This little old beauty strolled through the shop...

[The Saint]

Had this beaut of a 1928-made Steyr 1908 tip-down in .32 stroll in, yesterday. Can't say I've ever seen one in person, prior...but it's gorgeous. Anyone ever own/shoot one of these? Also....talk me out of keeping it.

 

[joppaj]

That is a REALLY odd looking little gun. Very cool.

 

[Bikebreath]

Is that big block on the rear top a channel or a pep hole? It looks solid from this angle.

 

[The Saint]

Is that big block on the rear top a channel or a pep hole? It looks solid from this angle.

It's solid. The sights on this gun are marginal V-notch rear with front post, at best. Par for the course of the time for semi-autos.

 

[wpage]

Interesting looking piece. For its era, nice conditions.

Is there ammo available for that.

 

[md77]

That's really cool. I have no use for it, but think back to all the cool pieces I have passed on and wish I had not. I would keep it just for that reason. In a few years it will be worth a much or more so pretend it's an investment.

 

[2flhun]

Keep it. You will like it and have fun with it.

I have had the itch for .22short, .22lr, .25acp and .32acp pistols.

Since I am a dumbash and have not become a designated collector, I only see these pistols AFTER I buy something else and have to wait in purgatory for 30 days.

 

[The Saint]

Interesting looking piece. For its era, nice conditions.

Is there ammo available for that.

.32ACP is never going away, so yes. It's not as cheap as it was pre-pandemic....but even at $30-35 a box it's still around...and 100% cost effective to reload for now more than ever.

 

[TI-tick]

Interesting but personally I don't care for the lines compared to a Colt hammerless or Ortgies or Savage 32's. Those are more svelte and, for lack of a better term "art deco"; in my opinion anyhow.

If you like it, buy it!

Combloc or some of the other C&R guru's may have some input.

 

[The Saint]

If you like it, buy it!

Oh, it's already bought and paid for...it's whether I stick it on the shelf to sell or stick it in my pocket and take it home haha. I wasn't about to let it walk back out the door...

 

[somd_mustangs]

You might have done a little better than you thought...
it's outside my wheelhouse but this looks like a 1908/34, which had a heavier slide and a lanyard ring...
it was issued to the Austrian po-po in the mid-30's (and absorbed by Zee Nahtzees).

One from Legacy a while back:

SOLD - Scarce Steyr Model 1908/34

10/24/19 - This is an original example of a scarce Steyr Model 1908/34 that was manufactured in 1922 and later issued to the Austrian Security Police in the 1930s, which later became part of the Nazi Police in the late 1930s. The pistol has a nice profile view but notable thinning of the...

www.legacy-collectibles.com

Check out the ones on Scotty's site for reference, especially proof-marks and any unit markings on the grip frame.
It looks like it might have the Austrian police proof on the left side there.

You searched for steyr-pieper - Pre98 Antiques

pre98.com

 

[somd_mustangs]

Interesting but personally I don't care for the lines compared to a Colt hammerless or Ortgies or Savage 32's. Those are more svelte and, for lack of a better term "art deco"; in my opinion anyhow.

If you like it, buy it!

Combloc or some of the other C&R guru's may have some input.

It's more like a FN Browning 1900; it's actually pretty slim but goofy -looking because the barrel is the lower "tube" and the upper has the recoil spring. At least it has a slanted grip vs. the 1900's skinny straight grip

 

[Threeband]

I have said that if I were wealthy enough to waste spend money on a bunch of useless guns and not feel guilty about it, then I would collect interesting old .32 pistols.

I'd start with the FN/Browning 1899 or 1900, then go different directions. One direction is a collection of "upside down" pistols like this one, with the barrel below the recoil spring.

So I like it.

 

[Bob A]

Lots of really cute pistols in 32ACP; the old Remington 51, Franz Stock, Mauser 1934 and HSC, FN 1910, Sauer 38h, Savage 1907, CZ 27 & 50, Walther PP/PPK and the lovely Colt 1903. A lot of these guns were made in both 32 and 380. They're often mechanically interesting.

IF I had a bit more faith in the cartridge I'd carry a PPK.

 

[The Saint]

You might have done a little better than you thought...
it's outside my wheelhouse but this looks like a 1908/34, which had a heavier slide and a lanyard ring...
it was issued to the Austrian po-po in the mid-30's (and absorbed by Zee Nahtzees).

One from Legacy a while back:

SOLD - Scarce Steyr Model 1908/34

10/24/19 - This is an original example of a scarce Steyr Model 1908/34 that was manufactured in 1922 and later issued to the Austrian Security Police in the 1930s, which later became part of the Nazi Police in the late 1930s. The pistol has a nice profile view but notable thinning of the...

www.legacy-collectibles.com

Check out the ones on Scotty's site for reference, especially proof-marks and any unit markings on the grip frame.
It looks like it might have the Austrian police proof on the left side there.

You searched for steyr-pieper - Pre98 Antiques

pre98.com

View attachment 391788

It IS one with the backstrap police marked and proofed. I only wish it had certain german markings on it...then it would be a ~$2K-2500 gun haha.

 

[somd_mustangs]

still better than a "plain jane" commercial one.

 

[brianns]

If you want to get talked out of it, just remember you probably can’t put a weapon light on it. And I bet nobody carries the mag extensions for the pinky grip anymore.

 

[The Saint]

If you want to get talked out of it, just remember you probably can’t put a weapon light on it. And I bet nobody carries the mag extensions for the pinky grip anymore.

Good thing I don't do polymer anything, eh? =P

 

[tallen702]

I have a big soft spot for ugly, early autoloaders. Frommer Stop, Schwarzlose 1908, Steyr-Pieper 1908, Dreyse 1907, etc. etc.
The need to circumvent Browning's patents to be commercially successful at a time when FN held all the cards with licensing really promoted a lot of innovation and creativity that we don't see as much today. If I were you, OP, I'd hold onto it.

 

[The Saint]

I have a big soft spot for ugly, early autoloaders. Frommer Stop, Schwarzlose 1908, Steyr-Pieper 1908, Dreyse 1907, etc. etc.
The need to circumvent Browning's patents to be commercially successful at a time when FN held all the cards with licensing really promoted a lot of innovation and creativity that we don't see as much today. If I were you, OP, I'd hold onto it.

I, too, love the early autoloaders....I have a Dreyse light carbine (basically a Dreyse 1907 in rifle form) which I'll never get rid of. I only have so much room though haha.