Mann Pocket Pistol
Fritz Mann Feinmaschinen-, Waffen- und Werkzeugfabrik · Pistol · Discontinued · 1920
Also known as: Mann Model 1920, Mann Model 1921, Fritz Mann Vest Pocket Pistol, Mann 6.35mm
Overview
The Mann Pocket Pistol is a German blowback-operated semi-automatic vest-pocket pistol chambered in .25 ACP. Designed by Fritz Mann and produced in Suhl, Thuringia from 1920, it was engineered to be among the smallest, thinnest, and most concealable .25 ACP pistols ever made, with an unusually low bore axis and a chamber-groove delay mechanism. Its compact dimensions, serrated cocking plunger in place of a conventional slide grip, and 5-round magazine made it a distinctive deep-concealment sidearm.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 230 g (8.1 oz) |
| Overall Length | 104 mm (4.09") |
| Barrel Length | 45 mm (1.77") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 230 m/s (755 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 86 J (63 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 15 m (16 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Slide Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .25 ACP · primary — also known as 6.35x16mm Browning, 6.35mm Browning, .25 Auto
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Vest Pocket Size, Low Bore Axis, Serrated Cocking Plunger, Hard Rubber Grips, Fixed Sights
Production
Estimated total produced: 20,000 · Production years: 1920-1924
Estimates place total production at fewer than 20,000 units; low sales led to discontinuation by 1924.
Origin
Country of origin: Germany
Designer: Fritz Mann
Discontinued: 1924
Notes
Markings include "CAL 6.35" and "MANN'S-PATENTE" on the left frame, with a grooved notch running the length of the top strap. Poor sales saw it discontinued by 1924, and the company later went bankrupt in 1929.
Background
Fritz Mann set out to build the smallest .25 ACP pistol possible, reworking nearly every component, including the safety catch and cocking mechanism, to minimize size and weight. The result was one of the most compact and lowest-bore-axis pocket pistols of its era.