Austro-Hungarian used Dreyse Pistols
The Waffenfabrik von Dreyse was founded around 1841 to manufacture the famous Dreyse Needle Gun for the Prussian Army, and they also made needle-pistols
and cap-lock revolvers. The Dreyse Factory went into decline after the German Army adopted the Mauser in 1872. In 1901 Rheinische Metallwaaren- &
Maschinenfabrik of Sommerda purchased Waffenfabrik von Dreyse.
The Model 1907 Dreyse Pistols were actually designed by Louis Schmeisser (who had previously worked with Theodor Bergmann) in 1905-6 and were marketed from 1907 onward. The 1st gun, the 7.65mm Auto was the most unusual design. Most of the cranked slide lay along the top of the barrel, with a short section projecting down behind the chamber to serve as the breech block. The breech block was confined within a flat-sided frame with a bridge to carry the back sight and arrest the upper section of the slide. The recoil spring surrounded the barrel, enclosed in the frame and held by a collar engaging the front end of the slide trough a spring catch. Pulling back on the finger grips at the front of the slide brings the breech block into view behind the frame. The Dreyse pistol was fired by a striker whose tail protruded back through the rear of the breech block when the chamber was loaded. The entire top section of frame and slide could be pivoted on a pin in front of the trigger guard, being locked in the firing position by a catch at the rear of the frame. This final refinement was essential to dismantling; removal of the cranked slide would have been impossible otherwise.
The only major modification concerned the firing mechanism. Prior to 1915, the cocked striker had been held by the sear before being released by the trigger; pulling the trigger subsequently pushed the striker back before releasing it, compressing the striker spring to a greater extent. This was inspired by the later 9mm Dreyse due to insensitive wartime ammunition. It allowed a second strike if the first misfired. Another wartime change involved a recess cut in the top front of the slide to facilitate removal of the recoil-spring retaining bush.
Early pistols were marked 'DREYSE Rheinische Metallwaaren- & Maschinenfabrik ABT. SOMMERDA' on the left side of the frame and an 'RMF' monogram on the grips as shown above. Later pistols are usually marked 'DREYSE RHEINMETALL ABT. SOMMERDA' as shown on the left. A few pistols made in 1914 lack the 'DREYSE' marking. The pistol was also marketed commercially for police forces, including the Royal Saxon Gendarmerie, which are marked as 'K. Sachs. Gend.'
Dreyse M1907 Pistol Assembly Drawing and Parts List
During WW1 the Austrian Army received 7.65mm Dreyse pistols from Germany. The photo on the left shows the Austrian 'NPv' (Nitro-Proof) mark on the frame.
Austro-Hungarian Acceptance date - Serial numbers reported: Wn15: 54761 Wn17: 177202