Hungarian pistoles

Somehow or another, I seem to have become interested in Hungarian firearms. I think it all started when I stumbled across a Frommer STOP at one of the local pawnshops (left).

Manufactured by Femaru-Fegyver es Gepgyar (FEG) in Budapest, the Frommer STOP (right) is an interesting oddity, being a long-recoil handgun in a caliber which really doesn't require such a stout system.

Designed by Rudolf Frommer, the S.T.O.P. was originally developed in a 7.65, but don't mistake that 7.65 for a standard .32acp. It's original design was adopted as the Pisztoly 12M during 1912 for the Honved -- Hungary's contribution to the Austro-Hungarian Empire's reserve forces. In various forms, they were manufactured and used in the Hungarian Armed Forces from 1912 until 1945. There were some Pisztoly 12Ms produced in 9mm short (.380) caliber during World War I, however, the vast majority of production was in the 7.65 cal. Here again, what has been identified as 9mm kurz calibre by some authorities is somewhat misleading. The Frommers actually utilized "proprietary" cartridges very similar to the .32 and the 9kurz. Similar, however, ain't "The Same."

According to a note from Peter Stadlmaier, a collector from Vienna, "Its original caliber was not .32acp or 9mm short, it was 7,65mm Frommer and 9mm Frommer. They have the same size like .32acp/9mm short but the shell is crimped and they are "hot" loaded. Thats why an unmodified Frommer Stop will not work correct with modern ammo."

Peter also sent a photo of a 9mm Frommer cartridge (right). As I undestand it, the 7.65 slug was similar in construction. Note the slight "crimp" in the case at the point where the base of the bullet sits within the case.

No wonder these things tend toward balky feeding with standard .32acp and .380!!!

I am not aware of any available proprietary Frommer ammunition, which pretty well relegates this firearm to the "display" category. Current production-model FEG firearms, however, have standardized and enjoy a good reputation.

Production of the second "S.T.O.P." variant began in 1919 and was exclusively in the 7.65Frommer caliber. They are marked

FEGYVERGYAR - BUDAPEST * FROMMER - PAT. STOP. CAL. 7.65m/m (.32).

The S.T.O.P. Pisztoly 19M was also adopted and used as the official Hungarian Army sidearm and continued in production until 1939.

The final variant of the STOP, the Pisztoly 39M was in 9mm short (.380) caliber but was not adopted as a service pistol.

What makes the STOP a rather odd duck is the design of the complex long-recoil system. Unlike most semi-automatic pistols, the "slide" doesn't slide. As a matter of fact, there really is no slide. The bolt body is connected to a long recoil rod at the rear breech-block. Upon firing, the recoil spring forces the bold body (firing pin, extractor and all) backward until the ejection-port is clear. Thereupon, the ejector throws the spent shell and a new round is chambered. The solid, slideless barrel topped by a smaller cylinder for the recoil rod give the Frommer STOP a sort of Flash Gordon raygun look that is really pretty cool.

The STOP is an accurate weapon, however the sights are extremely small. The small sights and the slight caliber make these more of a point-and-shoot, close-quarter defensive pistol as opposed to a readily-targeted competition shooter.

The STOP has a length of almost 7 inches (165mm) with a 4-groove right-twist barrel of not quite 4 inches (95mm). It weighs a bit over 1.5 lb. (0.61kg) empty. The magazine is a 7-round detachable box. The 7.65mm (.32cal) develops a muzzle velocity of approximately 920fps.

During the Inter-War years, the STOPs shared their military-sidearm status with two other firearms, the FEG Pisztoly 29M (right) and the Pisztoly 37M. Some older references indicate that the 29M and the 37M were primarily 7.65cal firearms with some of each made in 9mm short. Other and newer references, however, seem to indicate that the 29M and the 37M were mainly .380s.

According to some fine research by Bill Utterback as posted on the c-r-ffl bulletin board, "The following books say the 29M and 37M (not German) were 9mm only: Pistols of the World by Hogg and Weeks (1992)
Handguns of the World by Ezell (1981)
Standard Catalog of Firearms by Schwing and Houze (1994)
Military Small Arms of the Twentieth Century by Hogg and Weeks (1973) says the 29M was 9mm and the Hungarian 37M was both 9mm and 7.65mm.  They seem to have changed their opinion in the later 1992 book above by the same authors.
Blue Book of Gun Values by Fjestad (1994) totally blew it.  It shows no 29M at all and says the 37M was 7.65mm only.

Take your pick, I guess.

My 37M is 9mm and so is every one (not German) that I've seen advertised."

The 9short (.380cal) was a popular chambering for East-European paramilitaries at the time.

Both the Pisztoly29M and the Pisztoly 37M are standard blow-back operated semi-autos.

The 29M is marked as FEGYVERGYAR - BUDAPEST 29M on the slide.

A number of the 37Ms were made for the Wehrmacht during the German Occupation of Hungary in WWII. These were designated the Pistolen 39(u) and are marked P. MOD 37 KAL 7.65 on the left of the slide. The Hungarian 37Ms are marked FEMARU-FEGYVER ES GEPGYAR PT37M.

The German 37(u) can also be distinguished by the presence of a thumb- operated safety at the rear of the frame. The STOPs, the 29M and the 37M all have grip safeties.

Link here to an article on the Frommer STOP by Dennis Riordan, including disassembly instructions and exploded-view drawing.

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