WWI Austria-Hungary Roth Krnka M1907 8x18mm Semi-Automatic Pistol, 1911 C&R

SOLD FOR: $2325

LSB#: 210527BB43

Make: Fegyvergyar (Fegyver- és Gépgyártó Részvénytársaság “Arms and Machine Manufacturing Company”)

Model: Roth-Steyr (Krnka) Model 1907

Serial Number: 4069

Year of Manufacture: 1911

Caliber: 8x18mm Roth

Action Type: Striker-Fired Semi-Auto Pistol with Internal Magazine Fed by Stripper Clips

Markings: The top of the barrel jacket is marked “FEGYVERGYAR BUDAPEST”. The right of the frame is marked “4069′. The rear face of the frame is marked “W.n”, Austrian eagle and “11”. The front of the barrel bushing, the rear of the cocking knob and the slide release are each marked “R”. The unit marking disk on the right grip panel is marked “14 GA / 229” (Gebirgsartillerieregiment, 14th Mountain Artillery Regiment).

Barrel Length: 5”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed into the front of the barrel jacket. The rear sight is a “V”-notch integral to the frame’s stripper-clip guide.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece serrated wood panels. The grips have light handling wear with some scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches, most notable at the bottom of the right panel. The serrations are generally well defined. There are no cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is gray and the rifling is sharp where not interrupted by erosion. There is light erosion scattered through the bore with some spots of more moderate erosion.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 60% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is finish wear along each side of the barrel jacket. There are some scattered light nicks, scratches and scuffs. Strongest finish is found in protected areas such as edges, corners, and the radiused areas on each side of the frame above the trigger. Other surfaces are mottled with light patina. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in about Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: Adopted in 1907 by the Austro-Hungarian Cavalry, the Roth-Steyr M1907 was actually designed by Karel Krnka, an employee of Georg Roth. The pistol has a very interesting mechanism, operating via short-recoil and locking via a rotating barrel. The bolt telescopes over the breech of the barrel, all contained within a barrel jacket integral to the frame. The pistol was specially designed to have the striker mostly cocked by depressing the trigger at the behest of the Austrian Cavalry, so that it would not be fired accidentally around horses. This pre-dates Glock’s “safe-action” design by a few decades. This example was made in 1911 in Hungary and was apparently issued to a Mountain Artillery Regiment. If the pistol was still in service in 1915, it would have been moved to the Italian front with the 14th Gebirgsartillerieregiment after Italy entered the war in May. This pistol survived the Great War better than most, and will make a great addition to a WWI small arms collection. Please see our photos and good luck!

WWI Austria-Hungary Roth Krnka M1907 8x18mm Semi-Automatic Pistol, 1911 C&R
WWI Austria-Hungary Roth Krnka M1907 8x18mm Semi-Automatic Pistol, 1911 C&R