Dreyse M1907

[Greasemonkey]

Now this is the strangest, yet most interesting handgun..admittedly I have ever bought.. I found it at a local sale.

It is an earlier Dreyse variant being marked Rheinische Metallwaren & Maschinenfabrik Sömmerda and having the grips marked. Also after cleaning I found what I believe is the Imperial German Army acceptance mark, and it also has the normal Crown N commercial proofs on the left side. They were made between 1907 and 1915. Use was in both wars, but as weapons technology advanced, use was typically found with rear line troops later, it was also fairly common police pistol.





Has this interesting feature, when cocked, the pin sticks out the rear indicating it is cocked.


 
Now it does something most semiautos don't, or cant, it breaks open.





What I think is the Imperial German Army acceptance mark.



The Crown N commercial proofs on the left side.



I used a 22wmr casing to hold the action open, there is no slide hold open, or last shot hold open.

[Phosphorus32]

Fascinating! That is an odd looking pistol. Where's the front sight, in a groove?

[Greasemonkey]

Fascinating! That is an odd looking pistol. Where's the front sight, in a groove?

Yes, the front sight is in the groove.. also note how low the barrel sits in the frame. You grip it by the front at the grip grooves to cock it.

[Phosphorus32]

Interesting. Seems like the cocking action would be a bit awkward but I suppose the return spring tension isn't too high on a 7.65x17mm pistol.

That sight arrangement is definitely unique, or at the very least unusual.

[Greasemonkey]

Actually cocking it.. is not really an easy feat. The recoil spring is surprisingly quite stout and gripping it is awkward.

[spongemonkey]

Very neat and interesting!     First time I ever saw one!