Sauer WTM 33
J.P. Sauer & Sohn · Pistol · Discontinued · 1933
Also known as: Westentaschenmodell 33, WTM 1933, Sauer WTM33
Overview
The Sauer WTM 33 is a German vest-pocket semi-automatic pistol chambered in .25 ACP (6.35mm Browning), built by J.P. Sauer & Sohn of Suhl. It is the final iteration of the firm's Westentaschenmodell ("vest pocket model") line, a blowback, striker-fired design with a 50mm barrel and a six-round detachable box magazine intended for concealed personal defense. Produced only briefly during the interwar period, roughly 1,200 examples were made, making it one of the rarest of Sauer's pre-WWII pocket pistols.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 340 g (12.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 104 mm (4.09") |
| Barrel Length | 50 mm (1.97") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 230 m/s (755 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 86 J (63 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 25 m (27 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| 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: Fixed Sights, Vest Pocket Size, Detachable Magazine
Service history
Operators
- Civilian
Production
Estimated total produced: 1,200 · Production years: 1933-1938
Approximately 1,200 produced during the interwar period; exact figures uncertain due to the pistol's rarity
Origin
Country of origin: Germany
Discontinued: 1938
Notes
The WTM designation stands for Westentaschenmodell (vest pocket model). The WTM 33 was Sauer's answer to compact competitors such as the Walther Model 9, but sold in very small numbers before production ended.
Background
With only about 1,200 ever made, the WTM 33 is considered the rarest of J.P. Sauer & Sohn's .25-caliber pocket pistols, a tiny 'watch pocket' gun that competed head-to-head with the Walther Model 9 in the crowded interwar vest-pistol market.