I do not know if anyone here is interested in the early history of the Auto Mag Pistol but here is some information I was reviewing last weekend.  Nearly all this information comes from Bruce Stark’s book:

        “AUTO MAG,    the Pasadena Days,  1966 to 1972”

 If you have any interest, I recommend you buy a copy.

I acquired these two Auto Mags along with a lot of the pre-prototype concept parts and hardware last year.  There were three prototypes made and here are number 001 and 0002.  I do not own 0003.

Here is a picture of the two together.  001 has the smooth grips and 0002 has the checkered grips.  Max Gera did all the design work on the 001 pistol along with Harry and had the machining done at Gross Instrument.  Max left the Company before the 0002 gun was produced.  The 0002 gun was developed from the 001 gun by Mark Lovendale and Harry.

This is the barrel of the 001 gun.  The barrel measures 5 7/8”.  Note that the rib and barrel were machined from one blank.  The front sight is pinned on and the barrel is threaded into the frame.  Max Gera engineered this pistol and he did not believe in welding guns together.

Here is a photo from Burt Mason’s book showing an early concept gun that Gera put together.  This was the inspiration.

Here is a photo of the 001 gun disassembled.