Description
Item Description
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Bryant Ridge Co. is pleased to present this collectible semi-automatic pistol today for a penny-start auction, this is the Auto Mag Original Pasadena Model 180!
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The Auto Mag 180 was conceived by gunsmith Max Gera and his employer, Harry Sanford, who recognized the lack of a semi-automatic .44 Magnum pistol. Gera designed the core of the gun in late 1969 and 1970, creating a short-recoil, rotating bolt pistol with a rimless .44 AMP cartridge. When Sanford sought investors for production, Gera sold his share and left. Sanford, along with engineers, completed the design, and the first pistols were produced in Pasadena in 1971. However, the company went bankrupt by 1972 due to selling the guns below cost. Over the next decade, five other companies took over production, but each eventually folded. In total, about 9,000 Auto Mag Model 180 pistols were made, with 3,000 of them being from the original Pasadena factory (known as the Original Pasadena Model).
The owner states that this example remains New Old Stock, and we see no evidence to indicate otherwise.
This Particular Auto Mag Original Pasadena Model 180 bears the low serial #A00179!
SPECIFICATIONS:
Manufacturer: Auto Mag
Model: Original Pasadena Model 180
Serial: A00179
Date of Manufacture: 1971
Caliber: .44 AMP
Finish: Stainless Steel
Barrel Length: 6 1/2" Ventilated Rib Barrel
Optics/Sights: Red Ramp Front with Adjustable Square Notch Rear
Stock/Grips: Black Checkered Grips
Action: Semi-Automatic
Markings: Standard
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
The Auto Mag 180 essentially came about when two men realized no one had made a semi-automatic .44 Magnum pistol—and they believed they could change that. These two men were Max Gera, a young Italian immigrant gunsmith, and his employer, gun shop owner Harry Sanford. Gera developed the core design for the gun in late 1969 and 1970, creating a short-recoil, rotating bolt pistol with an accelerator to aid extraction. It also featured a rimless case based on a shortened .30-06 or .308 case, which would evolve into the .44 AMP cartridge, designed to replicate the ballistics of a .44 Magnum in a rimless casing. When Sanford sought investors to fund commercial production, Gera sold his share and left. Sanford, along with a few engineers, completed the gun's design and set up a manufacturing facility in Pasadena. The first Auto Mags rolled off the assembly line in August 1971, but by May 1972, the company had gone bankrupt. They had been selling the guns at a price well below the cost of production in hopes of stimulating enough demand to achieve economies of scale, but that strategy failed.
Serial: A00179
Date of Manufacture: 1971
Caliber: .44 AMP
Finish: Stainless Steel
Barrel Length: 6 1/2" Ventilated Rib Barrel
Optics/Sights: Red Ramp Front with Adjustable Square Notch Rear
Stock/Grips: Black Checkered Grips
Action: Semi-Automatic
Markings: Standard
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
The Auto Mag 180 essentially came about when two men realized no one had made a semi-automatic .44 Magnum pistol—and they believed they could change that. These two men were Max Gera, a young Italian immigrant gunsmith, and his employer, gun shop owner Harry Sanford. Gera developed the core design for the gun in late 1969 and 1970, creating a short-recoil, rotating bolt pistol with an accelerator to aid extraction. It also featured a rimless case based on a shortened .30-06 or .308 case, which would evolve into the .44 AMP cartridge, designed to replicate the ballistics of a .44 Magnum in a rimless casing. When Sanford sought investors to fund commercial production, Gera sold his share and left. Sanford, along with a few engineers, completed the gun's design and set up a manufacturing facility in Pasadena. The first Auto Mags rolled off the assembly line in August 1971, but by May 1972, the company had gone bankrupt. They had been selling the guns at a price well below the cost of production in hopes of stimulating enough demand to achieve economies of scale, but that strategy failed.
Over the next decade, five more companies took on the Auto Mag, each losing money and quickly folding. In total, only about 9,000 Auto Mag Model 180 pistols were produced—3,000 by the original Pasadena factory, with the rest divided among the subsequent companies. Ironically, interest in the Auto Mag didn’t peak until after the last company folded, when Clint Eastwood wielded one in the 1983 Dirty Harry film Sudden Impact.
Condition/Contents:
The owner states that this example remains New Old Stock, and we see no evidence to indicate otherwise. This example will ship with the original shipping box, the Automag black hard case, and all contents pictured above.
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Shipping Details
Handgun Standard Shipping with Insurance $50.00
Long Gun Standard Shipping with Insurance $70.00
Any orders placed with magazines that are not compliant with your state, county, or city regulations will not ship with your order.
We strive to ship orders within the close of the following business day after payment and documentation is received.
Payment Details
We accept all forms of Payment including Personal Check, Business Check, PO Money Orders, Certified Check, Etc.
Please note we place a 7 business day hold on shipment, for all non-certified payments.
Payment MUST be received within 14 days.
Return Policy
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Additional Details
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