This prototype 1895 Krnka automatic pistol is another of the items up for sale at the upcoming Rock Island Premier Auction. This pistol, serial number 7, was the first in the developmental line that led to the 1907 Roth-Steyr cavalry pistol.
Uncategorized
Romanian ZB-30 LMG: Improving the Already-Excellent ZB-26
Brno’s ZB-26 was one of the best light machine guns of the 1920s, and it was widely adopted by countries that did not have domestic arms design and production capacity (and it would eventually become […]
Light MGs
Steyr-Solothurn S2-200: the Austrian MG30 and Hungarian 31M
The S2-200 was developed by Louis Stange at the Rheinmetall company in Germany in the late 1920s. Because Germany was not allowed to be doing this sort of arms development at the time, Rheinmetall bought […]
Single Shot Rifles
1867 Werndl (Video)
The first new breech-loading cartridge rifle adopted by the Austro-Hungarian military was the Model 1867 Werndl, firing the 11x42R black powder cartridge. It used an interesting rotating breech locking system, and replaced the Lorenz muzzleloading […]
I really enjoy your site , love obscure guns , gives an insight into the brilliance of early designers.
Get to see details of them that you would never find in books.I have had the pleasure of visiting the pattern room
(Nottingham ) a number of times with the fantastic hosts Herb Woodend and Richard Jones.I was allowed through with an oily rag , not the white gloves , great priviledge .
Thanks for the work and effort you put into this.
I always think of how they milled billets of steel in factories with overhead belt driven milling machines, all to fire what today would be considered an anemic cartridge.
They didn’t understand how to build things cheaply back then. Exceptional machining skills and pride in workmanship were the standard in those days. This video made me go and dig my Roth-Steyr out of the safe and admire it. I grew up in an old-fashioned machine shop (no CNC) and learned a lot from the old men who worked the lathes and presses. Knowing what skill it takes to machine a weapon like this, and to maintain these standards for series production, one can truly appreciate the artistry of these vintage pieces. Now, if I can dig up those 8mm RS handloads I stashed, I think I might do a little shooting with my descendant of Mr. Krnka’s brainchild this afternoon, weather permitting.
Interesting name… I think a name similar to that appeared in the novel Bonfire of the Vanities. “Looks like someone’s hands
got caught in the typewriter” a Judge cracked, upon seeing the defendant’s name.
“Tags: (…) Romania”
Why you tagged this pistol with “Romania” keyword? I know that this can be tagged “Austrian”, “Hungarian” as this was developed in Austria-Hungary or “Czech” as it Karel Krnka (and their father Sylvester Krnka known for Russian Krnka rifle) was Czech but why Romania?
Because Krnka was born in present-day Romania.
Americans think anything east of Berlin is “all the same place innit?””
And at that time, the Post-WW I Czechoslovakia DID NOT EXIST… and Krnka’s Birthplace was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire…and ceded to Romania after WW I…so it is correct to call both Krnkas (Father & Son) Austro-Hungarians…unless one wants to use their Ethnic Origins ( Rumene, Hungarian, Slovakian, Bohemian, Moravian, German,etc, etc.).
BTW, the Then pronunciation of the Name in English was “Krenk” or “Kernka” ( Typical Slavic omission of Vowels in Names) eg: SRPSKA ( for Serbian).
Doc AV
The name is Czech and so was his parent’s ethnicity. Interestingly, if he wanted to sound more ‘Austrian’ he would be Karl, but his parents chose original Czech form and he stuck to it.
The pattern of people’s movement (namely after revolution of 1848 and following liberation) inside of A-H Empire was random. I had opportunity to meet a man who’s name was Krepelka (meaning ‘partridge’) coming from Rumania, speaking cute early 19th century Czech language – just like from linquistic preserve of time.
Pistol shows who actually designed Frommer handguns.
Yes, that’s right and it was mentioned (I believe PDB brought it up in reference page) in recent article made on Frommer pistol. F. was basically a financial executive with interest in firearms; he was instrumental to FEG and gave him the place in history.
Speaking in terms of ergonomy, this gun is awful, but is was a start for Krnka (you pronounced name very well) to mentioned 1907 8mm service pistol.
I read somewhere (probably in times mentioned Austro-Hungarian page on armaments) that it was Krnka who’s effort, with his coworkers actually lead to modern Steyr-Mannlicher enterprise.
I’m fascinated by the early Karel Krnka designed automatic pistols. Awhile back you did a youtube video on the evolution of the browning auto-loading pistol which culminated in the US Army model 1911A1. I looked up Karel Krnka on Wikipedia and there is very little information on the man. Although you’ve covered the Krnka designs in separate videos would it be possible to do a similar video on the evolution of the Krnka designed pistols along with any additional information on the man as well?
I really enjoy videos on forgotten weapons, thanks, Stan
Yes, I plan to do one on Krnka pistols – it will be a while before I can make it happen, though. The next series like that will actually be on Bergmanns.