Make: Steyr

Model: Pieper Model 1909/13-I

Serial Number: 36794

Year of Manufacture: 1919

Caliber: 7.65mm, .32 ACP

Action Type: Semi-Automatic, Blow Back, Tip Up Barrel

Barrel Length: 3 1/2"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade integral to the barrel assembly. The rear sight is a "V"-notch dovetailed to the breech-bolt assembly.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two piece checkered wood. The grips have even light handling wear with a few scattered light nicks. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good-plus condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original, numbers match.

Bore Condition: The bore is semi bright and the rifling is sharp. There is infrequent minor erosion and some stubborn fouling in the bore with a couple of spots of minor pitting just in front of the chamber. In this writer's opinion the bore rates about 7/10.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 87% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is light handling wear in the grip areas. There is some scattered light surface oxidation, primarily in the grip areas. There are a few light nicks and small scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Includes a single 7-round magazine.

Our Assessment: The Steyr-Pieper Model 1909/13-I is a distinctive Austrian pocket pistol from Oesterreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft, built around Nicolas Pieper's unusual tip-up barrel system rather than the Browning-style layout that dominated the period. Chambered in 7.65mm Browning and feeding from a 7-round magazine, it combines a compact blowback action with a pivoting barrel, internal hammer, and a cartridge considered sufficient for police and military use in early 20th-century Europe.

This 1919-production example falls at the start of Steyr's resumed postwar production, when the pattern was updated with vertical slide serrations and a factory lanyard ring, designated 1909/13-I by collectors. This production run remained relatively limited compared to more common interwar pocket pistols.

For the collector or end user, the appeal here rests in the pistol's mechanical novelty, Austrian manufacture, and place in the transition from prewar pocket pistols to interwar service sidearms. This example should appeal to bidders looking for a mechanically interesting early self-loading pistol with strong period character. Please see our photos and good luck on your bid!