History
180,000 copies were produced by the firm Leopold Gasser Waffenfabrik in Vienna from 1898 to 1912. The M1898 was planned to be replaced in the Austro-Hungarian cavalry by the Roth-Steyr M1907, and in the infantry by the Steyr M1912, prior to the outbreak of the First World War. However production of newer pistols was not sufficient and the weapon continued in service, especially issued to NCOs and officers. In some armies it was used up through Second World War, including Italy and Yugoslavia. The quality manufacture and the strength of the solid-frame design make it a reliable and consistent military weapon.
The M1898 was copied in Belgium by Manufacture d'Armes Liégeoise in 7.62mm Nagant caliber.
Read more about this topic: Rast-Gasser M1898
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