Hahn Steyr on GunBroker

siegersallee · 08-25-2015, 08:10 AM

Hi All,

I noticed a Hahn Steyr that has been up for auction for the last 3 or 4 months with no interest from buyers: GunBroker Hahn Steyr.

As you can see, the side is engraved with "1915/16 OBERLEUTNANT DR. MAX STEIN" and the seller cites a book: The Collecting of Guns by Serven which in turn references the pistol. The book was published in 1964.

Given the antiquity of the Severn book and some of the things I have heard about the early days of the hobby, I am not convinced that this engraved Hahn is all that it is advertised to be.

Though I am not interested in purchasing the pistol, I thought it would be interesting to glean the thoughts of others.

To be direct, I question the authenticity of the engraving; however, I am entirely open to be convinced otherwise.

Many thanks,
Richard

nukem556 · 08-25-2015, 04:30 PM

Ugh....rather garish looking engraving, huh? The Germanic types usually have a bit more taste than that....

alanint · 08-25-2015, 04:49 PM

My overall impression is that if someone where to fake something like this, they would dedicate it to some rank slightly higher than First Lieutenant.

DonVoigt · 08-25-2015, 07:52 PM

Looks like crappy engraving on a re-finished pistol to me.

I'd subtract from the value for each, not add. JMHO.

TheRomanhistorian · 08-26-2015, 01:44 AM

It does seem like a lot of effort to fake something that garish and to a 'mere' oberleutnant. I have a 1916 dated one reworked to 9mm Luger (with WWII Nazi marks). Not fired it yet but I picked it up for $250 or so a few months back.

This one in the auction wouldn't be so bad but I'm not sure I'd pay that much on the say so of one photo from the book!

Michael

Olle · 08-26-2015, 07:45 AM

I could swear I have seen it on GB for longer than that, but it could be that it was sold and now being resold.

Anyway, I get the impression that the engraving is done with a rotary tool. It's difficult to see even if you enlarge the pictures, but there's something about it that looks more like handwriting than actual engraving. That doesn't mean that it's not period correct, but it seems a bit fishy to me.

DonVoigt · 08-26-2015, 09:26 AM

Ollie,
I agree, now that you have described it, it looks just about like "hand Writing"; I knew it was odd.

Sergio Natali · 08-26-2015, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonVoigt

Looks like crappy engraving on a re-finished pistol to me.

I'd subtract from the value for each, not add. JMHO.

I completely agree, there is no point at all doing it, still some people believe otherwise.

Sergio

saab-bob · 08-26-2015, 01:52 PM

Do any of you gents know if the stripper clips on the Steyr-Hahn, will work on a C96 broom handle?

They look very similar.
Thanks
Bob

Karl · 08-27-2015, 10:20 AM

Steyr Hahn stripper will not work in a C-96. Dimensions are slightly different and it will not fit in the milled "track" for the stripper.
KFS

08-25-2015, 08:10 AM	#1
siegersallee User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 292 Thanks: 107 Thanked 57 Times in 34 Posts	Hahn Steyr on GunBroker Hi All, I noticed a Hahn Steyr that has been up for auction for the last 3 or 4 months with no interest from buyers: GunBroker Hahn Steyr. As you can see, the side is engraved with "1915/16 OBERLEUTNANT DR. MAX STEIN" and the seller cites a book: The Collecting of Guns by Serven which in turn references the pistol. The book was published in 1964. Given the antiquity of the Severn book and some of the things I have heard about the early days of the hobby, I am not convinced that this engraved Hahn is all that it is advertised to be. Though I am not interested in purchasing the pistol, I thought it would be interesting to glean the thoughts of others. To be direct, I question the authenticity of the engraving; however, I am entirely open to be convinced otherwise. Many thanks, Richard __________________ "Für Gott, Kaiser, und Vaterland" -seeking: Erfrut Mag 1229 (no script)

08-26-2015, 01:44 AM	#5
TheRomanhistorian User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 301 Thanks: 170 Thanked 88 Times in 64 Posts	It does seem like a lot of effort to fake something that garish and to a 'mere' oberleutnant. I have a 1916 dated one reworked to 9mm Luger (with WWII Nazi marks). Not fired it yet but I picked it up for $250 or so a few months back. This one in the auction wouldn't be so bad but I'm not sure I'd pay that much on the say so of one photo from the book! Michael __________________ Michael Nos morituri te salutant - Supposed saying of the gladiators to the emperor ('We, who are about to die, salute you.') 'We are the lantern bearers, my friend; for us to keep something burning, to carry what light we can forward into the darkness and the wind' - From Rosemary Sutcliff's The Lantern Bearers

08-26-2015, 01:52 PM	#9
saab-bob User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: So Cal Posts: 459 Thanks: 774 Thanked 143 Times in 87 Posts	Do any of you gents know if the stripper clips on the Steyr-Hahn, will work on a C96 broom handle? They look very similar. Thanks Bob __________________ "I think,therefore I own guns"

08-25-2015, 04:30 PM	#2
nukem556 User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Irmo, SC Posts: 625 Thanks: 35 Thanked 168 Times in 107 Posts	Ugh....rather garish looking engraving, huh? The Germanic types usually have a bit more taste than that....

08-25-2015, 04:49 PM	#3
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	My overall impression is that if someone where to fake something like this, they would dedicate it to some rank slightly higher than First Lieutenant.

08-25-2015, 07:52 PM	#4
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,443 Thanked 4,355 Times in 2,041 Posts	Looks like crappy engraving on a re-finished pistol to me. I'd subtract from the value for each, not add. JMHO.

08-26-2015, 07:45 AM	#6
Olle User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,149 Thanks: 159 Thanked 664 Times in 318 Posts	I could swear I have seen it on GB for longer than that, but it could be that it was sold and now being resold. Anyway, I get the impression that the engraving is done with a rotary tool. It's difficult to see even if you enlarge the pictures, but there's something about it that looks more like handwriting than actual engraving. That doesn't mean that it's not period correct, but it seems a bit fishy to me.

08-26-2015, 09:26 AM	#7
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,443 Thanked 4,355 Times in 2,041 Posts	Ollie, I agree, now that you have described it, it looks just about like "hand Writing"; I knew it was odd.

08-27-2015, 10:20 AM	#10
Karl Lifer - Twice Over Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Savannah Posts: 530 Thanks: 0 Thanked 280 Times in 123 Posts	Steyr Hahn stripper will not work in a C-96. Dimensions are slightly different and it will not fit in the milled "track" for the stripper. KFS