I have an old automatic marked 9 mm Steyr 1913 and was wondering what ammunition it shoots. Weapon seems to be in good shape but the crest (if there was one) and every other marking has been smoothly removed with the exception of the name, a 4 digit serial number on the trigger guard and a faint proof mark on the reverse of the guard. Has VEGA S A C CA. (importer?). I would like to shoot this old war horse if I knew what it feeds on. Thanks
Steyr 1913-Austria
- Thread starter Doucme2
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Google is your friend 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9x23mm_Steyr
They shoot 9MM Styer, don't use 9X19 parabellum.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9x23mm_Steyr
They shoot 9MM Styer, don't use 9X19 parabellum.
Some were converted to 9mm Luger but are relatively few in number and will be stamped as such possibly with an ''08'' stamp IIRC. If you are unsure have a gunsmith check it, which is a good idea anyway with a gun nearly a century old.
I own two Steyr-Hahn both in 9mm Steyr and they are great shooters. Ammo is available as are stripper clips for loading it.
It sounds like yours is a Chilean contract gun, or possibly the more rare Romanian contract. If it's a Chilean gun you will see the word ejercito stamped on the right side of the slide with other words that I don't recall at the moment. Many of the first Steyr-Hahn filled foreign contracts.
I own two Steyr-Hahn both in 9mm Steyr and they are great shooters. Ammo is available as are stripper clips for loading it.
It sounds like yours is a Chilean contract gun, or possibly the more rare Romanian contract. If it's a Chilean gun you will see the word ejercito stamped on the right side of the slide with other words that I don't recall at the moment. Many of the first Steyr-Hahn filled foreign contracts.
BTW, the Steyr-Hahn (the Hammer) is a great shooting gun despite its age. It's also beautifully made with a unique rotary recoil system. 9mm Steyr out of it is very smooth and the gun is very accurate (results depending on bore condition, I suppose). Prices on them have risen dramatically in the past couple of years, in some cases almost doubling. Besides all of that, I think that they are one of the coolest looking guns going.
If I was on my other computer I could show photographs of mine. One is a Chilean Contract gun in 9mm Steyr. It remains in original condition. The other is a Romanian Contract gun (also in 9mm Steyr) with a slide that was very pitted. I saw it on Gunbroker and guessed that the pitting, while extensive on the slide, was relatively light. I got the gun for $175 which was a steal. On my way home from picking the gun up at my FFl I dropped it right off at my smith instructing him to refinish it. The gun was a prime candidate for a refinish as there was zero collector's value left due to the cosmetic issues and with much of the Romanian Crest worn away. I bought the gun counting on it being one to refinish. He said that the internals and bore were in outstanding condition. He masterfully blasted away the pitting (that was very light, but, as I said, extensive) leaving the stamps unscathed and contours/edges crisp and intact. I had him Molycoat the gun a deep olive drab and it came out outstanding with all but just a few tiny pits gone. I put aside the original grips into storage and replaced them for shooting with repros made from Kingswood, a stainable resin. This gun is my shooter while the gun in original condition is my safe queen. It's best to leave these guns origjnal if you can.
I really want to find someone to make aluminum grips for the shooter.
There's lots to learn about the Steyr-Hahn on the net, a search away.
Enjoy. And BTW, it you ever watch the movie "A Fistful of Dynamite" AKA "Duck you Sucker" check out the gun in the hand of the police officer who he enters the railway passenger car to question Rod Steiger. A great movie for early 20th century guns (but not always period accurate).
BTW, if you search for more info do your search for "Stery-Hahn", or "Steyr 1911" (the other 1911) or "Steyr 1911/12".
If I was on my other computer I could show photographs of mine. One is a Chilean Contract gun in 9mm Steyr. It remains in original condition. The other is a Romanian Contract gun (also in 9mm Steyr) with a slide that was very pitted. I saw it on Gunbroker and guessed that the pitting, while extensive on the slide, was relatively light. I got the gun for $175 which was a steal. On my way home from picking the gun up at my FFl I dropped it right off at my smith instructing him to refinish it. The gun was a prime candidate for a refinish as there was zero collector's value left due to the cosmetic issues and with much of the Romanian Crest worn away. I bought the gun counting on it being one to refinish. He said that the internals and bore were in outstanding condition. He masterfully blasted away the pitting (that was very light, but, as I said, extensive) leaving the stamps unscathed and contours/edges crisp and intact. I had him Molycoat the gun a deep olive drab and it came out outstanding with all but just a few tiny pits gone. I put aside the original grips into storage and replaced them for shooting with repros made from Kingswood, a stainable resin. This gun is my shooter while the gun in original condition is my safe queen. It's best to leave these guns origjnal if you can.
I really want to find someone to make aluminum grips for the shooter.
There's lots to learn about the Steyr-Hahn on the net, a search away.
Enjoy. And BTW, it you ever watch the movie "A Fistful of Dynamite" AKA "Duck you Sucker" check out the gun in the hand of the police officer who he enters the railway passenger car to question Rod Steiger. A great movie for early 20th century guns (but not always period accurate).
BTW, if you search for more info do your search for "Stery-Hahn", or "Steyr 1911" (the other 1911) or "Steyr 1911/12".
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