Any Ortgies owners out there?

[simon1]

I recently acquired an Ortgies .32 auto that has been in the family for a looooong time. As far as I know it hasn't been fired since 1944 or '45, in either Germany or Belgium, as Dad said he fired a clip through it when he first got it to make sure it worked well. I put a few rounds through it and it worked like a Swiss watch before even being cleaned, just wiped it down good with Breakfree first. It was pretty much spotless after all these years, just some gun oil on it that had turned brown and gummy.

Dad said it was taken off of a German officer that "didn't need it anymore." It's kinda cool that John Dillinger carried one from time to time; I'm sure his was one of the thousands that were imported to the U.S. in the '20s or '30s.

I'd like to get a .380 barrel for it so I can switch back and forth between the calibers. Numrich Arms has the barrel listed but it says they are sold out.

Anyone else own one?

 

[dreadpirate]

Yes! Exactly like yours except I do not have the holster. I have not fired mine. Here's what I know about them:

1. They were made between 1919 and 1924.
2. They use no screws what so ever, or maybe one screw in some models.
3. The most rare versions are nickel plated.
4. The earlier versions had a different logo. Yours and mine were made after 1920.
5. They are not a military pistol. I think most were exported from Germany.
6. I think they were also made in 25 acp.
7. I read a forum where an Orties owner stated that they have a tendency to go full auto. I cannot verify this claim.

I also have tried to find a 380 barrel. This pistol is a two for.

 

[dreadpirate]

Hell - the holster might be worth more than the pistol!! I've NEVER seen an original.

 

[ouch]

Another thread title I read wrong.

 

[dreadpirate]

I think you are on the wrong web site altogether!!

Another thread title I read wrong.

 

[simon1]

4. The earlier versions had a different logo. Yours and mine were made after 1920.

Interestingly enough, the manufacturing stamp on the magazine of mine has the earlier Heinrich Ortgies logo on it.

6. I think they were also made in 25 acp.

Yup.

7. I read a forum where an Orties owner stated that they have a tendency to go full auto. I cannot verify this claim.

I've heard that only one of the "legs" on the bottom of the firing pin engages the sear. If that breaks it goes full auto (that's why I only loaded two rounds at a time when I test fired it ). Being that they were used a lot in competition in Europe I don't know how much weight I give to that claim...I've heard tales of 1911s going full auto but I still carry a .45 auto quite a bit. I've carried the Ortgies a few times for grins but it was in condition 3...firing pin down on an empty chamber and safety off, although with the firing pin down the safety will not engage.

Midway seems to have a decent price on a replacement Wolff spring kit and new firing pin, although the firing pin on mine looks and seems to work just fine. I think I'll order the spring kit and firing pin and put the originals up for posterity. I found disassembly instructions (for the .25 but the .32 should be about the same), with photos, on how to take it down to the bare frame and replace all of the springs here.

 

[oldbluelight]

Yep, got one and I love it. Fun pistol. Bore's a little rough in mine but at 7 yds you can cover 5 shots with a silver dollar. Re: not military issue. That doesn't preclude it being taken off a German officer who didn't need it anymore. Officers were I believe required to purchase their own sidearms in many cases. I got mine just because it looked like 'a gentleman's pocket pistol'. The kind Nick Charles would have slipped into a pocket of his tux as he and Nora stepped out on the town. Here's a link to a website about Orties http://ortgies.net/index.htm

 

[dreadpirate]

So is the holster original, or did they not come with a holster?

 

[simon1]

So is the holster original, or did they not come with a holster?

Good question. I've seen a few on the bay that were advertized as being a German holster; they were selling for $50-60 or so. Don't know if the holster is issue that just happened to fit the Ortgies or one that was bought specifically for the gun. The one of mine was what the officer had.

These little pistols were apparently a popular private purchase with German officers. I've seen several posts of people saying "Dad got one off of a captured German officer" or "My uncle brought one back from WWII." A lot of the posts describe the holster that came with it as a black flap holster with a clip pouch, so I guess these holsters were pretty standard.

There's not a maker's stamp or any markings whatsoever on the holster that came with the gun I have, so I doubt that it was military issue that just happened to fit.

Although I'd rather have my .40 or.45, here's an interesting gel test with .32 solid. Wonder how reliable the bullet tumbling is...I'd think that the tumble would just be an occasional occurrence and the majority of the wound tracks would just be straight through. It does seem to be a valid concept that with a projectile that small to have one that has enough penetration to reach vital organs.

http://mousegunaddict.blogspot.com/2012/11/clear-gel-terminal-testing-sellier.html

Bore's a little rough in mine but at 7 yds you can cover 5 shots with a silver dollar.

According to the Wiki article on them they were used quite a bit in competition, with the 1921 German championship being won with one. Kinda surprising considering the pistols having such small sights on them.