J.P. · Pistol
Roth-Sauer 1900
Long recoil · 7.65mm Roth-Sauer · introduced 1900
Also known as Roth-Sauer Model 1900
About the Roth-Sauer 1900
The Roth-Sauer 1900 is an early German long-recoil-operated semi-automatic pocket pistol chambered for the proprietary 7.65mm Roth-Sauer cartridge. Designed by Georg Roth and Karel Krnka and manufactured under license by J.P. Sauer & Sohn of Suhl, it used a rotating-lug locking bolt and a fixed seven-round magazine loaded from stripper clips. It is one of the earliest European self-loading pistols.
The Roth-Sauer cartridge fed from a fixed magazine loaded with a stripper clip through the open action, a feature borrowed from contemporary military rifle practice.
Roth-Sauer 1900 specifications
General
- Type
- Pistol
- Action
- Long recoil
- Firing mechanism
- Striker-fired
- Trigger
- Single action
- Calibres
- 7.65mm Roth-Sauer
- Magazine capacity
- 7 rounds
- Magazine
- Fixed box
Dimensions
- Barrel length
- 100 mm (3.9 in)
- Overall length
- 165 mm (6.5 in)
- Weight (empty)
- 0.66 kg (1.44 lb)
Barrel
- Rifling
- Right hand
Materials
- Barrel
- Steel
- Receiver / frame
- Steel
- Slide
- Steel
- Stock
- Wood
- Finish
- blued
Performance
- Muzzle velocity (typical)
- 250 m/s (820 fps)
- Muzzle energy (typical)
- 144 J (106 ft·lb)
- Effective range
- 25 m
History
- Introduced
- 1900
- Discontinued
- 1909
- Production status
- Discontinued
- Country of origin
- DE
- Designer
- Georg Roth
Features
- Fixed magazine
- Stripper clip loading
Safety
- Manual safety
Production was limited to roughly 4,000 units; surviving examples are rare and prized by collectors.