-Hahn M1912 (mfd 1917). The caliber is 9mm Steyr so it won't be a plinker, but I don't get old guns for everyday carry. A full box of ammo comes with it. It's in pretty good condition and was up for sale at a local auction (Internet auction). I had eyeballed it and thought about it, but decided to pass since my saving account is on the lean side right now. She decided to have a go and submitted one bid - figuring she would be outbid. She wasn't. We've been together for 33 years and she can still surprise me. Her winning bid was $425.00. The photos are from the auction site. For a lady who doesn't care for guns she has given me some really neat ones over the years.

Absalom · Oct 27, 2021

Lucky man. The lighting makes it hard to be sure, but if that condition is original and not refinished, that’s one heck of a steal. I’d actually pay that happily for a refinished one if there isn’t too much pitting underneath.

Checkman · Oct 27, 2021

Absalom said:
Lucky man. The lighting makes it hard to be sure, but if that condition is original and not refinished, that’s one heck of a steal. I’d actually pay that happily for a refinished one if there isn’t too much pitting underneath.

I will pick it up tomorrow and will post higher quality photos in the next few days.

Ruger 13 · Oct 27, 2021

Very nice!

2152hq · Oct 27, 2021

Nice one!

I had always shot 9mmLargo in mine and they worked out OK.
9mmSteyr was a rarity. I have one or two old boxes around that are packed on stripper clips.

You don't really need the stripper clips to load the pistol,,just lock the slide to the rear and load the rounds one by one through the top into the mag. Then release the slide.

Very interesting design with the cam rotating bbl for lock-up.
All leaf spings inside that I remember.

I have one left of a bunch. Someone started to remove a national crest from the side of the slide,,either Chili or Romania I'd imagine. Maybe the work of the import process back in the earlier days.

I've got that cleaned up, but need to finish the rest. Parts are few these days for the Steyr.
In the late 80's & early 90's these and Astra 400's were regularly advertised for sale by some distributors a $99 each.
Orig Austrian military holsters are rare and $$. There are (were?) pretty nice replica holsters around at one time.
WW2 German use of the pistol included conversion the 9mmLuger.
Some (all?) were done by placing a steel sleeve in the forward portion of the chamber to headspace the shorter 9mmLuger against.
The slides were maked P08 for the cartridge designation difference.

They work OK, I'd keep the loads down a bit though in the Steyr pistol

Neat shooters for sure.
Congrats on a fine pistol and a great Wife!

Absalom · Oct 27, 2021

2152hq said:
.
WW2 German use of the pistol included conversion the 9mmLuger.
Some (all?) were done by placing a steel sleeve in the forward portion of the chamber to headspace the shorter 9mmLuger against.
The slides were maked P08 for the cartridge designation difference….. !

These conversions are not very common and I must admit that I have not handled one in person, so my knowledge is second-hand.

But I’m under the impression that new barrels were manufactured (whether at Steyr in Austria or at Mauser/Oberndorf seems to be a matter of debate among specialists on these). The conversions have eagle/N nitro proofs on the new barrel and the slide, and the German police acceptance eagle/L stamp on the right frame.

On these police guns, it is worthwhile to examine the flat sides of the lanyard loop which may contain unit marks like “L.G.K.O.Ö“.

DWalt · Oct 27, 2021

Interesting pistols. Among others, the Chilean cavalry also used them. I have two old boxes of DWM ammunition with the label in Spanish, probably made for Chilean service. It's not too difficult to find suitable brass, I think Starline makes several 9x23 cases that will work. It's basically a 9mm Luger case, but elongated. You can load it using .38 Super dies.

Baltimoreed11754 · Oct 27, 2021

The pistol and your wife are both keepers.

2152hq · Oct 27, 2021

Starline still lists 9mmSteyr headstamped pistol brass (out of stock right now like most things).

I used to shoot quite a bit of the surplus 9mmLargo in them. Maybe a bit hot for the Steyr, I don't know. It functioned perfectly and was accurate.
At the time, (90's) CCI was making 9mmLargo in the aluminum case ammo and sold it pretty cheap. I shot that too and what a big difference.
The CCI aluminum case stuff was like shooting reduced loads in both the Steyr and the Astra 400 compared to the Spanish Military ammo.
But it did function the actions .

I wouldn't doubt the Germans had new 9mmL bbls made for the pistols to use Luger ammo.
Chamber sleeves were a common idea to convert Largo caliber pistols to Luger cal among those who bought surplus pistols cheap.

I looked over a converted Steyr a couple yrs ago at a gun show but passed. Mostly because of the $1000 price tag and the not so good condition.
The dealer had it for quite a few shows and then it went away,,somewhere.
It came with a holster, but I had suspicions of the holster being a repro with more recently induced historical signs of use and wear.

Baltimoreed11754 · Oct 27, 2021

My three exotics are an Astra 600 and a Mannlicher 7.63 and a .45 Shansei broomhandle. The mannlicher in the photo isn’t my pistol.

Stevie · Oct 29, 2021

I own a 1914 made Steyr 'Hahn' pistol...mine is not all that clean however it runs like a champ.

I've never had much issue finding ammunition between Fiocci and PCI I've always had ammo to plink with.

Sarco sold me a repro holster and included ten stripper clips that work fine....can be loaded without the stripper clip as noted....can be unloaded instantly with the push of the slide stop button...all the cartridges fly out the top!

Cool old pistols...I'm not certain if Steyr pioneered the rotating barrel system...but I have been quite impressed with my well used Steyr blaster

Steyr-Hahn Model 1912

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