Gasser M1870
Leopold Gasser Waffenfabrik · Revolver · Out Of Production · 1870
Also known as: Gasser-Patrone M1870, M1870 Gasser, Gasser Cavalry Revolver
Overview
The Gasser M1870 was a large, open-frame service revolver adopted by the Austro-Hungarian cavalry in 1870. Chambered for the powerful 11.3x36mmR (11mm Gasser) cartridge, it was a six-shot, gate-loaded double-action revolver designed and built by Leopold Gasser of Vienna. The barrel unit was attached to the frame by a screw beneath the cylinder arbor, the cylinder was loaded through a gate on the right side, and a rod ejector was carried beneath the barrel. With an overall length of nearly 375 mm, it was one of the largest service revolvers of its era.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1300 g (45.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 375 mm (14.76") |
| Barrel Length | 235 mm (9.25") |
| Action Type | Double Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Double Action |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Rotary |
| Muzzle Velocity | 326 m/s (1070 fps) |
| Effective Range | 50 m (55 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 11mm Gasser · primary — also known as 11.3x36mmR, 11.3mm Gasser, 11mm Montenegrin
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: 6 Round Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Loading Gate Safety
- Features: Open Frame, Gate Loaded Cylinder, Rod Ejector, Fixed Sights, Barrel Arbor Screw
Service history
Operators
- Austro-Hungarian Army · adopted 1870 · as M1870
Conflicts
- Austro-Hungarian military service (1870-1918)
Production
Production years: 1870-1880s
Produced in large numbers by the Leopold Gasser Waffenfabrik in Vienna; closely related Gasser-pattern revolvers were also widely sold commercially, including the oversized 'Montenegrin' Gasser.
Origin
Country of origin: Austria
Designer: Leopold Gasser
Notes
The open-frame Gasser construction, while strong enough for the heavy 11mm cartridge, was already considered somewhat dated at adoption and was eventually superseded in Austro-Hungarian service by the solid-frame Rast & Gasser M1898 in the smaller 8mm Gasser caliber. The 11.3x36mmR cartridge is sometimes likened to the .44 Magnum in power.
Background
Foot-long and chambering a cartridge in the league of a .44 Magnum, the M1870 Gasser was the BFR of its day; commercial Gasser-pattern revolvers became so iconic in the Balkans that legend held every adult male in Montenegro was required by the prince to own one.