Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! When the hellish trench warfare of World War I erupted across Europe, few revolvers could keep up with the brutal action like the Rast & Gasser M1898 sidearm issued to Austro-Hungarian forces. This unique old warhorse blended innovative thinking with some pretty archaic designs – but soldiers loved it for its ruggedness and reliability in a pinch. Developed by the team of Leopold Gasser and August Rast back in 1898 to replace an earlier Austrian revolver, around 180,000 of these solid-frame M1898s rolled out of factories in Vienna until 1912. They sported an unusual loading gate that helped troops rapidly shove fresh 8mm Gasser rounds into the cylinder – though the underwhelming cartridge was one major drawback. But the M1898 more than made up for it with an innovative transfer bar fire control system mated to an obsolete single-action design. Originally meant to be replaced, the M1898 kept chugging along as production of newer pistols lagged. That tenacity allowed this battered but beloved sidearm to stay frontline muscle well into World War II for other militaries like Italy and Yugoslavia.
“Manufacturer: Rast & Gasser
Model: 1898
Type: Revolver
Gauge: 8 mm
Barrel: 4 3/4 inch round
Finish: blue
Grip: walnut”
Lot 247: Rast & Gasser 1898 Revolver 8 mm – Rast & Gasser Model 1898 Double Action Revolver. (n.d.-e). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved May 27, 2024, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/2009/247/rast-gasser-1898-revolver-8-mm.
The post POTD: Austro-Hungary’s Resilient Warhorse – Rast & Gasser 1898 appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.
