Description
Physical description
Etai selective-fire pistol
Label
During the period between the two World Wars, China, which was in a state of endemic conflict involving rival warlords and political movements, was a major market for European firearms manufacturers.
In an attempt to stabilise the situation, an international embargo was placed on the export of military weapons to China. This did not, however, include pistols. Consequently the German firm Waffenfabrik Mauser was able to make large sales in China of its C96 pistol (see FIR 450), which could be fitted with a shoulder stock to make a makeshift carbine. The C96 was soon copied two Spanish gunmakers, Beistegui Hermanos and Unceta y Cia, all eager to expand their share of the Chinese market.
In 1927 Beistegui produced a Mauser C96-type pistol which was capable of fully-automatic fire. It was subsequently marketed under the brand-names 'Royal' and (as in this example) 'Etai'. These pistols proved so popular on the Chinese market that both Mauser (see FIR 493) and the other Spanish manufacturers produced similar designs of their own. Beistegui also made pistols of this type which were distributed under the 'Azul' trademark by Eulogio Aróstegui.
History note
During the period between the two World Wars, China, which was in a state of endemic conflict involving rival warlords and political movements, was a major market for European firearms manufacturers.
In an attempt to stabilise the situation, an international embargo was placed on the export of military weapons to China. This did not, however, include pistols. Consequently the German firm Waffenfabrik Mauser was able to make large sales in China of its C96 pistol (see FIR 450), which could be fitted with a shoulder stock to make a makeshift carbine. The C96 was soon copied two Spanish gunmakers, Beistegui Hermanos and Unceta y Cia, all eager to expand their share of the Chinese market.
In 1927 Beistegui produced a Mauser C96-type pistol which was capable of fully-automatic fire. It was subsequently marketed under the brand-names 'Royal' and (as in this example) 'Etai'. These pistols proved so popular on the Chinese market that both Mauser (see FIR 493) and the other Spanish manufacturers produced similar designs of their own. Beistegui also made pistols of this type which were distributed under the 'Azul' trademark by Eulogio Aróstegui.
See Cornish, P. Small Arms of Nationalist China. IWM Review No 5, 1990 & Antaris, L. Star Firearms. Firac Publishing 2002, p416.
Stamped on right of frame
'ETAI' PISTOL CAL 7,63mm
Stamped on rear strap
4012