Pair of WWII Capture Pistols

Jack Lawman · 05-08-2003, 09:03 PM

Here are a couple of WWII capture pistols (M1908 is papered, Radom isn't). The Steyr M1908 was made in 1910 and was purchased privately from Steyr, most likely by an Austrian Army Officer (no Austrian army acceptance stamp). This .32 ACP pistol was a favorite of Austrian officers. Here is a link to my 1908 page:

Steyr M1908 Page (with pics and technical description)

The Radom Vis35 is a type II (3 lever, no stock cutout). Made in Poland under German occupation. Apparently, many of these were carried by the Luftwaffe. Estimated time of production is late 1942.

Edward Tinker · 05-08-2003, 09:12 PM

Nice Jack!

Great guns!

Ed

John D. · 05-09-2003, 08:21 AM

Jack,

That is SWEEEET!!!! Excellent pistol and terrific photo..!!! Thanks..!!!

Jim Keenan · 05-09-2003, 02:01 PM

Jack, I can't help with a firing pin if you want an original, but they are a snap to make. I think I probably have made a half dozen, including one for a pistol I bought about a year ago. Any half-way competent gunsmith should be able to make one, and I would have a spare made if you plan to shoot the gun.

Jim

John Sabato · 05-09-2003, 02:20 PM

Check with "Lugerdoc" before going to the trouble of making one... Tom carries more than just Luger parts...

I agree with Jim that from what I can see in the photo, this would be a simple firing pin to make if you know someone with a lathe and a couple of files... I don't know if this is a striker fired or hammer fired pistol but the appropriate surfaces (either the sear surface or the surface that gets hammered) will have to be hardened...

Jack Lawman · 05-09-2003, 05:53 PM

Thank you all for the compliments and advice. I will check with "Doc". Any ideas on fair cost to have someone machine a firing pin for the Steyr? I would like to fire the 1908.

Jack

Here's a pic of the only other pistol I have worthy of this forum. This is an all matching "red 9" C96 in 9mm. This was part of a WWI contract delivered by Mauser to the German Army (army acceptance stamp highlighted). Rear sight is calibrated up to 500 meters. It is unusual in the fact that pistols in this serial number range were not marked with the red "9". One theory is that around the time of its production, responsibility for marking the grips shifted from the German Army to Mauser and a few thousand pistols produced during the transition escaped the branding.

Ron Wood · 05-09-2003, 06:06 PM

Wonderful weapons Jack, but that '08 Steyr is flat outstanding! If you do fire it, please be gentle, it is a beautiful example. Thanks for sharing the pics.

Jim Keenan · 05-10-2003, 12:05 AM

I used to charge $35 for that pin but that was a while back. The only one I made lately was for me, and I don't charge myself.

It is a pretty straight forward job if there is an original to copy. But the head has to be the right thickness as the rear of the firing pin is what contacts the hammer to **** it. If the head is too thin, the breechblock bears the brunt and it is thin at that point and won't take the beating.

Jim

Lugerdoc · 05-11-2003, 09:44 AM

Jack, Sorry that I couldn't provide the Steyr FP. FYI, the first 60,000 of the Mauser Red Nines, didn't have the "9" branded on the grips, when they left the factory. Due to many soldiers trying to shoot these with 30 Mauser in the field, the factory started branding the grips in the 61K range and directives were issued to brand those already in the field. That is why many of the first 60K will be found with matching unbranded or crudely marked grips. It was as a result of these directives, that quite a few Artillery models, also ended up with "Red Nine" marked grips. Appearly, some of the rookies, branded anything with a long barrel in 9mm. TH

Jim Keenan · 05-14-2003, 04:30 PM

Jack,

Don't worry about the fact that other "pistols in this serial number range were not marked with the red "9"."

The Red 9 pistols were numbered in their own series (1- c.150000), so they will duplicate commercial numbers.

Jim

05-08-2003, 09:03 PM	#1
Jack Lawman User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Near NYC Posts: 428 Thanks: 30 Thanked 64 Times in 37 Posts	Pair of WWII Capture Pistols Here are a couple of WWII capture pistols (M1908 is papered, Radom isn't). The Steyr M1908 was made in 1910 and was purchased privately from Steyr, most likely by an Austrian Army Officer (no Austrian army acceptance stamp). This .32 ACP pistol was a favorite of Austrian officers. Here is a link to my 1908 page: Steyr M1908 Page (with pics and technical description) The Radom Vis35 is a type II (3 lever, no stock cutout). Made in Poland under German occupation. Apparently, many of these were carried by the Luftwaffe. Estimated time of production is late 1942. __________________ Why do you guys hate black circles so much?

05-08-2003, 09:12 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,909 Thanks: 1,986 Thanked 4,500 Times in 2,076 Posts	Nice Jack! Great guns! Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

05-09-2003, 02:20 PM	#5
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	Check with "Lugerdoc" before going to the trouble of making one... Tom carries more than just Luger parts... I agree with Jim that from what I can see in the photo, this would be a simple firing pin to make if you know someone with a lathe and a couple of files... I don't know if this is a striker fired or hammer fired pistol but the appropriate surfaces (either the sear surface or the surface that gets hammered) will have to be hardened... __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

05-09-2003, 05:53 PM	#6
Jack Lawman User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Near NYC Posts: 428 Thanks: 30 Thanked 64 Times in 37 Posts	Thank you all for the compliments and advice. I will check with "Doc". Any ideas on fair cost to have someone machine a firing pin for the Steyr? I would like to fire the 1908. Jack Here's a pic of the only other pistol I have worthy of this forum. This is an all matching "red 9" C96 in 9mm. This was part of a WWI contract delivered by Mauser to the German Army (army acceptance stamp highlighted). Rear sight is calibrated up to 500 meters. It is unusual in the fact that pistols in this serial number range were not marked with the red "9". One theory is that around the time of its production, responsibility for marking the grips shifted from the German Army to Mauser and a few thousand pistols produced during the transition escaped the branding. __________________ Why do you guys hate black circles so much?

05-09-2003, 06:06 PM	#7
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 6,986 Thanks: 1,065 Thanked 5,088 Times in 1,674 Posts	Wonderful weapons Jack, but that '08 Steyr is flat outstanding! If you do fire it, please be gentle, it is a beautiful example. Thanks for sharing the pics. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

05-09-2003, 08:21 AM	#3
John D. Administrator & Site Owner LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: A Little NE of Somewhere... Posts: 2,651 Thanks: 471 Thanked 513 Times in 127 Posts	Jack, That is SWEEEET!!!! Excellent pistol and terrific photo..!!! Thanks..!!!

05-09-2003, 02:01 PM	#4
Jim Keenan User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 184 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Jack, I can't help with a firing pin if you want an original, but they are a snap to make. I think I probably have made a half dozen, including one for a pistol I bought about a year ago. Any half-way competent gunsmith should be able to make one, and I would have a spare made if you plan to shoot the gun. Jim

05-10-2003, 12:05 AM	#8
Jim Keenan User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 184 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I used to charge $35 for that pin but that was a while back. The only one I made lately was for me, and I don't charge myself. It is a pretty straight forward job if there is an original to copy. But the head has to be the right thickness as the rear of the firing pin is what contacts the hammer to **** it. If the head is too thin, the breechblock bears the brunt and it is thin at that point and won't take the beating. Jim

05-11-2003, 09:44 AM	#9
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	Jack, Sorry that I couldn't provide the Steyr FP. FYI, the first 60,000 of the Mauser Red Nines, didn't have the "9" branded on the grips, when they left the factory. Due to many soldiers trying to shoot these with 30 Mauser in the field, the factory started branding the grips in the 61K range and directives were issued to brand those already in the field. That is why many of the first 60K will be found with matching unbranded or crudely marked grips. It was as a result of these directives, that quite a few Artillery models, also ended up with "Red Nine" marked grips. Appearly, some of the rookies, branded anything with a long barrel in 9mm. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

05-14-2003, 04:30 PM	#10
Jim Keenan User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 184 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Jack, Don't worry about the fact that other "pistols in this serial number range were not marked with the red "9"." The Red 9 pistols were numbered in their own series (1- c.150000), so they will duplicate commercial numbers. Jim