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alvin · 03-06-2016, 10:36 AM

I feel WWI wartime made gun does have certain steel quality issues. I've broken two Red 9s in range (1917-1918, late wartime). They were not poor condition ones, both were in excellent collector condition and had near mint bore, obviously not fired a lot in the past. But their "lifetime" to shoot without issue was merely a few hundred rounds. If we think this -- factory and inspector could control dimension parameters, but they could not control steel quality. So, I stopped firing those wartime made pistols -- it could present hazards to operator. In one case, the broken hammer flew back hitting my throat. The feeling was like hit by an ejected case, but obviously it's something heavier than cartridge case. If this broken hammer had hit an eye... you know... Once I thought about why those WWI surplus Red 9s did not show up in Asia in large number (there were some, but volume was small)... one reason could be it did not last long. When operator indeed shot them, they indeed broke. For non-collector market, that's obviously being an issue.

Not sure WWII wartime pistols though. No shooting experience yet.

For WWI wartime pistols, they have interesting historical background. Collect top condition ones, and don't shoot it.

03-06-2016, 10:36 AM	#16
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	I feel WWI wartime made gun does have certain steel quality issues. I've broken two Red 9s in range (1917-1918, late wartime). They were not poor condition ones, both were in excellent collector condition and had near mint bore, obviously not fired a lot in the past. But their "lifetime" to shoot without issue was merely a few hundred rounds. If we think this -- factory and inspector could control dimension parameters, but they could not control steel quality. So, I stopped firing those wartime made pistols -- it could present hazards to operator. In one case, the broken hammer flew back hitting my throat. The feeling was like hit by an ejected case, but obviously it's something heavier than cartridge case. If this broken hammer had hit an eye... you know... Once I thought about why those WWI surplus Red 9s did not show up in Asia in large number (there were some, but volume was small)... one reason could be it did not last long. When operator indeed shot them, they indeed broke. For non-collector market, that's obviously being an issue. Not sure WWII wartime pistols though. No shooting experience yet. For WWI wartime pistols, they have interesting historical background. Collect top condition ones, and don't shoot it.