Thread: 6, 10, 20
View Single Post
Unread 11-02-2013, 10:10 AM   #20
alvin
User
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: US
Posts: 3,843
Thanks: 132
Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts
Default

Here is the early extractor. Detail disassembly shows firing pin has no screw cut for firing pin return spring, if I remembered right, that's an early feature as well.

With 20 rounds loaded, total weight is 1441 grams (without stock). Through loading it, I think old theory of why 20-Shot were not made in volume probably needs a little bit revision. Classical theory says Zwanziglader was not made in big volume due to (1) with 20 rounds loaded, it's heavy; (2) it's expensive to make so the retail price was too high for the market.

If we think about this... 1441 grams is not light, but it's not super comfortable to hold it without stock, and,,,with stock attached, 1441 grams is virtually nothing. 200 RM retail price was roughly $50 USD, not cheap, but Mauser self-loading sport carbine was $75 at that time... about 1000 more expensive carbines were sold.

But loading 20 rounds into the magazine well is awkward. First 10 rounds is easy, second 10 rounds is obviously harder. I bet by practical means, user would only load 10 rounds. Exploring the extra 10-round capacity,, it can hold it, but the loading process is awkward. It's not practical to load 20 rounds in fixed magazine well by clip -- the DWM made clip does not support big push-down force on the rounds it holds.

Unlike Mauser bolt action rifle, the top round in self-loading Mauser pistol cannot stay too loose, otherwise, there would be a feeding reliability issue -- if too loose, the top round could jump out of the magazine well "mouth" during the bolt recoiling. In order to hold the top round tight, the follower spring cannot be too weak. If the spring is not weak, then loading the 2nd 10-rounds by clip is not easy. This is a chain.

Assume people only load 10-round in usual case, then, why would factory make many 20-shot pistols. 10-shot pistol was more practical. This is my theory of why Mauser sold many Zehnlader pistols, but only sold 188 Zwanziglader pistols. If we assume its actual 10-round usage in most cases, its extra weight and extra cost was very negative then.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	e1.JPG
Views:	74
Size:	131.8 KB
ID:	37233  

Click image for larger version

Name:	p1.JPG
Views:	80
Size:	127.6 KB
ID:	37237  

Click image for larger version

Name:	p2.JPG
Views:	74
Size:	127.9 KB
ID:	37238  

Click image for larger version

Name:	e2.JPG
Views:	74
Size:	100.6 KB
ID:	37239  

alvin is offline   Reply With Quote