Picked up a German Dreyse M1907 off Gunbroker the other day. It's a late second variant, and due to it's serial number being so high (242,XXX out of 250K), it was manufactured in 1914 or 1915. Chambered in 7.65mm (.32ACP), it's a surprisingly small gun.

"RHEINMETALL ABT. SÖMMERDA" From what I read online, RHEINMETALL is the manufacturer and SÖMMERDA is the town they were based out of.

To clean, disassemble, or repair, the entire top of the gun pivots on the screw at the front of the trigger guard, making take down semi-similar to an AR.

It was one of the first striker fired guns produced, and the firing pin actually stuck out of the back of the breech block, letting you know the gun was "cocked."

When you look at it, it's slide is opposite a modern semi automatic handgun, the barrel is on the bottom and recoil spring on top.

When you rack the slide, the rear sight doesnt move, as it isn't actually on the "slide." There's a cut out on the back where the breech block comes out when the slide recoils (I'm not really sure how else to describe this, if you don't understand, see the picture).

 

Some of the proof marks and stamps on the gun... The Crown with the "N" below it apparently is the "Nitro" proof, deeming it safe for smokeless powder. The "GERMANY" stamp I haven't been able to find online, as all the other pictures of German 1907's don't seem to have it. I thought it was a mark put on later for import, but the Googles says they stamp that on the slide behind the serrations, and it says "MADE IN GERMANY." Who knows. More peculiar were the numbers on the magazine ejector lever. On the outside there's a "7," so I figured it was the gun's serial (as mine ends in a 7), but I pushed it forward and looked up the opening created with a bore light, and it appears that "7" is the only digit. Same with the "1" found on the inside tip of the ejector lever, only seen when looking up the empty mag well. It's directly on the other side of the "7" stamp. Google turned up nothing, so I'm not sure what to make of them.

Regardless, I'm going to get it checked out by a professional, and if they think it's safe, I'm going to run some ammo through it and see what happens!

Cool gun! Thanks for sharing.

I have one, they're certainly different.

 

I'm a sucker for old over engineered European pistols.

I have a pistol that is marked on the grip. It is marked Unteroffizierschule 11 waffe 1 Non-commissioned officer training school #11 weapon#1.

 

Love it. I am still working on completing my Hungarian handguns. Staying away from German for now. I love all the old guns from 1900ish on up. I am amazed at the machining and workmanship.