Dreyse 1910: An Attempted WW1 9mm Pistol

[@MortusArtis]

A family member of mine, his mother was a nurse in the Canadian army during WWII and had a German officer as a patient who surrendered his pocket pistol to her, it was a Dreyse M1907. I got to hold it when I was a kid and he told me that story, just remembered that story, figured I'd share.

[@wallaroo1295]

Cool story! (I don't mean that in the sarcastic manner.) I wonder what happened to that old pistol. You should see if you can find it, what a great followup to your tale! Best of luck!

[@isaiahjgomez1501]

That’s pretty awesome, does it happen to still be in the family? That’s a great momento!

[@MortusArtis]

WALLAROO Family members that owned it became estranged from the rest of the family and later died from drinking, so I don’t know what happened to it unfortunately.😪

[@wallaroo1295]

@@MortusArtis I'm sorry to hear that. But, I understand - my family is kind of a wreck too... Sometimes, even though separating from toxic family is very painful, it is for the best. Perhaps, you will be able to buy Dryse someday. Since you would not have known the serial number, that means just about any one of them you buy, *could* be that very same pistol.

[@SlavicCelery]

Seeing WWI era guns getting disassembled really explains why the Browning style handguns really dominated the market.

[@Gojiro7]

Simplicity is king, there isn't a industry alive where the most simple version isn't the best.

[@SlavicCelery]

@@Gojiro7 Congrats on replying to my comment from 2017. What a simpler time that was eh? I would say that the electronics industry is one where the simple version isn't always the best. The Raspberry Pi is the simplest item. But is it the best?

[@allangibson8494]

They didn’t until after WW1. Restrictions on firearms manufactured in Germany and Austria killed off a lot of smaller European brands leaving American and Belgian brands with the market - both making Browning designs.

[@SlavicCelery]

@@allangibson8494 I really don't think that in the absence of the post war restrictions, the handgun development would look that different from today. Once the various patents ran out, short recoil tilting barrels will dominate the action type as far as pistols are concerned. With all the time since then the top two actions are still, Tilting Barrel short recoil, and blowback. Yes there still is the falling block, ala Beretta and rotating barrel designs. Other designs are much more limited use, delayed blowback (gas, lever, roller), pederson, etc. But cost and efficiency has shown that the tilting barrel is the most cost effective/package friendly systems. I don't think that would change.

[@LUR1FAX]

@@Gojiro7 Except for software and computer hardware, perhaps. Though that depends on what you mean by simple.

[@jasondoe2596]

There's this intangible quality that engineers and designers strive for, whether developing engines, or firearms, or even computer code - it's called _elegance_ . It's pretty fascinating that even the most rigorous creative disciplines use aesthetics as an important measure of success. Well, this pistol is what happens when there's none of it :P

[@Piotwor]

Man, when compared to other designs from that time, the 1911 really is a timeless gun.

[@thegoldencaulk2742]

Ah, the ol' red table and fireplace. How I've missed your many oddities and rarities.

[@maciejpociecha6357]

TheGoldenCaulk 1980s coke dealer's house, I'm telling you...

[@joedonnelly387]

Looks like an FN model 1900 meets a Kolibri. Thanks again Ian!

[@texasdeeslinglead2401]

Joe Donnelly I was thinking glock , browning , and luger got drunk as a skunk and decide to see how messed up they could make one gun.

[@ironwolfF1]

The first prototype Ian looked at appears to be heading in the right direction for a fix, but I suspect the detractors (justified in their opinions of this weapon) were just too numerous to overcome.

[@sesfilmsllc]

Joe Donnelly so basically a regular sized kolibiri.

[@eVVigilance]

Ian, I hope Mr. Red Tablecloth is acquiring new pieces at a rate faster than you can film them. Here's to hoping that source never runs dry, he seems to have excellent taste in fireams.

[@joevidya]

GrasCollector The tablecloth is magic, when he unfolds it on the table a new gun appears.

[@algirdassalomskas9050]

GrasCollector and when the table cloth is lifted up to be washed in gun polish, as is done with magical firearm tapestries, you can find a gun on the table from under the cloth.

[@ddesoer]

This video exemplifies the problem with this channel for me. I have relatively little interest in handguns and nearly no interest in handguns of that era. Yet I know that watching the video is going to be interesting and I'm going to learn something that is of genuine interest to me. So I have to watch them all and, at the rate they come out, that is actually a commitment. :-D

[@Jennifur68]

I actually had a Dreyse Model 1907 that I bought at a flea market somewhere near Gettysburg in the 1990's for $10. I thought it was mostly a relic, missing parts but I had a gunsmith friend look it over and he replaced the missing magazine and grips, said it was in working condition. It was not in perfect condition and had some pitting so I never fired it because I wasn't 100% convinced it was safe. I do recall it had a very stiff spring and the serrated slots near the muzzle would dig into your fingers painfully while cocking it.

[@JPisOlaf]

Will the red table collection ever end? Would definetely love to see an overview of this amazing collection.

[@therugburnz]

I'm becoming more interested in closed flap holsters lately. Then I find this video with a modified holster not done by a 'kitchen gunsmith'. Instead it was done in a factory setting. Cool ! Big thanx,

[@ST-zm3lm]

Despite the goofy design, these look very well-made. I have a 1907 that is rough on the outside, but still trucks on.

[@dougscott8161]

Wow, Ian, I think I like my old 1907 Dreyse better than these 9MM versions, and I thought my 1907 was weird with the break open feature, which I see has been omitted on the 1910 version. Also the field stripping seems to be much more difficult on the newer, larger guns. Thanks for another enlightening video, God Bless and stay safe.

[@DerPolygonianer]

Rheinische Metallwaaren und Maschinenfabrik actually still exists today. They're one of the largest suppliers for military hardware and the automotive industry. They're much better known as Rheinmetall today. I'm sure Ian knew that but since he didn't say it in the Video and it might interest somebody: Here you go ;)

[@ramenoodle7853]

did you lose your universal disassembly tool?

[@Andrewbert109]

"It's kind of a goofy solution, I'm not sure why they did it" sounds like that could really describe the entire gun

[@b.griffin317]

Just two pins to take it apart: "look ma! an AR from 1911!"

[@Ratzfourtyfour]

When I read Metallwaaren with a double A I thought for a second it might be a counterfeit gun. Turns out it's just an outdated spelling of Metallwaren. I wish they still would manufacture guns in Sömmerda, it would make that place a bit less boring.

[@FredDude27]

For tax-collectors? Wasnt that the same reason they developed the Doberman Pinscher breed too? :D

[@Sinnistering]

The experimental version is actually pretty good. Almost certainly inferior to delayed or locked breech designs, but it's a functional design--compared with the disastrously designed production type.

[@surplussean3364]

Some of these should be titled Ridiculous Weapons

[@ramjb]

The prototype seemed much more practical, nothing ridiculous on it. The main serial ones however...yeah. Not sure how anyone thought something like that would be viable for a police/military firearm.

[@surplussean3364]

DyingIsMyLatestFashion...It's a joke man, not that serious

[@jameshealy4594]

"There is no such thing as ridiculous when it comes to gun development" Points at ring gun.

[@mkultraification]

+James Healy yes, but those were built as novelties. They were never seriously intended to serve a practical purpose.

[@kaymio6547]

Rheinische Metallwaren- und Maschinenfabrik AG, nowadays called Rheinmetall. der Rhein = the river Rhine, Metallwaren = metal goods, Maschinenfabrik = machine factory. AG = Aktiengesellschaft = "share corporation"

[@hummelspatz]

And if I'm correct, they manufactured the Leopard 1 & 2 battle tanks...somewhere near Paderborn?

[@annadelsiena]

They also make the cannons for the Abrams

[@FreeOfFantasy]

Rheinmetall builds the canon, the thank is made by Kraus-Maffei Wegemann

[@failer_]

Rheinmetall has a subsidiary in Kassel which is ~70km from Paderborn.

[@reneengelke3218]

hummelspatz They manufactured the Leopard 1&2 and today They manufacture the Puma in Unterlüß (my Home Town)

[@spef7396]

this is pretty mellow Ian, good job

[@Michael_Smith-Red_No.5]

I never see you and Ian in the same place.

[@tyruskeith2546]

spef lol

[@troglodyte8242]

is this ian's second account

[@jasondoe2596]

KFC´s Gravy, no, just a persistent stalker :P

[@sebathadah1559]

spef sup spef

[@aldi404]

I always love Ians german pronunciations :) Greetings from Germany

[@GreenDayFanMT]

Er tut sich aber wirklich Mühe geben. Ich finde er wird sogar besser.

[@calcyss7159]

Umgangssprachlich/Im dialekt ist +GreenDayFanMT's version schon richtig.

[@GreenDayFanMT]

Das Rheinische ist immer noch ne Hochsprache :D. Mir ging es gut wenn ich zum Arzt gehen könnt, aber das geht momentan nicht :D

[@calcyss7159]

GreenDayFanMT Das Rheinische ist ein dialekt des hochdeutschen und dadurch genau so umgansprachlich wie schwäbisch ;) "tun"/"tut" ist noch nichtmal ein richtiges wort afaik :P

[@GreenDayFanMT]

Ich mag Leute die etwas "richtig stellen" obwohl es ironisch gemeint war, aber das tut hier nichts zu Sache. Chill 'lex, take it easy man.

[@martinswiney2192]

“There you go, theres 4 of the things”. Possibly my favorite Ian quote ever.

[@boomsticks_and_battlefield]

I love seeing how far firearms technology has evolved, especially during the last 100 or so years. Great video Ian!!

[@PaulVerhoeven2]

Not in the last 40 though. Every pistol these days is Glock P80... from 1980. Or another boutique copy of M1911.

[@a_loyal_kiwi88]

I can't help but feel a strange sense of sadness for Dreyse, after the needle rifle it seems like every other design they came up with just didn't cut it when compared to contemporary designs, atleast when it came to military weapons.

[@jonasglanshed]

I just saw a bunch of these in Fritz Langs epic M from 1931

[@cowboybebop3994]

love it, how you try to speak every foreign name of the weapons in their correct way. as a german fellow i'm kinda glad to grew up with the german language, not having to learn it later. well done mr. mccollum. greetings from over the pond.

[@TheEpictrooper]

Nifty little disassembly tool. Are those something you can buy/make? Picked up a 1907 Dreyse recently and well......I've learned just how strong the recoil springs are the hard way.....

[@laviliterthefirst]

Hmm, I wonder how that more traditional slide prototype worked...seems like that one might have actually been alright but with Luger and Browning right around the corner it was kinda doomed from the start.

[@burnininhell]

Ok, seriously KZbin, why?!?! Why do you think that after watching a Forgotten Weapons video, I'd want to watch a 'learn your colors with a carton panda' video for toddlers? I'm 24 years old! I think I've got that figured out by now!

[@todaywefly4370]

burnininhell you are never too old to learn😊. Even at 27.

[@Spiz103]

Has a blowback firearm with a disengagement system like this to bypass enormously powerful cartridges ever worked properly? I remember wondering if you could build a rifle like that.

[@Immafraid]

The G3

[@sthenzel]

I think the last one works differently. The leaf spring pushes the rear piece down, so this has to ride up the little bump on the frame, thus providing a little bit of delay. Anything else would make no sense, no gun designer of clear mind would have designed a contraption you have to disassemble partially to chamber a round. In the early days of selfloaders maybe, but not 1910.

[@leemcnutt6165]

I do appreciate how you admit when you are a little short on information or pronunciation and admit it and move on with the video

[@therugburnz]

Cool weapon. Despite the odd charging action it does allow what seems to be an easily field strippable and cleanable pistol. I guess others found it not that helpful. Thanx Ian

[@fireflyaut4313]

There is a marking ABT. Sömmerda above that Ejector-Retaining-Lever. Itc ould be a marking for a Police Unit: "Abt." is short for Abteilung(Department) and "Sömmerda" is a Village (now Town) in Germany. Also the police in the countryside is called Gandamerie (still the case in Austria) and in Cities its Polizei. So "Land Gandermarie" is country side Gandamerie or in other words country side Police.

[@hawkmoon3312]

Nope. There was a "Munitions- and Waffenfabrik AG" in Sömmerda, which Rheinmetall bought in 1901. So the gun was most likely produced there.

[@MrDgwphotos]

So the rough equivalent of a "national" Sheriff's department.

[@hawkmoon3312]

Actually even closer equivalent. The Landgendarmerie was also divided by locality/county, same as Sheriff´s departments.

[@Marcel_Germann]

The company which purchased the "Dreyse" company (Munitions- und Waffenfabrik AG in Sömmerda/Thuringia) was the Rheinische Metallwaarenfabrik. And nope, that's not a typo, it was written with two a back then, this was before the reformation of orthography in 1901. Short name is and was "Rheinmetall", and the company is still in existence. Most famous for the MG42.

[@vicostea]

Just imagine using and cleaning this pistol in WW1 trenches. :D

[@laviliterthefirst]

The recoil spring goes flying out into No-mans-land...."well Johnny, Gertrude is your girl now...take care of her" lol

[@costantinoandruzzi2219]

Definitely an improvement over the M1907 and, design-wise, a weird cross between a Steyr M12 and a Tokarev TT-33!

[@draketigerclaw]

In a way it kind of reminds me of the funny small Beretta pistols with the pop open barrels in solving still recoil spring issues.

[@pirate5019]

If I was living in the German Empire, I would definetly make sure my tax payments are on time.

[@blackcatgaming8518]

PIRATE why? With a gun like that you could run away before the guy could even get it cocked

[@andywander]

Hey, that second pistol(the one in nice condition) says M-1912 9x19mm on the butt near the magazine well.

[@ainsleywainsley]

its crazy how many variation's of guns are out there and i've never shot one!

[@ausmax1972]

That final prototype looks so Rube Goldberg...

[@worldtraveler930]

And Now we know why it is a Forgotten Weapon.

[@bikkiikun]

Could you make a video, answering the question on why the world largely settled on 9mm parabellum (as defacto standard for pistols and SMGs)?

[@Skeptical_Numbat]

Another interesting dead end in the evolution of the modern firearm... It's intriguing to me seeing how little guns have changed in their fundamental design aspects over an entire century of development. I'd have expected high precision/power caseless ammunition, electronic triggers & superlight carbon-ceramic materials, etc. being standard in automatic pistols by now... Ian, what advances in gun technology (large & small) are you most looking forward to be perfected, or developed from scratch in the next few years..?

[@besternamedensgibtxd]

Your german is improving :D

[@nickshane9314]

I like the way it looks and would like a modern firearm that looks like this but actually good

[@scratchyass2369]

Weird gun with a weird action that never actually saw much use, seems like a perfect fit for Battlefield 1, maybe make it the rank 10 unlock side arm for the medic class.

[@senfdazu2230]

Police is "Polizei" in german. Landesgendarmerie is something between state trooper and national guard.

[@uncleants]

Rheinische Metallwaren & Maschinenfabrik is a mouthful if you aren't familiar with German pronunciation. Fortunately you could refer to it as Rheinmetall as most people do, which may prevent your tongue falling off ;)

[@skiingcrocodile2153]

"Sommerda" in some Italian dialects means "I am shit" so I'm really not that surprised that these were bad, even the guns themselves knew it

[@CRO_Bash95]

I scrolled way to far to find this! When i first read that Sommerda i thought the very same thing, even guns knew that they were shit

[@randywatson8347]

The easy dissassembly pins are cool

[@oldschoolmedia6484]

The cool thing about Dreyse pistol is the ribs in the slide to allow it to use the 9mm parabellum

[@robertkubrick3738]

Interesting workaround and considering the time. I wonder what the weight savings was compared to a Hi-Point which is a modern blowback 9X19?

[@nichevo1]

@P-Talks no, wasnt the P08 Luger in 9mm reputed to be a young cannon, a blaster? Wasn't everybody doping up their pistols with red-hot SMG ammo?

[@BMW_MAN]

it reminds me Chinese Mystery Pistol

[@CaptainGrief66]

M30B35 The Chinese copied the previous versions of the Dreyse pistols.

[@cowsauce9099]

Great video! These are amazing! That final design doesn't look half bad. Honestly I love the idea of a 9mm delayed blowback pistol, it greatly simplifies the action and FCG. Honest question, do you feel the final prototype model would have been successful if had been the original design? From my understanding (from watching a ton of your videos) it seems like a good design. Generally cammed metal surfaces cant easily fail and it looks to be a simple and rugged design (although Im sure it would succumb to even the smallest amount of sand). How does that design stack up against contemporary pistol designs of the time?

[@spacewater7]

Or the hammer spring. Such as in the mysterious unicorn of the Astra 1921, or etc. und so weiter. Good luck and go for it.

[@bryanmise5105]

I’m now frustrated!!!!! Ha! after watching these pistols being disassembled. Crazy compared to modern pistols. But a can appreciate the incremental steps that we take for granted today.

[@tokul76]

Rheinische Metallwaaren- und Maschinenfabrik AG. Commonly known as Rheinmetall after merger in 1936. They are still producing weapons. Slightly bigger :) calibers today.

[@Ctulhu911]

This gun is neat!

[@JerryEricsson]

They say the .32's were some of the most accurate of that caliber ever built, and extremely easy to fire accurately. Of course I am not sure who "they" are but that's what they say....

[@emiliomurillo20]

viva hi point and they even make a 45

[@pewpewTN]

The revised edition looked like a big improvement. I wonder if it actually functioned more reliably?

[@cache2295]

Now, all I need is money

[@crashandburnbirner]

Shifty Bagel Well go out and get it then

[@cache2295]

Money to for things I don't need*

[@pedrotome9119]

Again, a great video!! The armed forces of Portugal had a machine gun with this name: Dreyse. I can not remember the model etc, now. (The name of the city Sommerda, in portuguese leads to a funny "translation" I will not state here) 😅😅

[@prof.m.ottozeeejcdecs9998]

RheinMetall (short) used today!

[@panzerzh9864]

Enjoyed very much!

[@AsRedAsBlood7]

Interesting, either the stamping "Rheinische Metallwaaren. ..." is a misprint or "Waaren" was written like this back then. Today the word still exists (it simply means goods) but is written "Waren". Might be a pretty special gun if this one is misprinted..

[@OfflineTillee]

The "Rheinische Metallwaaren- und Maschinenfabrik Aktiengesellschaft" today is called just "Rheinmetall", a name that should ring some bells.

[@411.48R]

I really like the "steam punk" look of the Dreyse pistols. Wouldn't it have made more sense to produce a M1907 in .380ACP?

[@quentinhoward99]

Well the people they were selling it to wanted it in 9mm, plus 380 isn't that much better for blowback.

[@Nick_B_Bad]

I got a WW1 German military marked Dryese 1907 rig. I love shooting it! Would love a 9mm version but holy moly they command a premium!

[@chumanzky9862]

do a review on the imbel rifles please

[@robgreene1776]

Very interesting, Thank you !

[@jtmunn4496]

Are you related to Cody from Cody's Lab here on Facebook? You look a little bit alike but your mannerisms remind me of him.

[@Nukle0n]

amazing that they actually tried shipping these. I assume that's why the name Dreyse isn't around any more.

[@mauser1551]

John Browning is a literal genius

[@Fuddleton]

Would've been nicer if it was a two spring setup, one for charging, and then use both for cycling.

[@stevegable2707]

i love the look of it just as I do many pistols of that time like the FN Browning was it ? The way the 1st model works is crazy getting that first round in and cocked but I find it different and how many air pistols cocked like this 40 years later ? why could they not getting running right ? there is nothing fundamentally wrong so what was it ?

[@painmagnet1]

Heavy spring and bolt are much less reliable than delayed blowback in the higher powered cartridges like 9mm Para. Ammunition needs to be carefully selected and uniform in power to feed properly. That's until the top pops open on this particular model...

[@majorbones251]

Hey Ian, On the standard model, other than the recoil spring pressure, are you mechanically required to lift that slide lever? Let's say you're superman, can you just run the slide like a normal pistol?

[@mancavestudios8955]

You should have done a separate video on each one of these.

[@mjisabelle18]

For S&Gs, you should do a "Ring of Fire" video.

[@indiequas]

Those are some nice hammers you got there🤔

[@Gojiro7]

you know the guns crappy when even official manufactures do the Chinese mystery pistol thing of having parts of the gun that do nothing XD

[@satanmitdengeilenbarthaaren]

:-) It´s always funny when you spell german words. I watched 0:52 3 or 4 times, and smiled big time at 7:31

[@funkrod]

Id love if you could do a video on an eighty eight flak gun

[@jordanhorst6]

the one prototype seems alright. I don't like striker fired very much though.

[@donjones4719]

13:20 This video is incredibly frustrating, Ian. You disassemble the 2 poorly designed pistols and clearly show how they function but you pass over the best one, the one that seems to solve the problem of the 9m blowback. The serrated pieces on the slide unlock the slide from the mainspring, that's clear - but the slide is clearly actuated by a spring to return it when you hand-cycle it. Where is that spring? How are the two springs related? Many years to late to get a answer but it's damn frustrating to someone who's been fascinated by the idea of making a 9mm pistol nearly as simple as a .32 pure blowback. This has the desirable spring-over-barrel and low bore axis.

[@andrewengel3023]

looks like a full size Kolibri, nice

[@iridian]

13:05 Also markings for cartridge and upper markings I can't make out all too well

[@Tomahaukka]

Apart from making design and production simpler, is there any documentation on why the gun is straight blowback?

[@Kumimono]

What are those markings at 13:05, Simpson something, M-1912?

[@1SaG]

7:44 Funny... they spelled "Metallwaren" with a double A ("Metallwaaren"). Looks like they refused to accept the spelling reform of 1880 that had eliminated the use of doubling to denote a "long" vowel. :) But that kinda fits with such a weird gun. Hard to imagine anyone would accept this into service when there were perfectly good revolvers around ... or P08 Lugers.

[@lenburton868]

Ian Are your videos monetized now As im seeing ads on some of your videos.

[@_captainjack_7138]

Forgotten indeed...and for good reasons this time.

[@koffeekage]

The latest version functionally could have changed the game for gun manufacturing, i wonder if it ran reliably.

[@jastreb1081]

Isn't the "Metallwaaren"-stamp misspelled, or just an older way to spell it, like "Citrone"?

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Older way to spell it.

[@djd6666]

The words "Rube Goldberg" spring to mind