History of WWI Primer 020: German Dreyse 1907 Pistol Documentary 

This is the pistol Berlin Homicide Detective Gereon Rath uses in "Babylon Berlin", set in the late 1920s. Great show.

I love going back to the days of the all .32 Channel. Thanks y’all!

Been watching this channel for a while now. After my father-in-law found out that I'll be starting gunsmithing classes in August, he gave me one of the two that he had to use as a project gun. Was stoked to see that you guys had a video talking about it! Thanks for the info you provide in these videos.

This is one of my favorite videos. It's amazing how much Browing understood patent law. And Dreyse figured a way around!

5 years later I’m pretty sure this produced the tightest group of any gun yet. Crazy.

CONFIRMED: Othias films these videos without pants.

I can dig the T-Gewehr family photos at the end. Especially the one with Othais, that makes me want my own T-Gewehr to own and take care of like a lost puppy... of tank death....

Your xray animations are awesome. I learn more from them than i could ever from a old school gun book

+C&Rsenal Funny little tidbit: "Schmeißen" or "schmeissen" in german, means "to throw forcefully". A "Schmeißer" or "Schmeisser" hence is "someone, who throws forcefully".

I inherited one of these from my father who brought it home from WWII. Thank you for the great info.

It seems Mae is feeling much better. The Dreyse appears to be one of those weapons like the Sten. It doesn't look like it will be comfortable or inspire confidence...but it just works.

Inspector Rath certainly made good use of his Dreyse!

Yes! A new one! It feels like it's been so long.

this is only the second video I have seen from you, excellent way to deliver the FACTS ,I enjoyed this alot

Rheinische Metallwaaren und Maschinenfabrik also used the abriviated mane Rheinmetall. Much easier to pronounce.

Othias, man that last pic of you and the Big Old T made me lol. Thank you.

Othais; your attention to detail on these video's is fantastic. Mae; nice glamour shots with that beast of a rifle. Cool history on a gun I had no experience with. I feel lucky I was able to buy 3 shirts; I should have bought them all. Good luck on finding a replacement vendor.

Thanks, Drake! Where do I get a poster of Othais in the orange sweater with the anti-tank rifle?

Arrrggghhh........30 minutes of blessed infotainment followed by 2 week of anticipation.

As always an interesting and informative pleasure to watch.

I love that I get a paycheck every two weeks, and a new episode.

Thanks for another great video, Othais and Mae!

Excellent German. Okay,I am lying but it is funny.

Aha! Thank you for putting this one on the record!

I would love to see a longer version of this. Perhaps it is not part of its WW1 service history, but the device has so many variations that it ought provide a lot more time on screen. You people are busy. I understand if you haven't the time to do more, revisit, etc. We Dreyse fans must do our own work. Till then, I am most appreciative of this video.

I can add something here, the base plate finger tip protrusion of the magazine is meant to be used to disassemble the forward recoil spring lug. You'll note the interesting step on that baseplate finger? You use that on the bottom of the muzzle where there is a half ovular recess in the shroud of the frame to depress the lug far enough for the internal capture lug to disengage. Once you understand, you'll have no need for your cut copper pipe connector solution, Othias, though that was a very cool solution. The germans always make sure you have all you need within the design of a firearm itself. At least this has been my experience. Note the Kar98's steel circle in the butt for taking down the bolt. I may have to do a video to better illustrate the operation above mentioned. I wish i could just link a picture in the comment section here!

Amazing quality animation!

Hi, Othias and Mae, I was pleasantly surprised to find that you had a Primer on the 1907 Dreyse. I was also mildly surprised that you said they are rather plentiful here in the U. S., as I have only seen two others besides the one my dad brought back from Germany from WWI, one in a gun shop in Michigan and the other in a Military Museum at Camp Dodge, Ia. I didn't get to handle the one in Michigan, but since I had one of my own, the curator at Camp Dodge allowed my to handle and explain a little about the gun to him. The only difference I could find in them was that mine has the worn part that is supposed to prevent the action from being broken open if the hammer is cocked and the museum's example was not worn. I did, however make the mistaken assumption that the break open feature would allow for the refilling of a partially used magazine, but if you have a chambered round the break open will not function (unless you have the worn part that will cause an accidental firing. I also found the gun to be top heavy and some what awkward, but nice. Thanks for reminding me of that old relic, which I'm now going to try to get back from my Granddaughter. God Bless and stay safe.

Oh what memories, I had one of these pistols 40 years ago I purchased it for $50 it's one of the few firearms ever regret having sold also it looks like it's time for the Mae calendar when you guys get it all together let me know so I can buy a few as those pictures of Mae were tasteful and outstanding

Thanks, great video again, keep up the good work!

yesterday we saw the film "The Testament of Dr. Mabuse " 1933. the dreyse 1907 plays a not unimportant visible and "talk about" role as an assassin-pistol, one of the Gangsters used. even in this old film it was already described as "out of style for a long time" by the police-officer after they got the pistol+criminal person. (perhaps cause the weak 7,65cal.).

Yes!! Perfect ending a tuesday!

Features heavily in Babylon Berlin, a fantastic German TV series

Great video and very informative. Just recently posted a video on this pistol that my grandfather had brought back from WW2. He picked this up when the P38 he had taken off a German officer was confiscated by his CO.

Well probably about to buy one of these so I figured I'd drop by for a refresher on them.

Nice one guys!!

Excellent! Thanks for the in-depth description and background. I have one and just took to the gunsmith yesterday to have thoroughly cleaned for display. Amazingly enough my S# is only 100 spots different than yours in the video. And it's in excellent shape too.

Thanks again

I just ordered one. Mainly because I think it’s so unique looking.

I have one , had it for a long time. Love the gun, super accurate the only thing different between mine and yours is i have a wood grip instead or bakalite

Honestly, have you thought about a T-Gewer Calendar for 2016-17? Those photos had me entertained beyond all good reason. Keep up the good work. P.S. I can't wait for the trench shotgun episode.... Nothing like incensed Germans (in the early part of the 20th century) to get me excited.

Finally a new one! Thanks

fantastic .... thanks for sharing

There is one of these at a LGS I frequent (too often). It's been rubbed down with a Scotchbrite pad, not bad otherwise. It's "different". Thanks for this vid!

just a point on the Dryse; instead of using the magazine toe as a take-down tool there is a better one: keep a fired 45-70 brass around. as a take down tool it works a champ

Ian at forgotten weapons has a video on the Dreyse 1910 in 9mm. The date for the video is may 8 2017.

Holy Dreyse, Othais! I didn't realize how much bigger you are than Mae until I saw that pistol in your hands. Dang! Good work as always!

just snagged a late first variant s/n 107073. grips are creaked so I got it for next to nothing. thanks for the great video because of your work I knew instantly what I was looking at.

I came back to watch this again after you mentioned this gun in the "Questions: Answers 2" video. It seems like such a good design in several ways, its problems seem relatively easy to work out and I wonder why it wasn't further developed. Also, Pontifical Swiss Guard Dreyse is now officially my white whale.

Another fine episode, guys! Your Dreyse has a little bit better finish than mine.

I know it is mean, but I always have to chuckle when he tries to speak German. 😂 Keep up the good work, I love your series! 😊

did you see that target !!. real experiments that show what works and what doesn't. Whooa. Dammit; I wish I could work on a short run production of these. It can be improved, too. what a little hummer.

if i could get that last pic and hang it in my office cubicle, the confusion and awkward glances would be an endless source of amusement. i'd never get another workplace date again, but ............

30:35 Thanks Drake

I love your channel! It took me 3 weeks from discovery to catching up! Now I start waiting for the next ones ;-) There seems to be a lot of pattents involved, could you explain that a bit? How they were obtained, cost, enforcement, how long they last, country of validity, how it differs from current pattents,... I do not know if it is feasible without turning it into a legalese video though... Regards from Canada!

10:35 a .45 ACP case works well for this too.

I was thinking that you could add a round in the mag to make the grip longer, but this was being sold as what we would call a sub-compact. As a pocket pistol you need it to fit in you... Pocket. In the days when all men wore suits you wouldn't worry about priniting so as long as it fits comfortably in a trouser or coat pocket it fulfils the desired niche. As for being a popular polezi sidearm, the shootability and small groups might well be the very reason for its long service life.

Surprisingly, I just found one of these in a pawn shop in E-town, KY. Looked like it was all there, didn't look like it had been significantly abused or neglected in the past, and still had remnants of the finish, all the bits seemed to move like they should....but I'm no expert, so no idea if it could actually fire still. But at $250 asking price, it could be worth looking into for the right person. Don't remember the serial number, but the combination of sights and specific milled slide grips puts it between 230k and 245k.

For a moment I shocked and in dismay. by slip of tongue, I thought by Mae. - 'Me, being 32...'- no, surely not your age, you are making fun, - Of course you meant Caliber of Dreyse Gun!! Great video and grouping. I learned a lot, thanks. Vor Sprung Dunk Tecknik.

I have a Dreyse with the following engraved just in front of the safety latch: K.Pr.Z.V. No.219. In the top recess just in back of the slider is the number 22218. The bottom of the magazine in stamped 219 II. Any idea of the significance of these markings? Lastly, what ammo size is used? I won't fire it, since it's more of a keepsake from my dad. Thanks for a very interesting video.

My goodness. That photo of Othais and the T-Gewehr. It was majestic.

I am now caught up with the series.

Tuesdays used to be the worst day. Now every other tuesday aint so bad. Also got an M1 carbine in the mail. Tuesday is shaping up ok!

That is a nice little pistol. Maybe ill pick one up sometime.

Just FYI the caliber is listed as .32mm in the description instead of 7.65mm/.32acp like it should be. Otherwise great vid guys!

Great video as usual, hope you guys get to some more of the blackpowder/conversion rifles/carbines Gras m74 or m80/14Mauser m80/07 (dreaming)Mannlicher 1888 or 88/90Vetterli m70/87 or m70/87/15Or any of the French Kropatscheks

Gideon Rath carries one of these on Babylon Berlin.

excellent as always!!!! why was it the little deyse that could? teutonic pagan magik (wow! thatd be a brilliant death metal band name). i think if i owned one of these id rig up a "takedown glove" and permanently affix the copper coupling to the palm of old work glove (rocking cut off fingers of course). that way all youd have to do is align the lug bushing to the coupling and push without having to try to align and hold the bushing as well. maybe im overthinking it but, what the hell teutonic pagan magik! ps nice pics of may with the t gewehr! i sense a poster in the future ? and yes, nice pic of othias with the t gewehr as well. it made me laugh.

I just bought a Dreyse! Seller had it listed on Gunbroker as a Dryse. Pretty sure that miss spelling got me a deal. $570 shipped. Probably in 60% finish, no pitting, intact grips. Imperial Army stamped.

I made it exactly 2 seconds before I had laughed Dr.Pepper out my nose. Ahhh, Good ol' Johnny B.

Dreyse looks like Uncle Fester in the _Adams Family_ in that coat. The man who played Uncle Fester, _Jackie Coogan_ flew the Chindits deep behind enemy lines in Burma in a glider. And in the second it took you to read this, you remembered him.👍🙏

I can't believe there are twenty of these videos now!

When you point out that the upper and lower are separate pieces, I asked myself, Why do we not do this today?You could have a pistol that fired .22LR, .32 ACP, .380ACP, 9mm Mak, or possibly even larger caliber, all by just changing the 'Upper' and changing the mag a bit. That seems like something people might like today.

Great episode Thanks for sharing. When are we going to see you guys in a chat on gun channels?

wth was that photo of othias and the gun?? can't un-see that...

I bet those sweet front cocking serrations let you do some sick press checks, you know, to see who could be the best Trench Operator.

Another great quality video, thanks guys! The history and explanation are great but the diagrams and animation really puts it through the roof! A guy is selling one locally for 250, is this a good price? I thought there was a catch but it seems to be all working, bluing is excellent. The only thing is it has aftermarket wood grips.

Two-piece hinged on the front, with the trigger group in the bottom and barrel and bolt assembly on the top? Yep, sounds just like the Armalite Rifle series.

Actually, the spring pressure does not have much influence on the moment of opening of a blowback weapon, take the chamber pressure and multiply it by the area of the base of the cartridge and you get the force applied to the breech face. This is way above the spring pressure. What really makes a difference is the bolt mass, as the force is applied for a fraction of a second accelerating the mass to the rear, heavier mass lower acceleration. The spring pressure will condition the functioning of the action but not the moment of opening.

I had a Dreyse 1907 marked with the SN 2948 on the lower frame forward of the safety, I remember it was a fun shooter, though friends would tease me about bringing a staple gun to the range.

I googled this, and the company that bought Dreise is still around. As the Rheinmetall AG. Building among other things, a certain type of 120mm tank gun.

Great information! Just picked up one of these. Now if I can just find a holster.....

so what is the "Rod" part of "Carolina Rod and Gun"?

Mae; look at your own video; never mind what you "felt" about yadda-yadda, the hard data is in the video. the recoil behaviour is beautiful. Surely you don't think it's a mysterious accident that this thing shoots such tight groups ? it's not an accident, it's physics. somebody pretty thoughtful designed this.

I hate to ask, but any chance we are going to get a 1911 episode soon? it had a hell of a development process behind it, plus that J Browning flare.

Do you know if it is 7.62 or 7.65?

Is there any concern that the frame would start to crack over repeated firing due to the slide slamming against it. I had that problem with a 22 I own.

Question, what size was the copper coupler you used for disassembly? I've had some near disasters with punches and screwdrivers taking my Dreyse apart.

A quick question but it's something I've been wondering while watching this series, when did it became standard (or at least so it seems to me) to have the recoil spring under the barrel instead of on top of it?EDIT:for pistols that is

Is this the same gun that's featured as the police issue side arm for the Berlin police on the Netflix series Babylon Berlin?

There is currently one of these in my local gun shop which is very cool! Unfortunately, because I am in Canada, its classified as prohibited (due to barrel length), so I can't buy it :(

So much patent chicanery with all of these Great War era firearms. Possibly worthy of a video in and of itself? "A brief history of Guns and IP"?

Keep it up

Hypothesis: "... But they'd have to find some way of avoiding the patent" is a serviceable capsule summary of the reasons behind a huge proportion of firearms development, particularly between, say, 1850 and... well, let's say _now._ :)

I noticed it is often mentioned the cost of the gun during the time. is there any way to translate that so we can get really understand how expensive these things were.

You have to scream those german words and sound mad and then you have nailed it

Enfield 303 please, you might as well get to the best sooner, Keep up the great channel, by the way Im here from The Great War channel.

But what do you do if the barrel is hot?( only has front serrations)

Dad had one that a German prisoner of war created almost identical wooden replacement hand grips for, with HIS initials instead of the "RMF", that I can make out on published images!

Gotta love a gun that shoots good. Aloha y'all.