1972–1984
in Fraser, Michigan
- R.B. Industries (Robert Bauer)
- imported the Mauser 3000 rifles
- highest quality, finest hand fitted, semi-automatic,stainless steel pistols
- 1984 Robert Bauer Sr. died
- 1984 became Fraser Firearms
- 1986 Fraser Firearms closed
About Bauer Automatic
The Bauer Automatic was an American-made .25 ACP pocket pistol produced by Bauer Firearms of Fraser, Michigan, from 1972 to 1984. Designed by Robert Bauer Sr., it was a close copy of the FN Baby Browning, one of the most popular vest-pocket pistols of the twentieth century. Unlike the blued-steel original, the Bauer was built from 416 stainless steel investment castings that were precision machined and hand-fitted, which gave it a reputation for quality well above most small-caliber pocket pistols of its era. Many parts, including grips, magazines and internals, interchange with the Baby Browning, although the slide-removal rotation was reversed.
The pistol holds six rounds in a detachable magazine and weighs about 10 ounces empty, making it a true pocket gun. An engraved edition marked the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976. After Bauer production ended in 1984, the design continued briefly under the Fraser name as the Fraser-25 until 1986, when production ended. Bauer pistols are no longer made and are now sought by collectors of American pocket pistols, particularly cased and engraved examples.
Key Facts
- 1972: Production began in Fraser, Michigan
- 1976: Engraved Bicentennial edition produced
- 1984: Bauer production ended
- 1984 to 1986: Marketed as the Fraser-25
- Caliber: .25 ACP, six-round detachable magazine, stainless steel construction
Sources
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