Unknown pistol

mauro · 07-24-2007, 01:34 PM

Any idea about the use and the producer of this pistol?
Thank you for the help
Cheers,
Mauro

Ron Wood · 07-24-2007, 01:58 PM

Looks like it might be a gas pistol, or a "knallpistole" starter or signal gun.

John Sabato · 07-24-2007, 02:49 PM

It might also be a theatrical pistol... intended to only make noise on stage.

RBorecky · 07-26-2007, 12:08 AM

It looks like my Italian made Gas pistol. Ask me how I know???? My uncle gave it to me and pulled the trigger playing around. My eyes watered for about 15 minutes. It works. Hahahahahaha. Rick

davidkachel · 07-26-2007, 01:18 AM

Have found internet references to Keenfire blank cartridges and Keenfire airguns.
Also Keenfire ammunition (38 S&W) from the Keystone Cartridge Company.
All of these pretty much dead-ended.

KGR84 · 07-26-2007, 03:10 AM

i have ask in an other forum, someone give me an mail, from somebody who build it.

i will post it here.

John Sabato · 07-26-2007, 01:56 PM

From further study of the photos, it is pretty obvious that this "pistol" was designed only to make noise. the "hole" where the muzzle should be is only about .25 inch deep and the hole out the top goes through to the "cylinder" which likely holds blanks that release the noise or bang out of the top.

Theatrical or athletic event starter gun is the only explanation in my opinion.

KGR84 · 07-26-2007, 03:56 PM

exactly, thats what i heard in the other forum, its a (Starterpistole 6mm Flobert) Startpistol

Jack Lawman · 07-26-2007, 08:18 PM

Looks like the Germans made quite a few of these "top venting" pieces. Here are pics of a working Perfecta, tube fed, semi-auto, 6mm blank firing pistol. I auctioned it a while back, I think it fetched about $70. Some info here:

http://www.carl-walther.de/englisch/chronik/

"The sale of the firm to the UMAREX group of companies in 1993 signalized the beginning of a new era in the history of Walther. To be exact, one has to say that the origins of the UMAREX company are also closely related with Walther. In 1937 Walther Riem, a managing executive of Walther at Zella-Mehlis, was given the permission by the management to manufacture a blank-firing pistol which he had designed himself Ã¢?? it was the Perfecta, the best-known weapon of its kind. The Perfecta pistol lead to the foundation of the firm of Mayer & Riem in Arnsberg, from which, after some years, the UMAREX-company evolved, which at first was a marketing company."

The pistol is not really semi-auto, technically, it's just a repeater. The blanks are loaded into the tubular magazine (you can see the domed follower) which is inserted into the grip. Pulling the trigger manually feeds, fires, and ejects the spent blank. Gas is exhausted through the circular vent atop the slide. Subsequent shots eject the blank through the rectangular port behind the vent.

I'd assume the "MaRie" mark on the grip is a conjunction of the firm names Mayer & Riem.

Jack

mauro · 07-30-2007, 04:12 PM

Thank you guys for all the information.
really appreciated,
Cheers
Mauro

07-24-2007, 01:34 PM	#1
mauro FIREARM HISTORIAN AND AUT Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Belgium Posts: 1,535 Thanks: 106 Thanked 349 Times in 129 Posts	Unknown pistol Any idea about the use and the producer of this pistol? Thank you for the help Cheers, Mauro __________________ Mauro Baudino - www.lugerlp08.com www.paul-mauser-archive.com Mauser Company and Firearm Historian - Mauser Parabellum Certification Service.

07-24-2007, 01:58 PM	#2
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: 7,022 Thanks: 1,090 Thanked 5,179 Times in 1,703 Posts	Looks like it might be a gas pistol, or a "knallpistole" starter or signal gun. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

07-24-2007, 02:49 PM	#3
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,154 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,306 Times in 1,097 Posts	It might also be a theatrical pistol... intended to only make noise on stage. __________________ 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..."*

07-26-2007, 01:18 AM	#5
davidkachel User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 784 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Have found internet references to Keenfire blank cartridges and Keenfire airguns. Also Keenfire ammunition (38 S&W) from the Keystone Cartridge Company. All of these pretty much dead-ended. __________________ A heroin habit would be cheaper.

07-26-2007, 01:56 PM	#7
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,154 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,306 Times in 1,097 Posts	From further study of the photos, it is pretty obvious that this "pistol" was designed only to make noise. the "hole" where the muzzle should be is only about .25 inch deep and the hole out the top goes through to the "cylinder" which likely holds blanks that release the noise or bang out of the top. Theatrical or athletic event starter gun is the only explanation in my opinion. __________________ 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..."*

07-26-2007, 12:08 AM	#4
RBorecky User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Cleveland,Ohio Posts: 115 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	It looks like my Italian made Gas pistol. Ask me how I know???? My uncle gave it to me and pulled the trigger playing around. My eyes watered for about 15 minutes. It works. Hahahahahaha. Rick

07-26-2007, 03:10 AM	#6
KGR84 User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Vienna/Austria/Europe Posts: 36 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	i have ask in an other forum, someone give me an mail, from somebody who build it. i will post it here.

07-26-2007, 03:56 PM	#8
KGR84 User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Vienna/Austria/Europe Posts: 36 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	exactly, thats what i heard in the other forum, its a (Starterpistole 6mm Flobert) Startpistol

07-26-2007, 08:18 PM	#9
Jack Lawman User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Near NYC Posts: 428 Thanks: 30 Thanked 64 Times in 37 Posts	Repeating Blank Firing Pistol Looks like the Germans made quite a few of these "top venting" pieces. Here are pics of a working Perfecta, tube fed, semi-auto, 6mm blank firing pistol. I auctioned it a while back, I think it fetched about $70. Some info here: http://www.carl-walther.de/englisch/chronik/ "The sale of the firm to the UMAREX group of companies in 1993 signalized the beginning of a new era in the history of Walther. To be exact, one has to say that the origins of the UMAREX company are also closely related with Walther. In 1937 Walther Riem, a managing executive of Walther at Zella-Mehlis, was given the permission by the management to manufacture a blank-firing pistol which he had designed himself Ã¢?? it was the Perfecta, the best-known weapon of its kind. The Perfecta pistol lead to the foundation of the firm of Mayer & Riem in Arnsberg, from which, after some years, the UMAREX-company evolved, which at first was a marketing company." The pistol is not really semi-auto, technically, it's just a repeater. The blanks are loaded into the tubular magazine (you can see the domed follower) which is inserted into the grip. Pulling the trigger manually feeds, fires, and ejects the spent blank. Gas is exhausted through the circular vent atop the slide. Subsequent shots eject the blank through the rectangular port behind the vent. I'd assume the "MaRie" mark on the grip is a conjunction of the firm names Mayer & Riem. Jack __________________ Why do you guys hate black circles so much?

07-30-2007, 04:12 PM	#10
mauro FIREARM HISTORIAN AND AUT Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Belgium Posts: 1,535 Thanks: 106 Thanked 349 Times in 129 Posts	Thank you guys for all the information. really appreciated, Cheers Mauro __________________ Mauro Baudino - www.lugerlp08.com www.paul-mauser-archive.com Mauser Company and Firearm Historian - Mauser Parabellum Certification Service.