You could say the modern auto pistol about all of us own & many like me, carry on a daily basis, has had a long journey. But in reality that is not the case. Not so because the greatest firearms designer of all time struck GOLD in his first several attempts, over 110 years ago. Of course that man was John Moses Browning & the most prolific pistol in history, the pistol which the the vast majority have & still use, the Tilt Barrel Locking Action design…the 1911. Basically the Great Grandfather of all. But the beginning, as it were, was only a short time before.

The first Auto Pistols came by the way of Archduke Carl Salvator & Count Georg Von Dormus. Their design, the Salvator-Dormus Pistol was the first patented design in 1891. It uses the Delayed-Blowback Action, was chambered for the 8mm Dormus cartridge & held 5rds in a Mannlicher type clip.


The first auto design, which gained commercial favor, was the C-93. Designed by Hugo Borchardt in 1894. The Action is a Toggle-Lock design based on that used in the Maxim Machine Gun. Chambered in 7.62x25 Borchardt & used an 8rd Box Magazine. Roughly 3,000 of these were made & sold.


Another I must include, is the C-96. More aptly named “The Broomhandle”, designed by non other than Paul Mauser in 1896. Using a Short-Recoil Locked breech Machanism Action, and chambered in the 7.63x25 Mauser, it used an 10rd Internal Rectangle Magazine loaded via stripper clip. You might remember the gun used extensively in the Clint Eastwood film “Joe Kidd”, and it’s most famous role, “A long time ago, in a Galaxy far, far away”. Han Solo’s Blaster was actually a highly modified C-96.


More recognized with the shoulder stock in “Joe Kidd”:


And of course, who can forget Han’s Blaster Pistol!?




I must, of course, include the Savage 1907 here. Not the first at anything, we all know. Again, this is why pistol history didn’t really have a Journey, per say. Most of the designs we are still using today were all invented during this 1.5-2 decade period surrounding the turn of the 20th century. But I note the Savage 1907 as it was among the better designs submitted for trials to be the new US Armed Forces Side Arm. While these were chambered specifically for the trials in 45ACP, the commercial model Savage released was chambered in 32ACP. It uses a staggered Box Magazine, carrying 10rds. Don’t think anyone needs a visual, but I came across this beautifully restored piece in research. It really is breathtaking how nice this looks. You have to wonder… what if the military had chosen it instead? It’s but of fame being this reliable little pistol was trusted & carried by William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody, Theodore Roosevelt & Lawman Bat Masterson, after he turned New York Sportswriter. Savage actually commissioned Masterson to write a pamphlet on the 1907 called “The Tenderfoots Turn”. In it Saying, “A Tenderfoot with a Savage Automatic and the nerve to stand his ground could have run the worst six-shooter man the West ever knew right off the range.” While the term Tenderfoot associated with one of these 1907 pistols isn’t very appealing, I doubt many men would dare call Masterson that if he lifted his shirt revealing one of these!


Lastly I’ll add Glock. Whether you love ‘em or hate ‘em, Glock is the only other design, next to the 1911, to revolutionize the industry. Invented by an Austrian engineer who worked in metal injection molding polymer parts, Gaston Glock. While not the first polymer pistol throughout history, and Gaston Glock, not being an actual weapons designer (certainly not like John Browning!), what Glock did was start using the new ultra tough, nearly indestructible polymer in his pistol, made it simple & uses a box magazine with 17 rounds-an unheard of amount of firepower without reloading. It has all the safeties internal, & while there are still people today who are nervous of it not having an external safety, a Glock simply cannot fire unless the trigger is depressed. Period! Gaston Glock brought to the world a pistol that can fire no matter how dirty, how dry, even under water. At its unveiling, no other pistol had the same toughness & reliability & capacity of the Glock. All this making the Glock the only other pistol to be so copied, again, next to the 1911.