1960s Cool: The Rarely Seen Gyrojet Semi-Auto Rocket Pistol

The long-expired patent #3,212,402 for the Gyrojet was filed in 1962 by Mathew C. Hengel, Arthur T Biehl, and Robert Mainhardt on behalf of MBA and was issued in 1965.

The gun itself was an inexpensive affair. It was made largely from zamak, a zinc alloy (think Hi-Point) with a very thin steel barrel. (Photo: Richard Taylor/Guns.com)

A fixed seven-shot magazine loaded through the top of the chamber like the old Broomhandle Mauser pistol. Since the entire rocket cartridge fired and left via the muzzle, there was no need to eject spent cases. In fact, the short rear slide was only used when you had to open the chamber to load/unload the pistol. (Photo: Richard Taylor/Guns.com)

When the very stiff (15-pound) trigger was fired, a protective guard over the fixed firing pin dropped away and the cartridge was pushed back onto it, igniting the solid rocket fuel inside. (Photo: Richard Taylor/Guns.com)

Produced for two years, this Gyrojet Mark II Semi-Automatic Rocket Pistol in the Guns.com Vault dates from October 1969-– near the end of the company’s existence. (Photo: Richard Taylor/Guns.com)

Manufactured by MBA Associates in San Ramon, California, the Mark II pistol uses the 12mm Rocketeer Automatic Rocket, a spin-stabilized projectile that has long been out of production. (Photo: Richard Taylor/Guns.com)

These guns are increasingly collectible and this example in excellent condition comes with the original date-coded MBA-marked box, now 50 years old. (Photo: Richard Taylor/Guns.com)

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