WW II .25 auto identification and Parts???

[Oshiverdecker]

I inherited a .25 auto from my Grandfather who was a MP in France during WWII. It is in good shape with only a little wear on the blueing but is missing a magazine. The grips have "NP" lettering which I have been told may stand for N. Pfper. The gun also is marked Modele 192G on the slide. I can’t find anything on the net about it or a place to get parts. I checked with Numrich gun parts but couldn’t find anything close. Any help with the military buffs would be appreciated.

 

[Old Fuff]

I don't think this pistol was associated with the military services, but rather picked up somewhere in Europe. It would help If you could post a picture, as there were a whole lot of .25 pistol makers in Europe between the two World Wars ...

 

[jacobtowne]

NP could be Nicholas Pieper of Liege, Belgium, but I've never seen a reference to a M192G.
IF Belgian made, it should have Belgian proofs and a maker's stamp.
JT

 

[Rain_Man]

Sounds extremely interesting. Post a picture, I'd like to see it.

 

[Sunray]

Small calibre pistols were everywhere made by every firearm maker in Europe. Your's is likely one of 'em.
Did you get to listen to his stories? No offense, but the meatheads were the biggest crooks in any military. That in no way means that your grandpa was a bad guy. It's just the way it was. He, as a meathead, was just a guy doing a job. The combat guys would acquire stuff and sell it to non-combat guys. Sometimes the meatheads would confiscate it as part of their job. Meatheads could be taken just as fast as my da might have been. My da was REME, he fixed tanks, so I've been told. He was dead before I was old enough to ask.
If you can, join a VFW or Legion, ask no questions. Combat vets don't talk about it. Just shut up and listen. Buying helps too.

 

[Oshiverdecker]

WWII booty photos

Here are two photos. I don't know if they will help much. The proof marks are very small and include a lion standing on its back feet, a "P.V.", a "star symbol" , and an exclamation point. The left side of the action says, "Pistole P Automatique Modelel 192G." The right side of the action has a stamp that reads. "N. P. For EPFR PATENT." The grips are brown plastic with a P on top of an N. The serial number is 46799.

 

[Oshiverdecker]

Did you get to listen to his stories? No offense, but the meatheads were the biggest crooks in any military. That in no way means that your grandpa was a bad guy. It's just the way it was. He, as a meathead, was just a guy doing a job. The combat guys would acquire stuff and sell it to non-combat guys. Sometimes the meatheads would confiscate it as part of their job. Meatheads could be taken just as fast as my da might have been.


Yes, he was stationed outside Paris and bought it, actually I think he traided smokes or something for it from someone who said it came off an Italian Officer. He just stowed it in his extra boots on the way home and it sat in his sock drawer for the last 60 years.

 

[jacobtowne]

I've still found no pistols in my books that look like yours. I can tell you the following:
Lion/PV is a Belgian proof. If the exclamation mark is wider at the bottom, it's called a tower stamp, also Belgian. The grips are certainly Nicholas Pieper.
JT

 

[Oshiverdecker]

My Thanks for the help

I see that it looks similar in design to a Steyr, I believe also designed by Pieper, but not exactly.

 

[HighVelocity]

looks like this one http://www.deactivated-guns.co.uk/detail/Steyr_635_and_holster.htm

 

[jondar]

Oshiverdecker - In my old book "Arms of the World 1911" there is an almost identical left sided view of the pistol you show. Also almost identical to the picture just above this posting except has the NP on the grip instead of Steyr. In the book illustration printed just below the picture is - 1909 -. Not sure if this could be the model designation or not.

 

[Rain_Man]

That is, by far, the coolest pocket pistol I have ever seen... Looks like it has some real character.

 

[Rain_Man]

I collect small autos... mostly SNSs... But, I gotta get me one of those. Are they still common? How much would one of those things cost now-a-days? I Have a lot of family in europe, an uncle of mine use to have something like that... wish there was a way they could bring me one of those european pocket pistols next time they visit... is this possible?

 

[Oshiverdecker]

Pocket Pistol imports a no no

I'm pretty sure that the 1968 import act would not let most older .25 autos through. Points are awarded for things like target triggers, sights and target grips with palm fillers. So, I don't think that they would make it legaly. If you really like the style try a colt or Browning baby .25, there are still quite a few around.

 

[Lo.Com.Denom]

I found it!

The "NP" on the grips stands for Nicolas Pieper, sure enough. It's basically a "Pieper model D, 1909 type", according to this 'ere book, but the knurled retraction-grips at the top give it away as a post-WW1 model called the "Model 1920 (Basculant type)".
The "Basculant type" seems to refer to any models with a tip-down barrel for loading (if the barrel on yours doesn't tip down, it's just the regular type).
I guess the "192G" on the slide is just a spot of corrosion on the "1920".

Nice little gun, by the way!

 

[Oshiverdecker]

Thanks for the info, now to find some parts

:banghead:

 

[katonk]

Another one

Not to hijack this thread but I recently came across one of these pistols and found this thread while searching for some data on it. It was found in a yard sale box, "anything for a buck". A friend and I saw this ladies 'coin purse" and it reminded me of the one my Granny had carried her little Browning in. We looked inside and found this pristene Steyr Pieper. Trying to be an upfront individual, my friend showed the owner of the yard sale and they shrugged their shoulders and said, "hand me a buck"!..Cool huh?..Anyway, We're still trying to find out the value/history of this fine piece. Any suggestions? Thanks!

NOTE: Unfortunately I did not take possession of this pistol as my friend was the one who actually came across it first.

 

[Rain_Man]

My... god... Why the hell can't this type of stuff happen to me!? :banghead:

I can't believe you bought a beautiful gun like that for a dollar. How about selling it to me, ask your friend how much he wants for it and send me a private message. ... I'm serious.

I am also curious to know how it got in that box, let alone the country... From now on, I swear i'm going to check any yard sale I ever come across.

 

[Lo.Com.Denom]

Can't tell you much, sorry.

I'd hazzard a guess that it's a Steyr Model 1934, judging solely by the circular monogram on the grips. From what I can gather, they stopped making these in 1939.
No idea about value - but certainly more than a dollar!