Frommer Stop
Fémáru-, Fegyver és Gépgyár (FÉG) · Pistol · Discontinued · 1912
Also known as: Pisztoly 12M, Pisztoly 19M, Frommer Stop 12M
Overview
The Frommer Stop is a Hungarian semi-automatic pocket pistol designed by Rudolf Frommer and manufactured by Fémáru-, Fegyver és Gépgyár (FÉG) of Budapest. Unusually for a small-caliber pocket pistol, it uses a long-recoil action with a rotating bolt - a mechanism normally reserved for far more powerful weapons. Chambered primarily in .32 ACP (and also .380 ACP), it was adopted by the Royal Hungarian Army as the Pisztoly 12M and later the 19M, serving as a standard sidearm through both World Wars.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 610 g (21.5 oz) |
| Overall Length | 165 mm (6.50") |
| Barrel Length | 95 mm (3.74") |
| Height | 130 mm (5.12") |
| Action Type | Long Recoil |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 7 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 280 m/s (919 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 180 J (133 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 25 m (27 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Slide Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .32 ACP · primary — also known as .32 Auto, 7.65mm Browning, 7.65x17mmSR
- .380 ACP — also known as .380 Auto, 9mm Browning Short, 9x17mm
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Grip Safety, Manual Safety
- Features: Long Recoil Action, Rotating Bolt, Tubular Receiver, External Hammer
Variants
- Pisztoly 12M — Military Model
- Pisztoly 19M — Military Model
- Frommer Baby — Compact
Service history
Operators
- Royal Hungarian Army · adopted 1912 · as Pisztoly 12M
- Austro-Hungarian Army · adopted 1912
Conflicts
- World War I (1914-1918)
- World War II (1939-1945)
Production
Estimated total produced: 360,000 · Production years: 1912-1945
Includes Pisztoly 12M and 19M military variants; produced by FÉG in Budapest
Origin
Country of origin: Hungary
Designer: Rudolf Frommer
Discontinued: 1945
Notes
The long-recoil design, in which the barrel and bolt recoil fully rearward locked together before the barrel returns forward, is mechanically complex and over-engineered for the low-pressure .32 ACP cartridge, making the Frommer Stop a favourite curiosity among collectors.
Background
Rudolf Frommer fitted a complex long-recoil rotating-bolt action - the kind of mechanism found in semi-automatic shotguns - into a tiny .32 ACP pocket pistol, producing one of the most mechanically baroque service handguns ever issued.