Auto Mag Pistol

The Auto Mag pistol, specifically its first iteration commonly referred to as the "Pasadena" Auto Mag 180 was a high-powered semi-automatic handgun designed by gun shop owner Harry Sanford and gunsmith Max Gera from approximately 1966 to 1971. The goal was to create a semi-automatic handgun chambered in .44 Magnum, but this later lead to the creation of the rimless proprietary cartridge, the .44 AMP.

The gun was made originally made and sold by Harry Sanford's company, Auto Mag Corporation which he opened in Pasadena, California in 1970. The first Auto Mag pistol shipped on August 8th, 1971. But by May 3rd, 1972, after the production of only 3,000 units, the comapny declared bankruptcy.