This article will focus on the "kids" of the designer Rudolf Frommer, that is, about pocket pistols. These small-sized pistols have always been in demand not only among civilians for self-defense, but also among the military: for wearing out of order and as a last-chance weapon.
It is worth noting that in Europe and the United States, pocket pistols differ in size. For example, in the United States, the.45 ACP cartridge has been particularly popular as a self-defense ammunition for nearly 100 years. Therefore, the dimensions of the weapon designed for this cartridge differ upwards. In the United States, samples such as Walter PPK or PM are considered a pocket weapon (compact), and in Europe - a service one. In the USA, weapons of smaller dimensions than PPK or PM belong to the subcompact form factor.
Frommer stop baby
From the previous part of my article, you learned the history of the Frommer Stop pistol, which was adopted by the Hungarian army as a service weapon. For that time, it was an advanced weapon in which original design solutions were applied. In addition, Frommer Stop possessed unique, recognizable lines and earned a reputation as a convenient and reliable pistol.
But I left something unrevealed and saved it for today's story. The fact is that Frommer Stop, although it was put into service in 1912, has been produced since 1910. The Hungarian weapons resource hungariae.com has the following data on years of manufacture and serial numbers: in 1910, a range of serial numbers from 1,000 to 3,000 was allocated; 1911: 3,000 - 6,000 1912: 6,000-12,000.
From 1912, the Frommer Baby pistol was also produced at the same plant in Budapest. It was a scaled-down version of Frommer Stop intended for the civilian market. Frommer Baby was positioned as a weapon for everyday hidden carrying in a pocket of trousers, a jacket or in a handbag. It differed from Frommer Stop by a shortened barrel and a reduced magazine capacity. The automatics worked identically, that is, recoil was used with a long stroke of the barrel and its locking with a rotary bolt. I believe that for a small-sized pistol chambered for 7, 65 and 9 mm cartridges (albeit with a larger weight of gunpowder), such a scheme was clearly redundant. In addition, it made the design more complex and made production more expensive.
Both models are characterized by a high level of part unification. Many parts are interchangeable with the exception of barrels, magazines, grip covers, safety keys and spring blocks. And details such as the trigger, bolt and bolt head, hammer and firing pin, magazine catch and other parts were absolutely identical, which reduced the cost of manufacturing Baby.
Frommer Baby began to be produced chambered for 7, 65x17mm Frommer Long, then a pistol chambered for Frommer's 9mm cartridge was offered to buyers. Frommer's cartridges were very close in geometry to Browning's.32 ACP and.380 ACP cartridges, but the powder charge in the Hungarian cartridges was increased (loaded hot).
It would be logical to assume that the Frommer Baby pistol was developed on the basis of the larger Frommer Stop, but in fact the opposite is true. In different countries, both pistols are protected by one patent: in Austria-Hungary (Vienna) under the number 58857, and in Britain - under the number 10566-1912. Both patents describe the design of a self-loading pistol that contains a block of 2 springs in the bore.
As you can see, the drawing shows a small-sized pistol. I would even say that this is a subcompact form factor (according to the state classification). That is, judging by the drawings, Rudolf Frommer initially conceived a pocket pistol, but due to the turbulent times and the impending war, he developed a scaled version (service pistol) for the army and law enforcement agencies.
Frommer Baby's production year coincided with the start of World War I. It was produced until its end (1918). Then, in 1919, Frommer Baby's production was resumed, and the pistol was produced for 10 years, until 1929. Judging by the library of serial numbers - Frommer Baby was produced in large quantities, as it was in great demand. During the period of its production (1912 - 1929), a range of serial numbers from 6,000 to 364,000 was allocated.
Free translation of the text:
I believe that the expression “vest pocket” must have evoked associations with John Browning's 1905 pocket pistol. For the American market, it was produced by a Colt company called the Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket.
By the way, in the same 1908 Louis Schmeisser developed a pocket (vest) pistol. Like the 1907 model, it was named after the German gunsmith Johann Dreise. Schmeisser's vest pistol became known as the Dreyse 6, 35 mm Vest Pocket Pistol.
Free translation of the text:
By the way, this store functioned until 1944. During the Budapest operation, it ceased to exist.
The weapon turned out to be compact and lightweight, suitable for concealed carry. But the name of the pistol speaks for itself: it fits comfortably only in the hand of a child or an elegant lady's hand.
Since the Frommer Baby pistol was produced in large quantities, it has survived to this day in large quantities. Therefore, the price for Baby is quite affordable for connoisseurs of weapons. For example, at GunAuction.com, a sample chambered for 7, 65 mm cartridges with a defect in one of the grip cheeks was sold for $ 330.
Frommer liliput
Even before the end of the First World War, Rudolf Frommer worked on the creation of another pistol, more compact than Frommer Baby. As a result, the designer filed an application in Hungary, and on February 27, 1917, he received a patent for improved automation for the pistol. In the United States, a patent application was filed on August 23, 1921, the patent was published on November 25, 1924 under the number US1516835 A.
The drawing shows a diagram of another small-sized pistol, but also with a movable barrel and also with a return spring located above the barrel. Unlike the Stop and Baby models, the new model lacked a second (buffer) spring. Perhaps it did not live up to expectations, or maybe in this way the designer tried to reduce the overall dimensions and weight of the weapon. But this pistol did not go into mass production. But the patented trigger moved to the next model of the pistol, already with a free breechblock and a fixed barrel.
A new application was filed and another patent was received for 2 useful models for hand-held firearms: with an open trigger (type 1) and with its hidden location (type 2). Below are drawings from a later patent published in the USA on August 25, 1921.
In the description of the drawings, it is said that taking into account the preferences of the users, it is possible to produce weapons of two different types: both with a hidden and with an open trigger. The design provides for such changes. But a version of the mechanism with an open trigger, without the rear part of the casing, went into the series (Fig. 14).
In the new model of the pistol, the designer provided a slide delay, which was not on his earlier pistols. In the first batches of new Lilliputian pistols, the shutdown mechanism was implemented in the form of a sliding-type button. It moved in a vertical plane (up and down), and to release the shutter, you had to move the button with your thumb down. * On later models of Lilliputian pistols, they began to install the more common flag-type lever. To turn off the delay, you had to scroll the checkbox with your thumb moving "away from you".
The new pistol really turned out to be more compact and lighter than its predecessor Baby. From him, he inherited an almost identical automatic safety device: there are no others in the weapon. The magazine latch was also located at the base of the handle. The sights are open, unregulated and barely visible: small front sight and rear sight. The ammunition was supplied from detachable 1-row magazines for 6 rounds. Of the features, one can single out the ability to fire with 5, 6-mm cartridges.22 LR. This required replacing the barrel and magazine (purchased separately).
The standard delivery of the pistol was completed with ebonite grips with the monogram “FL” - Frommer Liliput. As an option, it was possible to order a pistol with simple wooden plates or mother-of-pearl handles.
All Hungarian weapons passed multi-stage tests at the test station (the law on firing weapons). Frommer's Lilliput pistols also passed them. After they were shot with smokeless powder, a round stamp was applied to the pistol frames with the letters “FN” - Fust Nelkuli (smokeless) and BP - Budapest. The crown of St. Stephen (one of the symbols of the Hungarian state) towered over the letters.
Sometimes, instead of a stamp with a crown, Frommer Lilliput's pistols were stamped with the same rider with a sombrero.
The model Frommer Liliput Tropical was produced in limited quantities in a nickel-plated case and with stainless steel movements.
For the "Lilliputian pistols" it was possible to purchase a holster. I don't know how convenient or justified it was. Perhaps the holster was bought and worn only in order not to tear their pockets after a week or two of wearing.
But the Frommer Lilliput pistol was so compact and light that it could be carried secretly, not only in a handbag, but even in the elements of a ladies' toilet.
It is said that Frommer's new small pistol was developed with an eye on John Browning's M1905 / M1906 vest pistol chambered for his 6, 35 mm cartridge (.25 ACP). Perhaps it was under the influence of M1905 that Frommer revised the layout of his pistol and abandoned the complex, cumbersome and expensive automation with a long barrel stroke.
And in 1921, Frommer's new vest pistol went on sale. It was offered, among other things, by the Skaba and Plökl store, which you already know, in Budapest. Remember: he was an arms dealer until the arrival of the Red Army in 1944.
As now, and 100 years ago, weapons were sold on the basis of a permit for the acquisition of weapons.
The Frommer Liliput was a fairly popular pistol in Europe. It was produced from 1919 to 1939, and over 18 years about 35,000 units were produced. Some of them were sold abroad, in the USA. Initially, pistols from export batches were no different from products for the European market. Later, the patent and country of origin markings were added to the pistol shutter covers for export.
Comparison table with the performance characteristics of pistols Frommer Stop, Baby and Lilliputian.
Like its predecessor Frommer Baby, the Frommer Lilliput pistol also served as the basis for creating a more overall (service) pistol. But that is another story.
