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Oesterreichische Waffenfabrik Gesellschaft, Steyr, Austria. (Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG after 1934) (Steyr-werke AG after WW1) Josef Werndl set this company up in 1863, in the firearm producing town Steyr. The Steyr (VP) model 1907/09/19, 6.35mm pistol is sometimes called the Model 1908 because of the patent date stamped on the slide, because it was first commercially produced in 1909. Both model names have become synonymous with this pistol and both are probably correct. It is unknown at what point the serial number started on this pistol; however, it is thought that all 6.35mm Steyrs have the suffix “A” (not true) attached to them, and the numbering ran into hundreds of thousands. The pistol is based on the Pieper patent and is identical to the Pieper Basculant pistols which do not have tip-up barrels of the Steyr. Like the Le Francais, most of these pistols were made without extractors, relying on the blowback operation to knock the cartridge out. It was manufactured from 1909 to 1914 and from 1921 to the mid thirties. The Steyr VP is a unlocked blowback-operated semi-automatic pistol with a six-shot detachable box magazine, which is retained by a spring-loaded catch at the rear of the grip-frame. It utilized an external hammer bar, extending back left side of the frame, over the top of the magazine to trip the sear. It had an internal concealed hammer and a floating firing pin and have manual thumb safeties located on the left side of the frame behind the grip which locks the sear plus blocking the hammer. The recoil spring on this pistol was mounted above the barrel. The barrel assembly itself was hinged at the front and retained by a catch on the left hand side of the frame. Dropping the catch would allow the barrel to swing upward for loading, either as a single shot, or for cleaning. To take the pistol down, being sure the weapon is unloaded, remove the magazine, release the barrel latch tipping the barrel up. A screw located just behind the manual safety at the rear of the frame can be unscrewed allowing the entire upper barrel-assembly to be removed forward. The magazine of this pistol is easily recognizable because of the long tail at the base, which extends back to the edge of the rear grip-strap, forming a backward lip. The magazine catch on this pistol is slightly unusual. There are grooves cut on the rear of the magazine, about half an inch above the base, which lock into an internal spring-loaded catch pointing upward. The magazine release, located at the bottom rear of the grip-frame, is pushed down, rotating against the magazine lock and at the same time, camming against the lip to push the magazine down and against the well, so that it can be grasped and removed from the gun. Assembly is in reverse order. (Ref. ‘Pistols and revolvers’ p145 - JE Smith, ‘Price guide for collector handguns’ - R H Balderson)

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