Luger P08

From Metapedia

The Parabellum-Pistole, popularly known as the Luger is a toggle locked, recoil operated , semi-automatic pistol. The design was patented by Georg Luger in 1898 and produced by German arms manufacturer Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken (DWM) starting in 1900; it was an evolution of the 1898 Hugo Borchardt designed C-93.

The Luger has been popularized by its use by Germany during World War I and World War II. Though the Luger pistol was first introduced with a 7.65 mm Parabellum, it is notable for being the pistol for which the 9 mm Luger Parabellum cartridge was originally developed. The Luger pistol was manufactured to exacting standards and has a long service life. Bill Ruger praised the Luger's 55 degree angle of the grip and duplicated that shape on his .22 pistol.

[edit] Operation

The Luger uses a toggle-action. The mechanism utilizes a jointed arm for the locking mechanism as opposed to the slide actions of almost every other semi-automatic pistol. The mechanism is explained as follows: after a round is fired the barrel and toggle assembly (both locked together at this point) travel rearward due to recoil. After moving roughly one-half inch (13 mm) rearward, the toggle strikes a cam built into the frame, causing the knee joint to hinge and the toggle and breech assembly to unlock. At this point the barrel stops its rearward movement (it impacts the frame), but the toggle and breech assembly continue moving (bending the knee joint) due to momentum, extracting the spent casing from the chamber and ejecting it. The toggle and breech assembly subsequently travel forward (under spring tension) and the next round from the magazine is loaded into the chamber. The entire sequence occurs in a fraction of a second.

In World War I, as submachine guns were found to be efficient in trench warfare, experiments with converting various types of pistols to machine pistols (Reihenfeuerpistolen) were conducted. Among those the Luger pistol (German Army designation Pistole 08) was examined; however, unlike the Mauser C96 which was converted in great numbers to Reihenfeuerpistole, the Luger proved to have an excessive rate of fire when used in full-automatic mode.

[edit] Service

The Pistole 08 was the standard side arm for the German Army during both world wars, but was being replaced by the Walther P38 starting in 1938. At that time Mauser was manufacturing both the Walther P38 and the Pistole 08. The Swiss Army evaluated the Luger pistol in 7.65 mm Parabellum (.30 Luger in USA) and was adopted in 1900 as its military side arm, and designated as the Ordonnanzpistole 00 or OP00. The Luger pistol was also used by the Soviet Union during World War II.

The Luger pistol was accepted by the German Navy in 1904, and in 1908 (as Pistole 08) by the German Army (chambered in 9 mm Parabellum) replacing the Reichsrevolver. The Lange Pistole 08 or Artillery Luger variant had a stock and longer barrel, and sometimes used with a 32 round drum magazine (Trommelmagazin 08).

The United States evaluated several semi-automatic pistols in the late 1800's included the Colt M1900, Steyr Mannlicher M1894, and an entry from Mauser. In 1900 the US purchased 1000 7.65 mm caliber Lugers for field trials. Later, a small number were sampled in the then-new, more powerful 9 mm round. Field experience with .38 caliber revovers in the Philippines and ballistic tests would result in a requirement for still bigger and larger rounds.

In 1906, the US Army held trials for a large-caliber semi-automatic. After initial trials, DWM, Savage, and Colt were asked to provide further samples for evaluation. DWM withdrew for reasons that are still debated—though the Army did place an order for 200 more samples. The final stages of the competition were left to Colt and Savage. Further trials and testing led to adoption of the M1911.

Although obsolete in many ways, the Luger is still sought after by collectors both for its sleek design, superlative accuracy, great durability, and by its connection to Imperial and National Socialist Germany. Limited production of the Pistole 08 by its original manufacturer resumed when Mauser refurbished a quantity of Lugers in 1999 for the pistol's centenary. More recently, Krieghoff announced the continuation of its Parabellum Model 08 line with 200 examples priced at $15,950.00 apiece. The Luger was prized by Allied soldiers during World War II. Thousands were taken home as souvenirs and are still in circulation.

[edit] Specifications

• Weight 1.92 lbs.
• Length 8.75 in.
• Barrel length 98 mm - 203 mm (3.9 in - 8.02 in.)
• Cartridge 7.65 mm Parabellum, 9 mm Para
• Action Toggle-locked, Short recoil
• Feed system 8 round detachable box magazine, 32 round detachable drum.
• Sights Iron