Штайер GB: Австрийский пистолет с газовой задержкой отката.

The Steyr GB is a double action 9×19mm Parabellum caliber, large framed semi automatic pistol employing a gas delayed blowback action. As such the GB abbreviation stands for Gasbremse (gas brake). It was designed in 1968, intended as a replacement for older handguns in Austrian military service. The weapon went into general civilian production in 1982, and in 1988 production ceased. In the late 1970s, an American company founded by Les Rogak, LES Incorporated of Morton Grove, Illinois marketed the Rogak P 18, a close derivative of the Austrian original, but without great commercial success, due to significantly lower manufacturing standards which affected both the appearance and function of the pistol. Both weapons are now regarded as collector's items, the original (Steyr) model commanding higher prices in the American market.

The Steyr GB is a semi automatic, blowback operated firearm. It features a unique gas delayed blowback system based on the Barnitzke system, first used in the Volkssturmgewehr 1 5, and subsequently in the Swiss Pistole 47 W+F (Waffenfabrik Bern) prototype pistol. The Barnitzke system uses gas pressure from the ignited cartridge and feeds it through a small port in the barrel in front of the chamber to retard the rearward motion of the slide. This is accomplished by using the fixed piston formed by the outside of the barrel inside a moving cylinder formed by the inside of the slide and gas pressure in the space between them opposing the rearward motion of the slide until the gas pressure has declined (at which point the bullet has left the muzzle) thereby allowing the slide to continue its rearward motion. Thereafter the Steyr GB follows the conventional semi automatic cycle: opening the breech; ejecting the empty cartridge case; stripping a new round from the magazine; loading a new cartridge; returning to battery (unless the magazine is empty).

At the end of the 1960s, Steyr Daimler Puch in Austria started re examining the Barnitzke locking system and started a follow up development. This led directly to the development of what would eventually become Steyr GB. The final patent specification from December 6, 1972 by the Steyr designer Hannes Kepplinger is based on the Barnitzke system, although this was significantly improved in terms of design. The GB was designed as a full size military sidearm with the goal of replacing the ageing Walther P38 and Colt P11 from the army stocks, as well as the Belgian FN M35 used by Austrian police. Even though there were no base specifications for the pistol, Steyr Daimler Puch because of their relationship with Austrian armed forces were well informed of the properties that the army expected from a new service pistol. Thus, the company considered the pistol project as an “unofficial” development contract for the Austrian Armed Forces. The original design introduced numerous novel features never before combined in a handgun: double action mechanism (without safety); a gas bleed delayed blowback system; fixed barrel (that theoretically yields greater accuracy); polygonal rifling; and a reduced number of working parts. During the development phase, the pistol was given the working designation "Pi 18", meant to refer to the magazine capacity of 18 rounds, which was above average for a handgun in the 1970s. When reintroduced in the 1980s, the name of the pistol was changed to the abbreviation "GB", from the term "GasBremse.“

The first working models were fielded by the Austrian armed forces in 1972. Although the military authorities were supportive of the pistol, the business negotiations fell short. The reason for this was due to Steyr simultaneously trying to market the MPi 69 submachine gun to the Austrian army, while also pushing the army to buy the stocks of Pi 18 alongside them. Steyr Daimler Puch and the Austrian army failed to reach an agreement and neither MPi 69 nor Pi 18 was purchased by the Austrian Army. This left both weapons in flux and discouraged Steyr from releasing the Pi 18 for the civilian market. The pistol received a handful of modifications before being reintroduced in 1981. Its trigger guard was altered to a more jagged look, with redesigned controls such as safety and slide release, as well as a Sterling style crinkle finish on the pistol frame. This was to make the pistol more contemporary for the 1980s markets and to differentiate it from Rogak P18, which closely followed the appearance of the original Pi 18. In certain markets, the pistol is also referred to as "GB 80".

In the mid 1970s, Steyr's then US representative Rogak, acquired the production documents for "Pi 18", the pre series/prototype of the Steyr GB, from an unidentified Steyr manager. How, precisely, this was achieved remains undetermined. There was never an official licensing or related agreement for production between Rogak and Steyr. When asked about the matter by a trade journal in 1980, Steyr Daimler Puch said (quote) "at no time were there any agreements between Steyr and Rogak ". Rogak started production of the pistol in the USA around the late 1970s under the name of his "L. E. S. Rogak P 18“ and started to market it worldwide through its own sales companies. Owing to the performance data of the Austrian "Pi 18", Rogak saw very high market opportunities, which he intended to exploit as quickly as possible. Rogak produced three “cosmetically”, slightly different, versions made of stainless steel. Rogak was either overwhelmed and/or unwilling to adequately follow the correct dimensions and/or get the required materials to make a product comparable to the original Austrian "Pi 18". As a result, these “Quick and Dirty P 18s” were manufactured in a way that was structurally inadequate in essential details. The general quality of workmanship can only be described as extremely poor compared to Steyr's own GB produced in the 1980s. After releasing to a strongly negative reception, Steyr came to realize that Rogak P 18 would harm their GB, which they were eyeing to launch in the American market. Steyr prepared a lawsuit against Rogak but it did not occur as Rogak ceased production of the pistol of its own volition. Roughly 2300 pistols were sold before production ceased in 1981.

At the time of its release, the Rogak P 18 was received highly negatively by both the reviewers of American firearms magazines and customers. Its substandard build and awful reliability earned it unflattering nicknames like "Jammatic" or "polished junk" by the American public. It was one of the earliest "Wonder nine" type of pistols in the civilian market. However, Rogak's innovation factor has been undermined because of its plagiarism of Steyr Pi 18/GB. Rogak P 18 would develop a reputation as one of the worst semi automatic pistols of all time. However, it remains a curiosity amongst firearm collectors.