Pistols and revolvers [Selection, design, operation Pilyugin Vladimir Ilyich

Pistol Parabellum

Pistol Parabellum

Rice. 5. Pistol Parabellum ("marine model", barrel length 150 mm)

The German Parabellum (P-08) is one of the most famous pistols in modern history.

Its "progenitor" was a pistol designed by G. Borchardt, an engineer of the Berlin company Ludwig Lewe and Co., which appeared in 1893. The automation of this weapon was built on the principle of using recoil energy with a short barrel stroke, locking was carried out by an original shutter with a system of levers folding when unlocking. The lamellar return spring, located at the rear of the weapon, acted on the levers through a special earring. It was supposed to be used with an attached butt. The pistol was designed for a new, rather powerful cartridge with a 7.65 mm bottle-shaped cartridge case, equipped with low-smoke powder. Borchardt’s weapon turned out to be quite “capable”, but it had a fair amount of dimensions and weight, its ergonomics left much to be desired, and in general, its design clearly needed improvement, which was carried out in 1898-1900 by G. Luger, actually creating a new model.

The Borchardt-Luger pistol was designed for a new 7.65x22 mm bottle-shaped cartridge case loaded with smokeless powder (later better known as 7.65 Para), based on the Borchardt pistol cartridge, and quickly gained popularity. The Swiss army was the first to adopt it. In 1902, a 9-mm version of the pistol appeared for 9x19 mm ammunition (aka 9 mm Parabellum, 9 mm Para, 9 mm Luger, etc.), which later became widespread and still remains the most common pistol cartridge in the world.

The pistol began to be actively sold on the civilian market and began to appear in the catalogs under the name Parabellum. Interestingly, the very name "Parabellum" is part of a Latin proverb "Si vispacem, para bellum" ("If you want peace, prepare for war").

Since 1904, 9-mm pistol models began to enter service with the army of the German Empire. It was the first to be adopted by machine gunners in the navy (the “marine” model was distinguished by a barrel length of 150 mm versus 98 mm for the basic modification and a fully flip-over 100 and 200 m).

And in 1908, the P-08 modification, which became the most common, became the standard model of a pistol in the German army. The P-08 had a number of significant differences from the early Parabellum models: the automatic fuse was abolished on it, the lamellar return spring was replaced with a twisted one, the ejector began to simultaneously function as an indicator of the presence of a cartridge in the chamber.

In addition to Germany and Switzerland, the pistol was in service with the armies of Holland, Bulgaria, Greece, Finland, and a number of other countries. It took part in all wars and major armed conflicts of the 20th century and continues to be used to this day (for example, there is ample evidence of its use during conflicts in the former Yugoslavia). As trophies, many P-08s also came to our country during the First World War and the Great Patriotic War. In Germany, the production of Parabellums for the needs of the army continued from 1904 to 1942 (from 1918 to 1933, in accordance with the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles, only 7.65 mm pistols with a 98 mm barrel were produced), and they were produced by the arms industry giant Mauser and several others. firms.

The popularity of the pistol in the civilian arms market (of course, in the West, we practically do not have this market) is still very high.

This popularity was confirmed by the resumption of production of the P-08 at the Mauser company from the seventies of the 20th century.

In addition, a number of companies in Europe and the United States are engaged in the production of Parabellum clones and customization of pistols.

Main tactical and technical characteristics:

Features of the kinematic scheme

Parabellum has a high reliability of automation and a powerful cartridge. In addition, it is very convenient and accurate when shooting, thanks to a rather strong inclination of the handle, a low aiming line, a good center of gravity, a relatively low mass and a length of movement of the moving parts. The pistol has a long shooting life, is easy to maintain, incomplete assembly is carried out without tools. Nevertheless, the Borchardt-Luger system did not receive further development in the "weapon for the army". The pistol's open architecture, with a virtually external bolt and trigger mechanism, makes the Parabellum extremely susceptible to contamination; in addition, the design has many complex-shaped parts manufactured on a milling machine, which makes it quite expensive to mass-produce. Nevertheless, the pistol, having finished its “army service”, is not going to give up its positions to fashionable novelties, enjoying the well-deserved love of gun lovers and shooters of various categories.

As mentioned above, the operation of the Parabellum automation is ensured by the recoil of the short-stroke barrel. Locking is carried out in an original way; thanks to this scheme, the Parabellum got its characteristic appearance - it can hardly be confused with any other weapon. In fact, the locking mechanism of the pistol is a kind of crank mechanism, in which the bolt plays the role of a slider. Only one more successful use of the “crank-and-rod” locking of the barrel is known - but also in a very famous weapon - the legendary Maxim machine gun of the 1910 model!

2. Receiver

5. Drummer with mainspring

6. Ejector

8. Crank

9. Reflector

10. Sear with disconnector and sear spring

11. Shutter lag

12. Transfer lever return spring

13. Earring

14. Fuse and its box

15. Lid

16. Barrel delay

17. Trigger

18. Trigger lever

19. Return spring

21. Shop latch

22. Store latch spring

23. Cheek handle

24. Shop

Rice. 6. The main parts of the pistol P-08 (Parabellum)

In the locked position, the swivel is located just below the “dead center”, resting on the side cylindrical projections of the crank against the upper ends of the walls of the receiver. Thus, the shutter securely locks the barrel, resting through the line "rod - crank" into the receiver. The hitch “barrel with receiver - bolt with levers” rolls back until the side projections of the crank reach the lifting profile “ridges” at the rear of the frame. The crank rises and passes the "dead center". With further rotation of the crank, unlocking occurs. The course of the receiver is limited by the receiver delay, the crank rotates to its extreme rear position - almost perpendicular to the axis of the bore. When the moving parts move to the rear position, the sleeve is extracted and removed, the return spring is compressed through the lever system. The connecting rod, turning, cocks the drummer with its protrusion. When the moving parts return to the forward position, the next cartridge is sent to the chamber, the drummer becomes cocked on the sear (the principle of disengagement will be described later), the swivel of the levers passes the "dead center" by locking.

During all the processes described above, the return spring, located at the back of the handle, interacts with the moving parts through an original system that includes a transmission lever and an earring, the axis of which is fixed in the rod of the connecting rod, next to its axis of rotation. In this case, the upper arm of the lever interacts with the receiver, and the earring coupled with it interacts with the crank.

When there is a cartridge in the chamber and the ejector tooth is engaged with the flange groove of the sleeve, the ejector lever protrudes above the upper surface of the bolt, while the inscription is visible on the side "Geladen"- "loaded". Thus, the ejector signals the presence of a cartridge in the chamber.

The shock and trigger mechanisms of the Parabellum are also very original. The design lacks such a detail as a trigger. The sear acts directly with the striker's combat platoon. The Borchardt-Luger pistol is the most successful automatic pistol of its time with a striker mechanism. It is worth noting that after an eighty-year break (the vast majority of the pistols that appeared during this time, and the military - almost all, belong to the trigger systems), modern designers again turned to this scheme. Such modern designs as the Austrian Glock, the German Heckler-Koch or the domestic GSH-18 have a similar design.

As for the trigger mechanism, its originality is due, firstly, to the location of the drummer, which is strongly shifted forward (combat platoon is almost above the trigger) and, secondly, to the original principle of disengagement. When the trigger is pressed, the latter rotates the spring-loaded trigger lever in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the barrel, which, in turn, rotates the sear with its vertical shoulder, acting on the spring-loaded disconnector plunger protruding in its front part. The sear, turning in a horizontal plane, disengages from the cocking of the trigger, which, under the influence of the mainspring, rushes forward and breaks the primer of the cartridge.

When the bolt and receiver return to the front position under the action of the return spring (with the trigger pressed), no shot occurs, since the uncoupler plunger, having bumped into the turned trigger lever, sinks into the body of the sear. Thus, separation takes place. Releasing the trigger, the shooter releases the lever, which, returning to its original position, gives the plunger the opportunity to exit the sear channel. After that, the pistol is ready for the next shot.

When all the cartridges have been used up, the magazine feeder, with a protrusion located on the right, turns the shutter delay lever, stopping the shutter in the rear position. After changing the magazine, slightly pull the crank of the locking mechanism and release the shutter. The next cartridge is sent to the chamber, the drummer becomes cocked.

The fuse box is located on the left rear of the frame. In the "protection" position, the sear and the receiver with the shutter are blocked. On many pistols in the "safety" position under the flag, an inscription appears informing about this. "Gesichert".

The sights in the basic version of the Parabellum are non-adjustable, but in some models there are flip-over rear sights for 100 and 200 m (for example, on the "marine" model) or adjustable sights ("artillery" model, long-barreled commercial versions).

The box magazine holds eight rounds in a row. The magazine latch button is located at the base of the safety bracket. For use by the military, high-capacity magazines were developed, including a drum magazine for thirty-two rounds, for use on long-barreled pistols equipped with an attached butt. They have not received wide practical distribution.

The Parabellum was produced with barrels ranging in length from 98 to 400 mm, and the long-barreled models intended for the civilian market were equipped with a butt and forearm, approaching in properties a light carbine.

The main calibers for Parabellum pistols are 7.65 and 9 mm. In the US, sometimes there are versions chambered for .45 AKP. They also produce a sports version of the .22LR pistol.

For partial disassembly pistol, it is necessary to remove the magazine from the pistol grip and, having retracted the shutter, make sure that there is no cartridge in the chamber. Without releasing the shutter, pull the trigger and slowly return the shutter to its original position. Slightly take the bolt with the receiver back and, turning the receiver delay, separate the cover. Moving the moving parts of the gun forward, separate them from the frame. Separate the crank axle. Separate the connecting rod, crank and bolt from the receiver. The pistol is assembled in the reverse order.

Shooting Expert Impressions

One of the best pistols of the last century. Very ergonomic. Due to the correct tilt of the handle and the location of the shutter above the hand, the center of gravity is almost in the center of the hand. Pleasant and comfortable in the hand. Having a low sighting line and a barrel located almost along the line of the hand, it is convenient for aiming and shooting, both “at a glance”, and for aimed shooting. During shooting, the recoil goes along the line of the arm to the shoulder, which achieves aiming accuracy, high accuracy and the practical absence of barrel throws. With proper possession of weapons, shooting accuracy is achieved at a distance of up to 100 meters without a stop. High reliability and easy handling.

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Lange Pistole 08

Even before the outbreak of the First World War, the German military realized the need for new weapons for military personnel in such specialties as non-commissioned officers of field and fortress artillery, the first numbers of machine gun crews, sappers, drivers of armored vehicles and trucks. The rifle was too burdensome for them and therefore they were armed with carbines, which, although they were more compact and more convenient, still remained too unsuitable and even generally unnecessary weapons. The military of these specialties could enter the battle only with the sudden appearance of the enemy at short ranges or during an ambush, where rifles and carbines were of little use due to their low rate of fire and maneuverability. It was necessary to have a compact, lightweight and convenient weapon in the daily routine of service, which would have at the same time high maneuverability and rate of fire in the event of fire contact with the enemy.

Perhaps the only option at that time that more or less met the requirements was a carbine pistol to which a butt could be attached for more accurate shooting. Such a weapon was several times superior to a conventional five-shot carbine with a rotary bolt chambered for a powerful rifle cartridge in terms of convenience, compactness, lightness and maneuverability. Moreover, weapons of this type gave a tangible advantage in the rate of fire in a maneuverable fleeting battle, for which it was intended. As a result, in 1911, DWM offered the military a version of the standard P.08 army pistol adapted for the task at hand.

Holster for LP.08 pistol with mag pouches and TM.08 magazine

The main difference of the new weapon was a barrel extended to 200 mm with a sector sight adjustable up to 800 meters, of course, a butt holster could be attached to the handle. The use of a long barrel increased the flatness of the bullet's flight path, making it easier to aim, and a sufficiently long aiming line improved the accuracy of shooting. The muzzle velocity was 360 m/s versus 330 m/s for the P.08. The holster-butt, worn on the belt, consisted of a leather holster fastened together and a wooden butt attached to the weapon with the help of protrusions included in the grooves of the pistol grip. The holster also housed a ramrod with a screwdriver and an oiler.

Aimed shooting at 800 meters was more of a DWM marketing ploy, which is no exception if you remember the same Mauser C-96 with its sector sight, designed for shooting up to 1000 meters, or the later FN Browning High Power, the sight of which was marked up to 500 meters. The fact is that at such long distances, a pistol bullet that is still sufficient to defeat an unprotected enemy has an almost zero probability of an aimed hit due to very large dispersion. The maximum effective range of aimed shooting from the “long” Parabellum is a distance not exceeding 200 meters, and in order to improve the stabilization of the weapon when aiming and increase accuracy, it is necessary to attach a holster-butt.

"Artillery model" (Lange Pistole 08) issue of 1916

DWM began production with 50 pieces between 1912 and 1913. On July 3, 1913, this pistol, under the designation LP.08 (Lange Pistole 08), was adopted by the military units of Prussia, Saxony and Württemberg. The release was carried out both at the DWM itself and at the factories of the Royal Erfurt Arsenal, where the manufacture of these weapons began in 1914. Subsequently, the LP.08 pistol became known under the unofficial name "Artillery Luger" or "Artillery Model". After the first maneuver battles quickly gave way to a positional war that dragged on for several years, there was a need for new methods of combat to break through the enemy's defenses. For the first time, the Kaiser army began to use assault groups for this purpose, consisting of soldiers with the greatest combat experience and armed not only with traditional carbines, but also with self-loading pistols, a large number of hand grenades, flamethrowers, daggers and even clubs.

The experience of combat operations of assault groups showed the need for compact and light weapons with a high rate of fire. Carbines were completely unsuitable for such tasks due to their large length and low rate of fire. The only more or less suitable samples that met such military requirements were the standard P.08 pistols and later adopted as limited standard weapons, the Mauser C-96, caliber 9mm. However, the capacity of their stores was not enough to provide the required rate of fire and firepower. In 1914, tests were carried out on Luger pistols modified to allow full automatic fire, in which the LP.08 and P.08 models participated. The rate of fire in automatic mode was 850-900 rds / min., As a result, again, there was no accuracy of fire. When firing in a burst, the barrel was very hot, which caused the danger of burning the shooter's hand and the failure of the weapon. Tests of automatic pistols firing bursts, which showed the futility of such weapons for the troops, were completed.

P.17 pistol with a TM.08 magazine and a holster-butt, which was in service with the assault groups of the Kaiser army

In 1917, engineer Friedrich Blume developed the TM.08 (Trommelmagazin 08) drum magazine for the LP.08 with a capacity of 32 rounds. The use of the TM.08 magazine in conjunction with the holster-butt in the LP.08 pistol significantly increased the firepower of the weapon and the accuracy of its shooting. The LP.08 pistol with a TM.08 magazine and a holster-butt received the designation P.17 and entered service with the assault groups of the Kaiser army. In accordance with the new tactics at the end of the war, German assault groups successfully used P.17 pistols in conjunction with hand grenades and other weapons to break through enemy defenses. During the First World War, about 144,000 of these pistols were produced, and in total about 198,000 LP.08 units were manufactured.

With the end of the First World War, as a result of the restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles, the production of the LP.08 was discontinued. Many of the pistols were destroyed, and those that remained after the war were modified by shortening the barrel and were subsequently sold on the commercial arms market. One of the pages in the history of the LP.08 pistol is their export after the end of the First World War to the United States, in the 1920s, carried out by various importers. Among the main ones are the New York Stoeger & Co. and Pacific Arms Corporation of San Francisco.

The photo shows the process of loading a P.17 pistol with a TM.08 magazine attached.

Pistol LP.08 with objects of that time

At this time, Lugers appeared with 406 mm barrels, which were twice as long as the standard LP.08, then the Artillery Luger first went on sale in 7.65 mm (.30 Luger or 7.65 × 22). This weapon was still equipped with an adjustable sector sight mounted on the barrel, and a standard LP.08 wooden stock could be attached to the handle. In addition, Stoeger & Co. offered models equipped with Hensoldt optical sights, mounted on the right side of the receiver. Such pistols were intended mainly for hunters and lovers of sports shooting at long distances. Since 1923, the inscription “A.F. STOEGER Inc. /New York". From October 5, 1929, Stoeger & Co. became an official trademark using the "Luger" name in the US. On the horizontal ledge of the receiver of the pistols was now stamped "GENUINE LUGER - REGISTERED U.S. PATENT OFFICE.

When the production of Parabellums in Germany itself began to be carried out by the Mauser company, after 1934 two interesting variants of the LP.08 model appeared - “Persian”, supplied from 1936 to 1942, distinguished by inscriptions in the language of this country and original hallmarks, and “Siamese”. Contracts were concluded with these states for the supply of pistols. After the end of the Second World War, a number of pistols were produced for the French army and police, some of which subsequently ended up in Indochina during the armed conflict of 1945-1954.

Tactical and technical characteristics of LP.08

  • Caliber: 9mm Parabellum
  • Weapon length: 327 mm
  • Barrel length: 200 mm
  • Weapon height: 142 mm
  • Weapon Width: 40mm
  • Weight without cartridges: 1120 g
  • Magazine capacity: 8 or 32 rounds

Pictured is a P.08 pistol designed by Georg Luger with 9mm Parabellum cartridges and the flag of the German Empire

Georg Luger's pistols are distinguished by their unique charisma, the unusual design of these weapons, rooted in the creation of the very first weapon systems that were charged not with the help of an arrow, but with the energy of powder gases, appeared as a result of a search for the best options for the operation of automation. Thanks to the work of two talented designers - Hiram Maxim and Hugo Borchardt, the Borchardt C93 pistol laid the foundation for the design of one of the most outstanding examples of personal self-loading short-barreled weapons.

The great merit of Georg Luger lies in the very successful layout of the developments implemented before him and the creation on their basis of an original design with excellent combat and service-operational qualities for its time. His sample combined the best of previous systems, while Luger not only took advantage of existing solutions, but significantly improved them by adding his own developments. The improvements carried out brought the design almost to the ideal, thanks to which the pistols released in the first decade of the twentieth century can be successfully used today.

For example, US-made Luger pistols, dubbed the "American Eagle", in 9mm caliber and equipped with an automatic lever safety, are ideal for accurate and effective snap shooting, high-speed and aimed shooting, if the shooter has sufficient skills and experience in handling this. weapons. According to the majority of owners of various variants of the Parabellum, this is one of the few pistols in which, when fired, the barrel practically does not take the barrel off the aiming line. The benefits of this quality can hardly be overestimated. Few contemporary models can match the Luger pistol in terms of grip and accuracy. In addition, extracted cartridges do not scatter around - they usually fall close to the right of the shooter and are very crowded, which is a huge plus for shooters who prefer to reload cartridges.

German soldier with P.08 and Finnish soldiers during the "Winter" war 1939-1940. with Parabellum and Suomi submachine gun

There are many conflicting opinions about the reliability of Parabellum. Some faced problems, for others this weapon works like a good Swiss watch. However, more than a hundred years of operation in the military, special forces, police and private owners have revealed the main causes of problems when shooting. The main reason for delays in serviceable examples is the use of substandard cartridges, such as cartridges with deformed cases and bullets, with corrosion, with a loose bullet, etc., as well as cartridges that have expired and been in the water.

Another reason for delays is the use of cartridges with unsuitable bullet geometry, since Parabellums were designed to use primarily military-style ammunition with shell bullets and, accordingly, the shape of the front of the magazine and the bevel of the chamber was made for such cartridges. Therefore, the use of cartridges with blunt jacketed and expansive bullets, sometimes with a wide tip and sharp edges of the head part, in some cases leads to delays. For firing from this pistol, it is necessary to choose cartridges with jacketed bullets of an ogive shape or with expansive, but having a narrow head part with smooth outer edges.

Pistol Parabellum P.08

German soldiers on the Eastern Front train with P.08 pistols and MP.40 submachine guns

In any case, as with all other pistols, it is necessary to test cartridges from different manufacturers to select those with which the pistol will consistently work reliably. All other delays are mainly related to improper handling of weapons, lack of regular care for them, or banal breakdowns of parts due to the development of a service resource. Delays can be caused by a defective striker, a deformed ejector hook or a spring that has lost its elasticity, dents on the magazine case and lugs, and other mechanical damage to weapon parts.

An "inherent" design flaw is an open receiver that does not prevent dirt or sand from getting inside the pistol. Another disadvantage is the large number of parts, which complicates the complete disassembly. This has to be measured, as with a payment for the advantages of this pistol over other models that are simpler in design, but the acquisition of appropriate skills partly compensates for this disadvantage of the design.

Mauser Parabellum 29/70 made in 1970. These pistols were manufactured by Mauser based on the Swiss Luger Model 1929 and sold in the United States by Interarms.

Mitchell Arms American Eagle model pistol, released in 1994, is a stainless steel copy of the P.08

Weapons need to be monitored and regularly looked after - any mechanism without due attention to it will fail sooner or later. You just need to regularly clean and lubricate the gun, especially remembering to do it after shooting at the first opportunity, and also monitor the serviceability of its parts. With proper care and use of quality, suitable ammunition, the Parabellum will perform flawlessly. Today, the lever locking system is not used in modern pistols due to the high cost of its production. The manufacturing technology of such weapons is much more complicated than pistols with a locking system with a falling or rotating barrel, which means that the final cost of the product is higher.

It was for this reason that the Germans replaced the P.08 with the simpler and cheaper P.38. The modern arms market mainly consumes inexpensive and functional products, which can often be described as consumer goods. The production of a complex and expensive pistol, even if with outstanding qualities, would not fully pay for itself. At the moment, a pistol such as the Parabellum can only be produced in small numbers. An example of such production of elite high-quality weapons is the Performance Center of the famous American company Smith & Wesson. However, the lack of modern versions of the legendary Parabellum compensates for the reliability and quality of the old pistols, many of which were used in two world wars, which continue to work properly and bring joy to their owners.

Parabellum with clip and modern cartridges loaded with expansive bullets with high stopping power

In a previous article, we talked about the design features and evolution of the pistol. The design changes made to the P.08 Parabellum pistol in the period 1914-1916 finally shaped the appearance of the famous pistol.

On August 4, 1913, the infantry department in the Prussian military department issued an order: “In order to simplify the production method of the new P.08 pistol, in the future, equip it with the same frame as used for the manufacture of the P.08 long pistol and have the ability to mount a removable butt".

Probably the term simplification is not entirely correct, since the manufacture of a frame with a protrusion and grooves for attaching the butt requires additional technological operations. It would be more correct to talk about the rationalization of production.

Previously, DWM made four types of frames for various models of the Luger pistol: a long frame with a ledge for attaching a removable stock; short frame for commercial versions with an automatic safety and without a protrusion for attaching a stock; short, frame for a pistol and without a protrusion for attaching a butt; frame for artillery model Parabellum or without automatic safety and with a ledge for attaching the butt. The decision to use the same frame for the P.08 Parabellum and for the Lange Pistole 08 allowed for the assembly of different models of pistols from prefabricated frames, depending on the order received. Some researchers argue that another reason why the P.08 Parabellum pistol had a tip on the handle for attaching a removable butt was the features of the technological process. In their opinion, this tip could be used to mount the pistol frame on machine equipment when performing technological operations for the final finishing of the frame.

It is the presence of a protrusion at the bottom of the handle, designed to attach a removable stock, that distinguishes the P.08 Parabellum model 1914 pistol from the earlier P.08 model. It is probably for this reason that collectors are sometimes referred to as pistols. Model 1908 Military Luger Pistol weapons produced for the German army between 1908 and 1914, and pistols made after 1914 are called Model 1914 Military Luger Pistol.

P.08 Parabellum pistols of the 1914 modification of the year were originally produced by DWM (Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken Aktien-Gesellschaft) and the Erfurt state arsenal enterprise.

At pistols DWM P.08 Parabellum modification 1914 military order (DWM Model 1914 Military Luger Pistol) the serial number is stamped on the left side of the weapon. The full number is made on the left side of the bolt box, the last two digits of the number are printed on other parts of the weapon. The receiving stamps are located on the right side of the bolt box.

In the upper part of the chamber there is a marking indicating the year of manufacture of the weapon. The front bolt lever bears the DWM branding.

The main difference between pistols produced by the state arsenal in Erfurt is P.08 Erfurt Military Order Parabellum, 1914 modifications (1914 Erfurt Military Luger Pistol), is the presence of a characteristic stamp in the upper part of the front bolt lever. The hallmark is an image of a crown, under which the text "ERFURT" is applied.

Back in 1913, the Control Commission of the Armaments of the German War Department (G.P.K. - Gewehr-Prüfungskommission) drew attention to the fact that P.08 pistols manufactured by DWM and Erfurt differ from each other in the height of the front sight. Their aiming range varied from 80 to 110 meters. G.P.K. proposed to the military department to make the standard firing range equal to 50 meters. In this case, it was proposed to use three options for flies with heights: 15.1 mm (minimum height), 15.4 mm (standard height) and 15.7 mm (maximum height). Finally, these changes were fixed after July 9, 1914 and were reflected in the drawings of the pistol.

Between 1913 and 1916, engineers experimented with the return spring of the P.08 Parabellum pistol. They tried to achieve a smoother recoil and at the same time prevent deformation and damage to the parts of the weapon at the point of impact inside the frame between the rear of the bolt and the rear wall of the frame. Until mid-1914, the return spring had 18 turns and was made of 1.5 mm diameter wire, although the P.08 prototype of 1913 originally had a 1.4 mm spring with 22 turns. In the second half of 1914, the thickness of the spring was reduced to 1.4 mm, while the number of turns was left at 18. In 1915, the return spring began to have 22 turns with a wire thickness of 1.4 mm. Only in 1916 were the dimensions of the spring finally approved: the number of turns was 22, the wire diameter was 1.4 mm. At the same time, the researchers note that the working drawings indicated the number of turns of the return spring - 22, but the image of the spring in the drawings still had 18 turns.

One of the latest major improvements to the P.08 Parabellum pistol was the modernization of the trigger mechanism. The basis was the invention of Luger, which was enshrined in the German patent DRP312919 dated April 1, 1916. Early Parabellum pistols had safety issues. After the shooting stopped, the shooter turned on the safety and could remove the magazine from the pistol grip. However, without removing the fuse, he could not remove the remaining cartridge from the chamber. When the fuse was turned off to discharge the weapon, there was a potential danger of an accidental shot.

The problem was solved by Luger quite easily. The rear sloping protrusion of the trigger lever was shifted 9.2 mm towards the front of the weapon. This design of the trigger lever made it possible to remove the cartridge from the chamber with the fuse on. At the same time, the protrusion of the fuse still blocked the sear and the threat of an accidental shot was eliminated. The design change was so simple that any gunsmith, even without the use of special equipment, could remake the trigger lever, making the Luger pistol more convenient and safer. After 1916, all army pistols were subjected to modernization of the trigger mechanism. Changes in the design of the trigger lever were made not only in P.08 Parabellum pistols, but also in other models of Luger pistols, including those with an automatic safety.

Pistols manufactured by DWM beginning in 1916 had a redesigned trigger lever. At the same time, otherwise they are completely similar in design to the pistols of 1914-1915.

Changes in the design of the trigger lever at about the same time were made by the Arsenal of Erfurt.

Marking pistols 1914 Erfurt Military P.08 Luger, according to experts, contains the most control marks. Even small parts of the weapon, including screws, were examined and branded. The hallmarks are small Gothic letters with a crown above them. This now allows collectors to easily control the safety of the pistol and its parts.

The markings on the top of the front bolt lever in the form of a crown and the text "ERFURT" below it can be divided into three types. The first type "thin crown" is usually found on pistols from 1911 to 1917. The second type of “broken crown” is probably formed by a worn matrix with deformation of the right element of the crown. As a result, the line of the right edge of the crown is displayed with a break. Such pistols are usually dated 1917 - early 1918. The third type "thick crown" is an image with thicker lines forming the outline of the crown in pistol markings. This probably happened after the change of the branding matrix at the enterprise. Pistols with the third type of branding have been found since 1918.

On pistols made at the Erfurt Arsenal, starting from 1916, they began to install bolt boxes with a rectangular cutout in the upper part of the chamber. The cutout was designed to mount a Luger artillery sector sight. Probably, since 1916, the company began to produce frames completely similar to both the regular P.08 and the Lange Pistole 08.

A shortage of walnut wood during World War I led the German War Office to allow the use of red beech for pistol grip cheeks in July 1918. At the end of 1918, white beech began to be used for the cheeks of the handle. Despite the coloring, the cheeks of the white beech handle look much lighter than other woods. Red beech cheeks are easy to confuse with walnut. The difference can be seen if we consider the cheeks of the handle from the inside. Beech has a coarser grain and is less porous than walnut.

By 1916, the final design of the P.08 Parabellum pistol had taken shape. Since then, the nomenclature of its components and parts has been formed. The following English terms are commonly used by collectors worldwide outside of Germany. The sequence of naming parts usually corresponds to the order of disassembly of weapons.

1.1 Barrel
1.1.1 Front sight (Fore-sight blade)
1.2 Bolt box (Receiver)
1.2.1 Reflector (Ejector)
1.2.2 Sear bar
1.2.2.1 Disconnector (Sear bar plunger)
1.2.2.1.1 Sear bar plunger spring
1.2.2.1.2 Disconnector pin (Sear bar plunger pin)
1.2.2.2 Sear bar spring
1.2.3 Rear connecting pin - axis of the shutter levers (Rear connecting pin)
2.1. Shutter (Breech-block)
2.1.1 Firing pin
2.1.1.1 Firing pin spring
2.1.1.2 Firing pin spring retainer
2.2 Extractor
2.2.1 Extractor spring
2.2.2 Extractor pin
2.3 Front toggle link
2.3.1 Front axis of the shutter (Breech-block pin)
2.4 Rear toggle link
2.4.1. The middle axis of the shutter levers (Rear toggle pin)
2.4.1.1 Rear toggle pin stop
2.4.2 Earring (Coupling link)
2.4.2.1 Coupling link pin
3.1 Frame
3.1.1 Lanyard loop
3.2 Recoil spring
3.2.1 Recoil spring guide
3.2.2 Recoil spring lever
3.2.2.1 Recoil spring lever pin
3.3. Trigger
3.3.1 Trigger spring
3.4 Trigger cover (Side plate)
3.4.1 L-shaped intermediate trigger lever (Trigger lever)
3.4.1.1 L-shaped intermediate lever pin (Trigger lever pin)
3.5 Hold-open latch
3.5.1 Hold-open latch spring
3.6 Locking piece
3.6.1 Locking piece spring
3.7 Magazine catch button
3.7.1 Magazine catch spring
3.9 Safety lever
3.9.1 Safety lever pin
3.9.2 Locking lever for manual safety (Safety bar)
3.10 Grip screw
3.10.1 Left grip
3.10.2 Right grip
4 Store
4.1 Store body
4.2 Magazine spring
4.2.1. Feeder rod (Magazine spring guide)
4.3. Store follower
4.3.1 Store follower button
4.4. The bottom of the store (Magazine base)
4.4.1 Store base pin

After the defeat of Germany in the First World War and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, certain restrictions were imposed on the Weimar Republic formed on the site of the former German Empire. Part of the restrictions concerned the circulation of small arms. Army pistols of the German army were partially destroyed, but most of them were redone or re-registered. On August 7, 1920, the Disarmament Act came into force. The purpose of the law was the registration of military weapons and the withdrawal from circulation of all military weapons in the hands of the population. At the same time, a certain bonus was paid for the surrendered weapons. There was a potential danger of the theft of weapons from army warehouses, with the aim of subsequent surrender and receiving monetary rewards from civilian authorities. As a temporary solution to the problem, an order was adopted on August 1, 1920, according to which all small arms of the armed forces of the Weimar Republic, and subsequently the weapons of law enforcement agencies, were to be additionally marked. The marking was the number "1920", i.e. year of re-registration of weapons. On Parabellum pistols, such a marking was applied in the upper part of the chamber, above the marking of the year of manufacture of the weapon.

Marking "1920" is unique in military history not only in Germany. In this case, the marking did not indicate the year the weapon model was adopted for service and not the date of its manufacture, but served to identify government property. Parabellum pistols with double markings from the period of the Weimar Republic among collectors have received the name P.08 Parabellum Double Date Weimar era rework. Double-marked pistols are now found both from DWM and from the Erfurt arsenal and are in high demand on the antique market.

Arms firm Simson and Co. from the city of Suhl (Simson & Co, Waffenfabrik of Suhl) until 1914 specialized in the manufacture of sporting small arms. After the defeat of Germany in the First World War, it was chosen by the Allies (members of the coalition of states that were at war with Germany and its supporters) as the only weapons company that received permission to manufacture and supply Parabellum pistols for the armed forces of the Weimar Republic. Simson & Co received equipment and industrial tooling originally created for the Erfurt Arsenal. The first pistols in the Simson & Co workshops were assembled from pistol parts originally made at DWM or Erfurt. These pistols are called P.08 Luger Simson rework. A characteristic feature of such pistols is the presence of the DWM or Erfurt stamps on the top of the front bolt lever and the stamp in the form of the letter "S" enclosed in a circle on the left side of the bolt box.

Simson made P.08 Parabellum pistols from Simson & Co from 1922 to 1934. In total, approximately 25,000 pistols were made during this time, of which about 1,000 were recycled from parts of DWM and Erfurt. Starting in 1923, Simson & Co began to independently manufacture all parts of the weapon. All parts of P.08 Luger Simson & Co pistols have a characteristic marking in the form of a small eagle above the number.

On the front levers of the P.08 Luger-Simson pistols after 1923, markings appeared in the form of text in two lines: "SIMSON & CO / SUHL". There were no markings on the surface of the chambers of Simson Lugers pistols made before 1925.

Between 1925 and 1928, Simson & Co produced a batch of pistols marked with year numbers stamped on the top of the chamber. P.08 Luger-Simson pistols are relatively rare and of particular interest to collectors.

Another upgrade of the P.08 Parabellum pistol was the use of aluminum instead of wood as the material for the bottom of the magazine. Although the aluminum bottom part was mentioned in the official instruction manual for the "9 mm Selbstladepistole (Luger)" back in 1907, it was not until 1925 that the production of aluminum bottom parts of the store actually began. The aluminum bases of the Parabellum pistol magazine (P.08 Parabellum Aluminum based magazine) were made by injection molding in special matrices, which significantly reduced the cost of production, as it required a minimum of processing and polishing. The new magazine bottoms, made of aluminum alloy, were officially accepted for use by the German armed forces on May 26, 1925.

The P.08 Parabellum pistol in the period from 1914 to 1930 finally formed its construction and design. Later changes became less significant and noticeable. It was the P.08 Parabellum pistol of the 1914-1916 modification that became the most common of the entire line of Luger pistols. For this reason, its antique value is relatively low, typically in the $800 to $2,000 range.

Information and illustrations from the book "The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols" by Joachim Görtz and Dr Geoffrey Sturgess were used to write the article. In this book you can find even more information about Borchard and Parabellum pistols, their varieties, as well as design features.

Among the true connoisseurs of firearms, any information in which the beautiful Latin phrase "Parabellum" flashes and is associated with a pistol bearing this name is always of great interest. Such popularity of the invention of the German designer Georg Luger is not accidental. This pistol, despite its venerable age, continues to be a model of weapon design ideas embodied in metal.

Birth of a legend

In the history of handguns, there are many examples of the successful creation of models of military equipment. One such example is the Luger pistol, which appeared at the beginning of the 20th century. This weapon can rightfully be called a legendary, living symbol of a high culture of performance and impeccable quality. Already one glance at the drawings of the Parabellum pistol is enough to appreciate the depth of the ingenuity of design thought, the creative approach shown in the creation of weapons.

This gun, like many other things created in Germany in the field of military equipment and weapons, was ahead of its time. It's not just the high combat qualities of weapons. Of interest is the very design of the Parabellum pistol. This product fully reflects the commitment of the Germans to carefully and scrupulously treat every little thing. Even despite the fact that the constructively created equipment looks complex and expensive to manufacture. As practice has shown, the technological and constructive complexity of mechanisms sometimes gives excellent results. Provides the created sample with the necessary margin of safety and a high technological resource.

And it all started simple and banal. First came the Hugo Borchardt pistol. A successful copy was made from it. The author of the idea was Borchardt's student Georg Luger, who modernized the invention of his mentor and introduced a number of significant innovations into the design of the pistol. The result exceeded all expectations, making the Luger-Borchardt pistol model one of the most advanced weapon systems.

The military and civilians immediately appreciated the new weapon, which was distinguished not only by its beautiful and elegant shape, but also had excellent ballistic and fire characteristics. Shooting this pistol is a pleasure. Pleasant to the touch, the anatomical shape of the handle provides a comfortable grip. The trigger mechanism, unlike other models of handguns, was distinguished by its softness and smoothness of action. These qualities had a positive effect on the combat characteristics of the pistol, which had a high rate of fire and high combat accuracy.

Development and creation of a masterpiece

The first experimental and experimental model, created by the German gunsmith Georg Luger, appeared in 1898 at the turn of the century. This time can be safely called the era of the dominance of revolvers. The army, police and gendarmerie were armed with American Colts. At the same time, the Nagan revolver appeared. Revolvers firmly and for a long time took a leading position as a personal firearm. However, practical Germans, having appreciated the flaws in the design of revolvers, made every effort to create an automatic pistol. This was required not only by the rapidly changing times, but also by the increased requirements for this type of weapon.

Georg Luger presented the final form of his pistol to the general public in 1900. Due to minor external differences from its prototype, the weapon was first called the Borchardt-Luger pistol. Only knowledgeable experts could immediately notice the presence of significant design differences in Luger's invention. The German designer made changes to the shutter retraction mechanism, making the pistol frame a working structural element. This, in turn, required more accurate and high-quality processing of structural details. The innovation was reflected in the dimensions of the pistol and its weight, making it more compact and easy to handle.

In this form, the pistol entered the tests, which were conducted in 1902 by the command of the Kaiser army. The main objective of the competition was to select the most successful model of an automatic pistol, which should become the main personal weapon of the officers of the German army.

For testing, Luger presented a 7.65 mm pistol. This caliber was the most common in the German armed forces. Other competition models also had similar calibers. Pistols Mannlicher M.1900 and Mauser S-96 had calibers of 7.63 mm, but the model of the Mars pistol and the weapon of the Browning system had a 9 mm caliber. Experienced firing and field tests took a long time and with a creak. There was a lack of a clear idea of ​​\u200b\u200bwhat the main pistol of the German army should be. Only two years later, in 1904, according to the test results, the results of the competition were announced, the Luger pistol became the winner. However, this was no longer the model with which it all began. In the process of testing, the prototypes were upgraded. The caliber of the weapon was increased to 9 mm. Especially for these purposes, a new powerful cartridge 9x19 mm was created, which has a cylindrical sleeve.

It should be noted that in anticipation of success in the competitive selection, the management of Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken, which was engaged in the development and creation of an experimental batch of pistols, decided to give their offspring the sonorous and beautiful name "Parabellum", the end of the famous Latin phrase Si vis pacem, para bellum - "Do you want peace - prepare for war. Over time, this name became a household name, which was often applied to all pistols of the German army. As a result, the German army received a Luger or Parabellum pistol, model M.1904. This modification was produced by the first large batch.

Subsequently, modifications of the M.1906 and M.1908 pistols appeared, which were armed with officers of the German fleet. From 1905 to 1918, more than 80 thousand Parabellum pistols of the M.1904 model were produced at the DWM company alone. The late version of the weapon, the M.1906 model, already had a slightly modified design. Weapons of this type were produced in two calibers, chambered for 7.63 mm caliber and for 9 mm caliber. In 1908, another modernization of the pistol took place, which affected the safety system and the operation of the return mechanism. The new model received the M.1908 index. From that moment on, the pistol was simply called P08. This model was produced until 1918. Only at the production facilities of DWM, 908275 pieces of P08 pistols were produced, which went to equip the German armed forces. More than one and a half thousand samples were released under civilian orders.

In 1910, the Kaiser Royal Arsenal in Erfurt joined the production of the Luger pistol. From here, over the next 8 years, 663 thousand pieces of P08 pistols were delivered to the army.

It should be noted: The Luger Parabellum pistol and its subsequent modifications M.1906 and M.1908 were produced and supplied only to the German army. Not a single batch was sold abroad during the war. Signed contracts for the supply of pistols to other countries were canceled with the outbreak of war. Only small batches of weapons were smuggled into Austria and Italy, allies of the German Empire.

After the end of the First World War, weapons became widespread throughout the world. Pistols were in service with the Bulgarian army, were used in Finland, Estonia and Holland. In Russia, Parabellum was used during the Civil War, being in most cases captured weapons.

With the end of the war, the production of the P08 pistol was suspended due to the restrictions of the Versailles Treaty. For the needs of the Reichswehr and the police, the P08 pistol model was produced, remade again for a 7.65 mm cartridge.

Full-scale production of the P08 pistol in 9 mm caliber began in Germany in 1934, immediately after the Nazis came to power. By the beginning of the Second World War, the Wehrmacht already had 500 thousand pistols of this system in service.

Design features

The weapon with which Germany participated in two World Wars can be safely called one of the most successful automatic pistols of its time. In order for the idea of ​​​​this weapon to be complete, just look at its tactical and technical characteristics:

  • the length was 217 mm;
  • the weight of the weapon was 876 g without a magazine and 1000 g with a magazine;
  • number of cartridges - 8 pcs. caliber 9 mm;
  • the speed of the bullet was 320 m / s.

From the above data, it is clearly seen that the weapons created by Luger were smaller than similar models of that time. The P08 pistol was much lighter in weight. The powerful caliber and high speed of the bullet provided the weapon with good firing characteristics. The accuracy of the battle was one of the main skates of Parabellum.

The pistol is distinguished from other types of firearms by the high quality of the processing of parts and the fitting of moving parts. For the manufacture of the body and moving parts, high-quality alloy steel was used. The main parts of the structure underwent additional heat treatment, as a result of which the required strength was achieved. Blued metal is a distinctive feature of P08 pistols, which cannot be confused with any other model. The handle had neatly made wooden cheeks. Later, already in the pre-war period, P08 pistols had a handle with plastic cheeks.

The trigger mechanism was assembled from separate parts, which previously passed the cementation stage. The technology made it possible to significantly increase the wear resistance of the working mechanism, providing the trigger mechanism with a large technological resource. Already on the first Parabellum models, in order to prevent the development of corrosion, they began to use the technology of acid oxidation of metal surfaces. The equipment became hardy and resistant to the negative effects of the external environment and moisture. Before the outbreak of World War II, this technology was replaced by a more advanced technique - the oxygen oxidation method.

When disassembling the 100-year-old Parabellum, which has been tested by fire and water, you can easily see that many of the parts have not undergone corrosive destruction at all. By the way, it is the dismantling of the P08 pistol that clearly shows how difficult the design of the weapon is for production. Precise fitting of the moving parts is achieved through repeated and precise milling and additional heat treatment. Despite the fact that such complex technological processes led to an increase in the cost of weapons, P08 pistols are famous for having no failures. The weapon is always ready for action.

The work of the automation of the Luger pistol is interesting. In this case, the German designer used a short-stroke barrel scheme. A principle that was later successfully applied by Soviet designers in the TT pistol. The locking of the barrel was provided by articulated levers. The movable part is represented by a barrel with a receiver. It is surprising that, with such a small size of the receiver, it was possible to place all the details and components of the locking mechanism and the trigger system in it.

The barrel, unlike other models of firearms, was screwed to the receiver. It was very convenient, both when disassembling and cleaning weapons. Important is not only the pistol device itself, in which most of the nodes ensure the smooth operation of the pistol in combat conditions. Luger created his pistol with the aim of providing a high rate of fire and the highest possible accuracy of firing. To do this, its models are equipped with a handle, which is located in relation to the body at an angle of 120 °. This arrangement of the handle improves the aiming properties of the weapon, allows you to hold the gun more rigidly on the line of sight during the shot.

Despite the many advantages and advantages attributed to the Parabellum, this pistol has one significant drawback. The presence of a large number of small parts makes it difficult to maintain the product. The gun can fail if dirt or sand gets into the gaps of the loading mechanism. Any defect on the cartridges can cause a misfire. The weapon requires certain handling skills, without which shooting from the Parabellum will seem uncomfortable and even dangerous.