German pistols have always been famous for their quality, reliability and innovation. The German gun industry was particularly distinguished in the field of short-barreled firearms, where Germany was almost always one step ahead of the competition, and many of the new designs that the Germans invented became the basis for most pistols of the 20th century. Let's talk in more detail about the most iconic German pistols.
We also recommend reading our selection of the best pistols in the world.
Luger Parabellum P08
The Parabellum, commonly known as the Luger pistol, is a semi-automatic self-loading pistol patented by Georg Luger in 1898 and manufactured by Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM) beginning in 1901 and ending in 1942. The Parabellum pistol had an unusually designed bolt, but , in fact, performed the same function as on modern samples.
Modifications:
- Luger Parabellum M1906
- Navy Luger Parabellum M1904
- Die Lange Pistole 1908 LP 08
Mauser pistols
Mauser C78 Zig-Zag
The Mauser C78, better known as the “Zigzag,” is a single-action trigger revolver developed by the German company Mauser. C78 Zigzag gets its name from the pattern on the side of the drum.
The Zigzag was originally designed with a solid frame, with the cylinder detachable from it for reloading. The cylinder itself was distinguished by a characteristic zigzag pattern, which played an important role in the trigger mechanism: the cylinder rotated when the hammer was cocked by a pin inside the frame, which caused it to rotate, repeating the zigzag pattern on the cylinder.
Mauser M1910
Pistols like the Mauser 1910 are simple blowback pistols with a fixed but easily removable barrel. The barrel is held to the frame by a long pin that passes through two lugs under the barrel (one at the front and one under the breech).
The action of this pistol has a distinctive open barrel appearance and a separate ejection window on the right side. The trigger mechanism is single action, hammer type. The weapon is equipped with a manual safety located in a slot in the left grip just behind the trigger.
The product is equipped with a slide stop device, but once the slide is opened, it can only be released by inserting a new magazine. The magazine release button is located at the base of the pistol grip. Sights are fixed. Grip panels are usually made of wood, but on later production weapons may also be made of plastic.
Modifications:
- Mauser 1914
- Mauser 1934
Mauser C96
The German World War II Mauser C96 (Construktion 96) pistol was one of the first semi-automatic pistols to become widely used. It was produced from 1896 to 1937 in Germany. The weapon's magazine had an unusual location - in front of the trigger.
Modifications:
- Mauser Cone Hammer
- Mauser C96 Bolo
- Mauser C96 Model 712
- Mauser Model 1930
Mauser WTP
The WTP is a simple blowback weapon with some interesting design features. The weapon has a rotary extractor, which is essentially a piece of spring steel, with the back of the extractor locking a button on the rear of the slide. The weapon has an internal guard that prevents the weapon from being fired with the magazine detached.
This button serves as a sort of cocking indicator: touching the button will give the user an indication of whether the weapon is cocked. If the button can be pressed flush with the bolt, the weapon is uncocked, and if the weapon is cocked, the button will not budge even if the user presses it hard. This function is only available on the WTP I pistol.
Mauser H.S.C.
Mauser HСС is a compact short-barreled weapon with a blowback action. The barrel is separated from the frame by releasing the lock located inside the trigger guard. The firing pin is hidden inside the bolt except for a small protrusion that protrudes from underneath the bolt and allows the hammer to be cocked by hand.
The safety is installed on the bolt and, when turned on (lowered), moves the rear part of the firing pin out of reach of the trigger and blocks it. The overall shape of the pistol is streamlined and allows it to be carried concealed. The magazine latch is located at the bottom of the handle.
Walther. Walter is a wonderful German legend.
The pistols of the German company WALTHER, founded in 1886 in Zella by Karl Walter, are famous all over the world.
The roots of the creator Karl Walter go back to the 18th-19th centuries. The ancestors of Karl Walter can be traced under the name Johann Georg Walter in the church books of Rudolstadt since 1740. History is silent, but it is possible that Johann Walter was familiar with the great Schiller. Although the metric has not been preserved, it is known that Johann Christian Friedrich Walter was born on June 11, 1764, and married on January 19, 1790. on Johann August Barbara Urlauger from the same city. In 1800 the family moved to Kreuzburg, where Walter worked as a lawyer. One of his sons was Heinrich Bernhard Walter, born November 4, 1801. In 1825, Heinrich Walter married a representative of the Bodenschanz family, associated with the production of weapons. Three years later, in November 1827, a second son was born, August Theodor Albert Walter, who eventually became a master tinsmith. After marrying the daughter of arms manufacturer Wilhelm Pistor, also in November, but already in 1858, Karl Wilhelm Walter was born, who became the founder of the Walter arms dynasty. In 1888, Karl Walter tied family ties with the daughter of a famous revolver manufacturer, Minna Pickert (Arminius revolvers). The arms company in Zella-Mehlis (Thuringia) was founded in 1886 by Karl Walter (1858-1915). But the most famous designer in the Walter family was his son Fritz-August (1889-1966). He is the creator of the famous pistols PP, PPK, P-38, self-loading rifle mod. 1943 and many other successful weapon models. The design of the Walter pistol of the 1929 model turned out to be so good that it is still produced to this day. In many countries, including the USSR, she served as a role model. At first, Walter’s small workshop was engaged in the manufacture of only Martini system shotguns. Then, one day, Karl Walter's eldest son, while in Berlin and experiencing financial difficulties, received 5 pistols from his younger brother to sell. After examining them, he did not sell them, but dismantled the weapons and persuaded his father to switch from producing the brands of revolvers known at that time to pistols.
In 1908, the first model of the Walter system appeared, caliber 6.35 mm. Karl Walter modestly named this model “Model 1”.
It was a small pocket pistol with a striker hidden inside. The original device had a non-automatic fuse. It was a rod in a transverse through hole on the pistol body. Turning the fuse on and off was done by moving it to the right or left. The head of the family was not a businessman or business executive. He constantly spent time in his weapons workshop, doing pure design. Responsibilities in the Walter family were distributed as follows: three sons were involved in production, the fourth son was in sales, and the fifth was in weapon design.
Already in 1909, the second model of the Walter pistol, cal. 6.35 mm.
This pistol had an oval window on the bolt casing for ejecting spent cartridges, located on the right. Flag type fuse. “Model 3”, 1910, is designed in the same way, but its caliber is larger -7.65 mm, and the window on the shutter casing is located on the left.
Models 4-7 of 1910, 1913, 1915 and 1917 were also similar in design. respectively. They differed only in calibers, sizes and some details.
Among them is O, which sold out very well.
The Model 6 was in service with the army as a support model during World War I.
After World War I, the Walter company produced pocket pistols - “model 8” 1920, “9” and “9A”, 1921.
By the end of the 20s. The Walter company began creating a pistol, which, according to its data, without going beyond the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles, would have qualities close to those of military models. Such a pistol appeared in 1929 under the name “PP” (Politsaypistole).
It had a number of advantages, but the greatest of them was a self-cocking firing mechanism, which made it possible to fire the first shot without first cocking the hammer. This device was invented before the 1st World War, but it was only on Walter pistols that it became widespread and served as a model for imitation.
In 1931, production of PPK pistols began; (Politsaypistole kriminal), the same as “PP”, but slightly reduced in size.
The design of the 1929 Walter pistol turned out to be very successful, so in a number of countries it served as a model for the creation of new pistols designed almost exactly the same. These pistols are still produced and used (mainly by the police) in many countries, and in addition to models of 7.65 mm and .22 LR caliber, models of 9 mm caliber have appeared. The Walter PPK is a special weapon that is still in great demand all over the world and has an amazing history.
“Honor is loyalty” - this was the inscription on all PPK gift pistols, which Heinrich Himmler awarded to the most loyal members of his security service.
Instead of a serial number, they were engraved with the date November 9, 1944.
Hermann Goering, one of the leaders of the Third Reich, who adored pomp, appeared everywhere with a gold-plated personalized pistol "PPK", the handle of which was made of ivory and on one side there was an emblem with the initials of the owner, and on the other - a symbol of imperial power.
This pistol was given to Hermann Goering by the Walter family.
For his 50th birthday, Adolf Hitler also received a gold-plated "PPK", individually made by "Walter PPK", which was then given to one of the German pilots.
In 1987, this pistol appeared at auction and was sold for $115 thousand.
For the 100th anniversary of the Walter company, she herself received a unique copy of the “PPK” as a gift. One of the engravers, Joseph Eichholzer, gave the company a personally engraved pistol “PPK” in an anniversary version with the inscription: “For the 100th anniversary and 24 years of good cooperation, handed over Joseph Eichholzer. Engraving workshop. Ulm/Danube. March 1986"
In 1932, it began producing a pistol of the shortened PPK model for the police as a second (pocket) weapon. ; Operating principle: blowback recoil. The semi-automatic pistol "Walter" model PPK/S was the logical conclusion of the PP series. In terms of size and appearance, it is almost identical to the PPK model using the 380 Auto ammunition and differs in minor changes in the outline of certain elements of the appearance. The magazine of the new model remains the same as that of the PPK pistol of 7.65 mm caliber - 7 rounds. The pistol handle, despite the large caliber of cartridges used, is not very voluminous, and therefore is comfortable to grip, and the shaped protrusion of the plastic magazine cover, being a kind of continuation of the handle, provides support for the fingers. The frame is made of light metal alloy and has a matte light anodized steel finish. The effective range of an aimed shot, according to the company’s documentation, is 25 m, however, the results of scattering shooting at a greater distance (up to 40 m) turned out to be acceptable. The trigger force is about 2.4 and 4.1-3.7 kg, respectively, for single and double action. At the end of the 1930s, designers began developing a new pistol model, which was intended to provide officers for the German air force and naval forces. The HXCs model pistol, which entered service in 1939, did not meet wartime demands. The requirements put forward by the Air Force command boiled down primarily to two fundamental criteria - to ensure a large stopping effect of the weapon with minimal size and weight. When developing a new model, it was decided to take the design of the PP model pistol (1929) as a basis and use the experience gained when creating the P-38 pistol (1938), and use a 9-mm cartridge as ammunition, called “Ultra”. "(Ultra), or it is also often called - “Police”. This 9x18 cartridge, in terms of its parameters, occupies an intermediate position between the 9x17 “short” and 9x19 “parabellum” cartridges and is very close to the 9x18 cartridge of the Makarov pistol. The modern Walter pistol (PP-super) has significantly changed its appearance. The shape of the front post of the trigger safety guard has become almost vertical, which provides a more comfortable grip of the weapon with two hands. The effective range of an aimed shot, according to the company’s documentation, is 40 m, however, the results of hits at a greater distance turned out to be acceptable. The trigger mechanism is double-action, with a trigger force of 2.7 and 4.4 kg, respectively, with the hammer cocked and self-cocking. The frame is made of a light metal alloy and has plastic handle linings with horizontally positioned shaped ribs for better retention of the weapon, as on the P-38 model. The magazine release mechanism button has moved slightly lower compared to the PP model, which has given room for the bolt stop lever to be placed. This pistol can be considered a universal self-defense weapon. No wonder its production, according to the patent, was established not only in Europe (Hungary, Poland, France), but in the USA and in the East (Turkey, North Korea). This series successfully combines all the positive things that have been achieved not only by , but also by other manufacturers of weapons of this class. The pistol of this model was recognized by law enforcement officers, customs officers, forestry officers and others as a reliable service weapon. It is also an excellent self-defense weapon, proven over decades and recognized throughout the world. As with the RR, post-war modifications are somewhat larger. Easily recognized by the cover plate of the magazine, which provides support for the little finger of the shooting hand. The PPK/S hybrid model uses a PPK bolt and barrel on a PP frame, but in order to circumvent the restrictions of the 1968 US Act, the thickness of the pistol was increased. This model was sold to a limited extent in the USA. Since 1931, the German Ministry of Defense began to look for a replacement for Georg Luger’s Parabellum 08, which was very complex in manufacturing technology and very expensive, with a more advanced one. Fritz Walter immediately set about developing a 9 mm parabellum instead of the less common 08 caliber from Luger. For the first time in the world, Fritz Walter began to use light metals for a new model of pistol: aluminum and tin. Even tests of new weapons were carried out unofficially, since there was no confidence in a positive result. But Walter was confident that he was right and had no doubt that the time would definitely come to use light metals for the manufacture of weapons. In addition, Fritz Walter, a supporter of saving metal when creating weapons and using lightweight, convenient designs, created a handle with a unique design for the Walter P 38. First of all, Walter abandoned the lining of the handle, and the balancing of the pistol was done so mathematically precisely that it made it possible to significantly reduce the amount of metal consumed.
In 1939, production began and by the middle of the year the first hundred P 38 pistols were handed over to the army. At the same time, the well-known “Walter P 38” brand was assigned to a slightly modified model with only the number 1020.
The P-38 pistol was more advanced than the Parabellum and was supposed to supplant it over time. Since the introduction of this pistol began with equipping officers with it, it was sometimes unofficially called an officer's pistol, and the "Parabellum" - a soldier's pistol. The "P 38" pistol justified itself so much that in 1940 the Mauser company received a government order to switch from the traditional "Parabellum" to "Walter P 38".
“P 38” is a self-loading pistol with a double-action trigger—the first with such a trigger among full-size military pistols chambered for a powerful cartridge. Its automation is built according to a scheme with a short barrel stroke and a locked bolt. The coupling of the barrel and the bolt is carried out by a special larva located under the barrel and swinging in a vertical plane. When fired, the barrel and the bolt move back a few millimeters. Then the larva “bumps” into the pistol frame and falls down, disengaging from the bolt. The barrel with the cylinder fixed underneath stops, and the bolt continues its movement back, performing a full cycle of reloading the weapon. The pistol has a distinctive appearance due to the short bolt with a large window on top. On the back side of the bolt, above the open hammer, there is an indicator of the presence of a cartridge in the chamber. The fuse is located on the left side of the bolt; the slide stop latch is located on the frame under the fuse. In the front part of the frame there is a locking latch for disassembling the pistol. An interesting feature of the P 38 design (later inherited from the Beretta 92 pistol, along with the locking scheme) is that the trigger rod is located outside the frame, on the right side of the weapon.
The cheeks of the handle are made of black or brown plastic, the magazine latch is made on the heel of the handle. The sight is constant. During the Second World War, the number of P 38s produced exceeded tens of millions of copies.
For one Wehrmacht division alone, about 4,000 “officer Walters” were required. Pistols "Walter P 38" remained in service in West Germany after the Second World War. In addition, these pistols have gained worldwide fame and are currently in service in dozens of countries around the world.
Models 1 to 9 are not produced after World War 2. Instead, pocket models “TP” (Tashenpistole) and “TPH” (Tashenpistole mithan) appeared. Both pistols are chambered for the standard 6.35 mm Browning cartridge. New 9-mm Walter pistols also appeared. They are listed below. — Walter PP Super” The design is similar to the “Walter PP”, 1929, but its external forms are more “modern”.
A significant difference from the “PP” is the use of a new cartridge called “9 mm polys” or 9 x 18 “ultra” (the number 18 indicates the length of the sleeve in millimeters). This cartridge in size and power occupies an intermediate position between the 9 mm K and 9 mm Par cartridges. The peculiarity of the cartridge is that the diameter of the flange of its cartridge case is smaller than the diameter of the cartridge case itself, and also smaller than the diameters of the flanges of other 9-mm cartridges, which therefore cannot be used in the PP Super pistol.
The safety lever on the bolt serves only to safely release the trigger and blocks the firing pin only for the duration of the release. There is also a safety device associated with the position of the trigger. Produced since 1976, the P-38K differs from the P-4 only in its shorter barrel length and the location of the front sight on the bolt housing.
- P-5. Further development of the P-38 and P-4 models.
— P-88. The main difference from previous Walter models of this military pistol is the double-row arrangement of cartridges in the magazine (the magazine is removable, it holds 15 rounds). The pistol operates on the principle of using recoil energy with a short barrel stroke.
The trigger mechanism is self-cocking with an open trigger. The pistol has been produced since 1986. The history of the P 88 is extremely eventful. It began with missed opportunities and ended with a serious reduction in production. In the mid-80s, NATO began replacing it with a single NATO caliber.
Along with Browning and the American JSSAP, Walter also took part in this program since 1978, presenting the Model P 88 for review.
In 1983, the number of P 88s began to decline, since the Browning weapon concept used in the P 88 was unattractive for civilian and sporting weapons. The fate of this model is sad. Despite significant labor and financial costs, a huge number of modifications, in the end the “Model P 88” was not in demand.
“Model PP 90” introduced a new all-metal design, previously used in the classic “PP”. But this happened too late for the market.
After the failure with "P 88" in the world, it seemed that "Walter" had taken a time out. In fact, behind closed doors, the development of the all-metal P 99 pistol, Agent 007's favorite pistol, was underway.
— “Model P 99” was launched into production in October 1996.
However, the year of creation of this model, despite the number 99, dates back to 1994. At that time it had a working title of "HPL". Literally it could be translated “Pistol without a sledgehammer.” This model fully met all the requirements of weapons of the late twentieth century. The development of the P99 pistol by Walther (Carl Walther Sportwaffen GmbH.) began in 1994. The main goal was to create a modern pistol for police and self-defense, capable of achieving greater commercial success than its predecessor, the Walter P-88, which, despite its excellent characteristics, turned out to be too expensive.
The creation of P99 was completed by 1996, and the result was quite successful.
— The Walter P 99 pistol is built according to a short-stroke design. locking - according to a modified Browning scheme, where the barrel is lowered, interacting with a fixed pin in the frame and engages with the bolt through a window for ejecting cartridges. The trigger mechanism is striker-fired, double-action, but a QA (Quick Action) modification is also available, in which the striker is always in a partially cocked state and is re-cocked each time the trigger is pressed (somewhat similar to Glocks). This scheme ensures that the trigger force remains constant for all shots. The pistol does not have external non-automatic safeties; instead, there is a button for safely de-cocking the firing pin (located at the top in the rear of the bolt. In addition, there are three automatic safeties - blocking the firing pin when dropped, blocking the firing pin when the bolt is not fully closed, and an automatic safety on the trigger The frame of the pistol is made of polymer materials and has a black or dark green (in the “military” version) color. A characteristic feature of the “P 99" is that the rear part of the handle is removable, and the pistol comes with three interchangeable rear parts of different sizes for customization under the hand of each specific shooter. In addition, a recoil damper is built into the rear part of the handle. On the front part of the frame under the barrel, in accordance with the latest fashion, there are guides for attaching a laser pointer or flashlight.
According to many reviews, the “P 99” is an excellent pistol, characterized by high reliability and good accuracy, especially in the version chambered for 9mm.
It is worth noting that the well-known James Bond,
unsinkable agent 007, after many years, replaced the reliable, but already outdated “Walter PPK” with a brand new, brand new “P 99”, which the Walter company was not slow to take advantage of for advertising purposes (see the film Tomorrow Never Dies - Tomorrow Tomorrow Will Never Die starring Pierce Brosnan, and the following films). In terms of its combat qualities, this model is superior to Russian and Japanese pistols - these words belong to one of the most famous experts in the field of weapons, Major Boosroyd and concerned the Walter PPK model.
This statement was adopted by the author of the James Bond works, Ian Fleming. "Walter R 5", cal. 9 mm, “Walter LP 53”, “PPK”, “PP”, “P 38”, “P 5”, “P 88” were in particular demand among Hollywood film directors. A special place among them was given to the indispensable assistant of any agent - the Walter PPK pistol.
Walter rifles
In the early 30s, meco-caliber semi-automatic Walter rifles (KJS, KKJ, KKH) became widespread and were in great demand. In 1953, their production was restored as purely sporting and hunting rifles. We also paid attention to hunting rifles with optical sights. Excellent combat qualities combined with unique German optics allowed Walter rifles to take leading positions among other leaders in the production of sporting and hunting small-caliber rifles.
WA 2000 looks like a prop from Lucas' Star Wars.
Released in 1981, the WA 2000 sniper rifle immediately created a sensation due to its futuristic design. Being a kind of “Rolls-Royce” among other sniper rifles, it also has a corresponding price. WA 2000 is made according to the bullpup design. Its automation operates using the energy of powder gases. The main structural element - the barrel - is of particular importance for this weapon, which requires high shooting accuracy. It is rigidly attached to the frame at the front and back so that when fired it does not move away from the selected target. The WA 2000 is usually equipped with a Schmidt and Bender telescopic sight (x2.5-x10), but other sights are also compatible with this rifle. For best target results, precision-guided ammunition should be used. Of all the commercially available cartridges, the .300 Winchester Magnum is the best suited for this rifle. Others, such as the 7.62 mm NATO cartridge and the 7.5 mm Swiss cartridge, can only be used if the bolt and barrel are replaced. Despite its impressive appearance, the WA 2000 is hardly a combat weapon. This rifle is too heavy and expensive for mass production. However, it is perfectly suited to the needs of the police and intelligence services.
The first gas pistols.
In 1932, she began advertising a new “toy”
- a gas pistol, as an indispensable assistant for wealthy ladies.
To be continued.
May 14, 2013
Walter pistols
Whalther 4
The Model 4 is a relatively simple weapon with a blowback design, a fixed barrel, an external extractor and a hidden hammer. Its most unusual feature is that (like its Model 3 predecessor) its extractor and cartridge ejection port are on the left.
The barrel acts as a guide for a concentric recoil spring, which is held in place by a bayonet-type boss covering the front of the barrel and a bushing at the rear that also serves to hold the spring.
As the bolt moves rearward, it forces the trigger down, disengaging it from the sear. The safety is a rotating lever that securely locks the hammer when cocked. Most safeties have a checkered notch for easy thumb grip. There is a screw on the back of the handle that adjusts the tension of the firing pin flat spring.
Walther P38
The Walther P38 is a German pistol originally adopted in 1938 for use by the German Army as a replacement for the German Luger during World War II. This is a fairly recognizable weapon, often appearing in films, television and video games set during World War II or even several decades later.
Walther P38K
Another, lesser-known variant is the P38K ("Kurz", or "short" in German). This version was created for some special users such as the KSK, the elite counter-terrorism unit of the German army. The product was designated P4 and was intended for concealed carry. The front sight was mounted on the bolt, unlike the full-size model.
Flare pistol Walther Leuchtpistole 28
The Leuchtpistole "flare pistol" is a rocket launcher of German origin developed before and during World War II.
Developed in 1926, the Leuchtpistole with a folding barrel was adopted in 1928 as the Model Heer 26 (Heer means "army" and 26 means 1926). The length of the barrel made them quite cumbersome to use, so later Leuchtpistole models had a shorter barrel.
Modifications:
- Walther Leuchtpistole Model 34
- Walther Leuchtpistole Model 42
- Dopellaufige Signal und Leuchtpistole (SLD) - double-barreled modification
Walther P.P.
Walter PP is a semi-automatic short-barreled weapon from the PP family.
Developed by Carl Walther WaffenFabric in Germany, it has a blowback design with a fixed barrel, usually made entirely of steel. Equipped with a double-action trigger, with an open trigger and a manual safety device mounted on the frame. The magazines are single, the magazine release button is usually located on the left side of the frame, just below the bolt. However, some PP pistols were made both before and after the war with a so-called "Eastern" magazine release button located on the heel of the grip.
Walther PP and PPK pistols are equipped with a loaded chamber indicator, which is a small pin that protrudes from the rear of the slide (above the hammer) when a round is in the chamber. This indicator is not available on models chambered in .22LR.
It should be noted that most PP and PPK pistols were produced in 7.65 mm (.32ACP), and the 9 mm Kurz (9x17, .380ACP) were made much later.
It was on the basis of Walther PP that the domestic PM was created
Modifications:
- Walther P.P.S.
- Walther PPK
- Walther PPK-S
- Walther PP Super 9×18 Ultra
Walther P22
The Walther P22 is a German-made weapon that feels similar to the Walther P99. Walther Industries calls it the “little brother of the P99.” It fires .22 Long Rifle Rimfire ammunition. For convenience when shooting, it has an adjustable trigger guard. It has a unique design in which the magazine presses the safety lever in the pistol's chamber so that the weapon cannot be fired without it.
Walther P88
The P88 is a semi-automatic pistol with a recoil mechanism and a locking barrel. It differs from previous Walther pistols, such as P38 / P1, P5, in that it had an automatic design of Browning (USA).
Locking is achieved by one massive protrusion on the barrel, which is fixed in the hole for resetting the bolt stop. The P88 trigger is very similar to the system in the Walther P5, but the P88 has an ambidextrous frame-mounted safety.
The pistol has the same internal safeties as the P5 (striker safety, disconnector). The P88 featured all-steel construction, with fixed sights and high-capacity double-stack magazines.
The P88 was a good pistol, but was too expensive, so Walther abandoned it in favor of the lighter and smaller P88 Compact.
Walther P5
The P5 is a German-made weapon released at the end of the Cold War. It was developed by Walther specifically for police use. For this reason, the design was kept as compact as possible and several safety devices were implemented at once. With the advent of polymer frame pistols, the P5 was no longer considered lightweight, and the 8-round magazine capacity is considered limited by today's standards.
The design was borrowed from the Walther P38 pistol of World War II. The P5 is a weapon based on a short recoil mechanism with a closed bolt. In the P5, the bolt locks the barrel, resulting in a different appearance than the P38. Innovative features such as an alloy frame and firing pin safety have been added. A single row magazine is used. The cartridges are ejected to the left, which is quite rare.
Walther P99
The Walther P99 is a semi-automatic pistol manufactured in Germany by Walther Sportwaffen.
Walter RR
Although pistols of the Walther PP modification appeared earlier than the P 38 - in 1929, they are less popular. This is explained by the fact that the weapon was created for the police and was used in very limited quantities in the Wehrmacht army. For comparison, about 1 million pieces were produced, that is, 10 times less than the “officer Walter”.
Two years later, in 1931, a shortened model of the RRK (Polizei Pistole Kriminal) was created. The PPK version was ideal for concealed carry and was used by wartime saboteurs, including Soviet ones. In the USSR, the Walter PP was a reward weapon and was used by diplomatic couriers.
TTX
By default, the technical characteristics of the Walter PP were as follows:
- dimensions – 17 x 10 x 3 cm (l/h/w, respectively);
- weight – 682 g;
- cartridge - 7.65 x 17 mm, 9 x 17 mm, less often 6.35 x 15 mm and small-caliber .22LR;
- ammunition - 8 rounds or 7 rounds in the magazine, depending on the caliber;
- range – 25 m.
By increasing the complexity of the design, the safety of the weapon has been increased. After setting the safety, you can safely drop it, reload it and carry it with a cartridge inside the chamber, and after removing the “flag” you can continue shooting.
Pistol safety
Modification of the PPK is 1 cm “lower” and 1.6 cm shorter (the barrel is 1.5 cm smaller and the frame is 1 cm smaller), 0.5 cm thinner. The front part of the bolt casing has a different look, weight is reduced to 590 g , the shot range remained unchanged.
The least frequently used pistols were the Browning 6.35 x 15 mm cartridge (1,000 weapons rolled off the production line).
Modifications
The following models of pistols are known, the basic design of which was PP and PPK:
- PP Super - created for the police in 1972 under the 9 x 18 mm Ultra cartridge;
- PPK/E – export version for the European market;
- PPK-L - manufactured in Germany since 1950, frame made of aluminum alloy;
- PPK/S – created for export to the USA under the 9 x 17 mm cartridge.
Pistol PPK/L
The Walter PP/PPK design was copied in China, France, Hungary and Turkey. Umarex and EPMA companies produce traumatic, gas and pneumatic copies of Walter PP.
Heckler Koch
Heckler Koch HK4
The HK4 pistol was one of the first pistols to implement the idea of modularity. Each product can be configured for one of four main calibers with simple barrel, recoil spring and magazine changes. Many HK4 pistols were sold with caliber change kits, which included three additional barrels with springs and corresponding magazines.
The frame of the HK4 pistols was made of aluminum alloy, and the bolts were made of sheet steel. The double-action trigger mechanism and, in particular, the partially exposed hammer made this weapon similar in design to the Mauser HSC.
Heckler Koch P7
The Heckler & Koch P7 was first introduced in 1976. Heckler & Koch began the process of developing a new compact-sized autoloading pistol with improved safety features in 1971. After years of prototyping and experimentation, HK finally released the PSP. (“Polizei Selbstlade-Pistole” or “Police Self-Loading Pistol”). It was intended for use by the West German police and consequently the PSP was adopted by several police departments as well as border police units as the P7.
Operation of automatic pistol Heckler Koch P7
Modifications:
- Heckler Koch P8
- Heckler Koch P9
- Heckler Koch P10
- Heckler Koch P30
- Heckler Koch P2000
Heckler Koch Mark 23 – USP
The Heckler & Koch MK 23 Mod 0 (aka → USP) is a weapon system consisting of a semi-automatic pistol, a laser targeting module (LAM) and a silencer. It was adopted by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) for special operations units in the 1990s.
Modifications:
- USP Compact
- USP Tactical
- USP Expert
Walter P5
The Walter P5 self-loading pistol was developed in 1979 and adopted by the police of the Bundeswehr, Portugal and Holland. Currently sold to European citizens. The main features of the P5 model are:
- trigger rod on the right side of the frame;
- Double action trigger;
- two return springs;
- short barrel stroke similar to Model 38;
- left-handed case extraction, which is convenient for left-handers;
- several safety devices.
P5 pistol design
For concealed carry, a variant of the Walther P5 Compact with similar performance characteristics, but smaller in size, was developed and launched into production. The second modification of the P5L is a sports version with an extended barrel.
Bergman pistols
Bergmann 1896
Theodore Bergman pioneered the development of semi-automatic pistols in Europe in the late 1890s and early 1900s. Originally chambered in 5mm, 6.5mm and later 8mm, very few of these pistols were actually manufactured (about 2,500 in total) with even fewer examples surviving after World War II.
The Model 1896 Bergmann was an early semi-automatic pistol design. The Model 1896 was loaded using a clip similar to the Mannlicher M1895, loaded through a side opening. Early cartridges were not rifled and the bullets had a sharp nose to prevent jamming. Later pistols had mechanical extractors and cartridges with checkered flanges.
Of the three calibers available in the Bergman Model 1896 pistol, the 6.5mm No. 3 was the most popular. About 4,000 of these pistols were produced and they found followers all over the world.
Bergmann Simplex
Theodore Bergmann was persistent in his pursuit of a contract with the armed forces, but sales of the Bergmann model 1896 and 1897 pistols showed him that a single design could not effectively satisfy both the military need for a powerful cartridge and the civilian need for a small cartridge and a concealable pistol. . To capture both sides of the market, Bergmann divided his efforts, reducing and simplifying the design to the civilian Simplex and beefing it up for the military Bergmann Mars pistol.
To make the Simplex smaller and cheaper, the locking barrel system was abandoned in favor of a simple blowback mechanism coupled with a new 8mm cartridge. This cartridge featured an 18mm straight-walled case and a 71gr bullet, making it slightly less powerful than the .32ACP. Compared to the 8mm cartridge from the No. 4 Bergmann 1896, the Simplex cartridge is 4mm shorter. The Simplex will not be able to shoot longer cartridges, but it is likely that the No. 4 pistol can shoot short Simplex cartridges.
Pistol automatic operation
Bergmann Mars
The Bergmann Bayard Model 1910 is a short recoil weapon. It uses a short recoil system in which a separate bolt moves inside a rectangular barrel extension. The bolt protrudes from the barrel extension at the rear and has two round handles for manual release.
The bolt is locked by a vertically sliding block located in the barrel extension. In the forward position of the moving parts, the locking block is moved upward by a step in the frame and fits into a slot made on the underside of the bolt, securely fixing it to the barrel extension. When recoil occurs, the tilt in the frame allows the block to move down slightly and out of the notch in the bolt, thereby unlocking the bolt.
Feeding is carried out from detachable box magazines in which cartridges are held in two vertical rows in a checkerboard pattern. Magazines can be reloaded either in a detached state or inside the pistol, using clips through the ejection port at the top (with the bolt locked). The magazine body is located in front of the trigger guard. The magazine release is located inside the trigger guard, at the front.
The trigger mechanism is single action, with an open hammer and a manual safety located to the left of the hammer. To engage the safety, this lever must be rotated up and forward.
Pistols from other manufacturers
Reichsrevolver 1879
The Reichsrevolver was a service revolver used by the German Army from 1879 to 1908. This is a one-piece revolver with a single-action trigger chambered for the 10.6 mm cartridge. It had a loading port on the right side, and the cylinder could be detached by moving the hammer to half cock.
Removing spent cartridges could be accomplished by removing the cylinder and removing the axle pin, then removing the empty cartridges by hand. Although the revolver's design was outdated, especially compared to the semi-automatic Luger pistol that replaced it, it was still popular due to its durability, and some revolvers even managed to see service in World War I.
Modifications:
- Reichsrevolver 1883
Borchardt C93
The Borchardt C93 ("Construktion 1893") was a German pistol designed by Hugo Borchardt. It was one of the first working self-loading pistols in history. Although it was not commercially successful in its time, Borchardt's design is directly related to the development of the extremely popular Luger pistol.
The C93 used a lever lock based on the mechanism used in the Maxim pistol that was being developed at the time. When the weapon is fired, a two-part lever rises and flexes as the gun recoils, allowing the bolt to unlock and release the spent cartridge.
Ammunition is supplied from a detachable eight-round box magazine, which is inserted into the handle from below. The C93 was produced and sold primarily in the proprietary 7.65x25mm Borchardt caliber, however, some prototype weapons were chambered in the 9x18mm Borchardt cartridge.
Automatic operation of the Borchardt C93 pistol
Schwarzlose M1898
Schwarzlose is the name most associated with the M1907 light machine gun, which was used by the Austro-Hungarian Army (World War I). However, in 1898, Andreas Wilhelm Schwarzlose invented a truly advanced pistol design, significantly ahead of his contemporaries in design and ergonomics.
Schwarzlose himself was a Prussian, having served in his youth as a marksman and gunsmith in the Austro-Hungarian army before studying at the National Artillery College and founding his own company, AW Schwarzlose GmbH in Berlin in 1897. While his early pistol designs were not very popular, his Model 1908 weapon had some success, but his greatest breakthrough was the M1907 machine gun, adopted by the Austro-Hungarian Army.
Schwarzlose filed his first patent for the design in Great Britain in 1898, and his U.S. patent was granted in 1902, when production began in Berlin. The design evolved between two patents: the first showed a small bolt handle on the left side of the bolt, which was later replaced by a T-bar charging handle.
Dreyse M1907
The 1907 Dreyse was manufactured by Rheinische Metallwaren & Maschinenfabrik (RM&M), which was later renamed Rheinmetall. The product was designed by Louis Schmeisser and manufactured by RM&M under the Dreyse brand.
The Model 1907 was a hammer-fired pocket pistol chambered in .32 ACP/7.65mm Browning chambered from a 7-round, single-stack magazine. Introduced in 1907, but did not enter significant production until 1908. Production ceased in 1918, when approximately 250,000 had been produced. The 1907 Dreyse was patented on February 21, 1908 by Rheinische Metallwaaren & Machinenfabrik. The creation of the pistol has long been credited to Louis Schmeisser, although his name does not appear on the patent. The patent does not show the hinged upper receiver and barrel - in fact, the design of the bolt and front bushing is patented.
However, another RM&M patent, German Patent 185411 dated January 4, 1906, shows a weapon with a barrel that can be folded upward and which is very similar to the Bergmann Simplex, a weapon also attributed to Louis Schmeisser.
Operation of automatic pistol Dreyse M1907
Sauer Model 13
Sauer 1913 - Produced by JP Sauer & Sohn from 1913-1929. The improved Model 13 appeared in 1926 as the 1926 export model. Although the Model 13 was not adopted by any military or government service, it was popular among German officers during both World Wars.
In 1930, the Model 1913 was redesigned and the new product was released as the Model 1930. It had a more ergonomic handle, better balance, and several other features that set it apart from its predecessor. Soon after this, Sauer began to make further improvements, and in October 1930 the Beherdenmodell 1930 appeared, which was aimed at government customers. This model had interesting features such as a trigger safety similar to a modern Glock. But Walther PP and PPK were serious competitors.
Sauer 38H
The Sauer 38H is a blowback weapon with a fixed barrel. The product is characterized by a separate bolt, which contains: an extractor, a firing pin and a loaded chamber indicator (which protrudes from the back of the bolt if a cartridge is in the chamber).
The takedown latch is located inside the trigger guard, just forward of the trigger, and must be pulled down to allow the bolt to be removed. The Sauer 38H has a double action trigger with a hidden hammer and a sliding manual safety that locks the hammer. Additional safety (and flexibility in choosing the firing mode) is provided by the cocking/releasing lever located on the left side of the frame under the grip panel.
If the hammer is cocked, pressing this lever releases the hammer safely; if the hammer is released, pressing the lever will cock it for the first shot in single action.
The magazine release latch is controlled by a button located on the left side of the handle, at the base of the trigger guard. Sights are fixed. The handle panels are made of black plastic with the Sauer double S logo on the left handle.
Korth combat
Korth pistols were designed around 1982 by renowned German gunsmith Willy Korth, who had been known as a maker of fine custom revolvers since the mid-1960s. The first "production" Korth pistols appeared in 1985, and since then they have been produced in very limited quantities.
These pistols are high quality, custom made European guns. Each pistol is manufactured using up to 70% hand labor and hand fitting. Korth pistols are available in a variety of calibers and finishes.
Pistol Parabellum
Parabellum - a detailed review of the German Parabellum pistol - “Si vis pacem, para bellum” (“If you want peace, prepare for war”) The Luger pistol is, from my point of view, the most elegant pistol ever in service. In 1898, by modifying the Borchardt lever locking system, Luger made it more compact, essentially creating a completely new pistol. Featuring a sporty trigger and a well-chosen angle of the handle, providing comfortable grip and convenient aiming, the Parabellum had good shooting accuracy. However, the gun was complex and expensive to manufacture, and quite susceptible to contamination. On May 4, 1900, Switzerland adopted the Parabellum under the name “Pistole, Ordonnanz 1900, System Borchardt-Luger” into service with its army. A little later, Georg Luger, together with the company Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken, will create his own cartridge for a 9 mm caliber bullet, and the most successful and widespread pistol cartridge in the world, 9x19 mm Luger/Parabellum, is born. In 1904, the 9 mm parabellum was adopted by the German Navy, and in 1908 by the German Army. Subsequently, Lugers were in service with the Third Reich.
Design specifics, operating principle The pistol's automatic operation is based on the principle of a short barrel stroke. The breech is locked using a system of hinged levers of the crank mechanism; the bolt, being in the extreme forward position, takes the “dead center” position, ensuring reliable locking. When fired, the barrel and receiver begin to roll back together in the opposite direction of the shot, as soon as the two rollers meet the inclined protrusions of the pistol frame, the breech is unlocked, the barrel and receiver stops, and the bolt, continuing to move backward, extracts the spent cartridge case. Under the action of the return spring, the bolt returns to the extreme forward position, chambering the cartridge, cocks the trigger mechanism, and occupies the extreme forward position. The trigger mechanism is built into the bolt and is connected/disconnected from the trigger using a clever side lever mechanism.
Disassembling the Parabellums Like any other pistol, the Luger requires maintenance after firing. To do this, the pistol is partially disassembled in the following order: 1 - Having removed the magazine, cock the bolt to make sure that there is no cartridge in the chamber. 2 - On the frame of the pistol, at the trigger, turn the latch down, separating it along with the plate that includes the trigger elements. 4 - We move the barrel along with the receiver forward and separate it from the pistol frame. 5 - Having removed the bolt from engagement with the barrel, we take out the pin that holds the bolt in the receiver, and moving the bolt back along the receiver, we take it out. 6 - Using any metal rod, the mainspring stop is recessed and turned a quarter turn. Overcoming its resistance, they disconnect the bolt from the mainspring, removing the firing pin. 7 - You can remove the trigger with the spring by sliding it to the side.
Partial disassembly of the pistol is completed, the weapon can be cleaned. Assembly is carried out in reverse order.
Parabellum modifications 1) M.1900 The very first model of 1900, chambered for 7.65x21 mm. This pistol was adopted by the Swiss Army in 1900.
2) M.1902 Further development of the M.1900 variant chambered for a new 9x19 mm pistol cartridge. For the new caliber, the barrel had to be made thicker and shorter than that of the previous model, and the number of rifling in the barrel had to be increased from four to six.
3) M.1904 The first mass model of the Luger pistol. Changes were made to the spring ejector, which was replaced with a new type of ejector with a vertical tooth. This model has a reversible sight at distances of 100 and 200 m.
4) M.1906 For the first time, major changes were made to the 1906 model. The leaf return spring in the handle was replaced with a twisted one located vertically. The design of the safety was also changed; it was moved down and began to lock the sear, reliably protecting the pistol from an arbitrary shot.
5) M.1908 The 1908 Parabellum was simply called the “Pistol 08”, or P08. Differing from the 1906 model in that the automatic fuse was removed and only the flag safety remained.
6) Artillery model This is a pistol-carbine with a barrel extended to 317 mm, and an attached wooden butt, which could also be removed and act as a pistol holster. There were options with a 32-round disc magazine.
Use of captured German pistols in the Red Army
During the Great Patriotic War, German pistols and revolvers were very desirable weapons for Red Army soldiers, and there was one simple reason for this. In the Red Army, the pistol was considered the weapon of commanders, pilots and tank crews, and was not widely distributed. Taking a captured short-barreled weapon greatly facilitated combat in a confined space: in a trench or building.
Also, German weapons were often used as gifts, usually from soldiers to commanders.
The choice of captured weapons was determined only by the fact of their availability, that is, they took what they had. The soldiers of the army of the Third Reich had many different units of short-barreled weapons and a larger number of personnel were armed with them. Here are just some of the models:
- Walther P.P.
- Walther PPK
- Walther P38
- Luger P08
- Mauser C96
- Sauer 1913
Particularly noteworthy here is the Mauser C96, which can be called the most desirable on the list among Red Army soldiers.
Post-war use of German pistols
The range of captured weapons during the Second World War completely coincides with those that were used in the post-war period, but the purpose has changed.
A huge part of the so-called echo of war fell into the hands of bandits and killers, many samples entered service with the MGB and the NKVD. Compact pistols such as the Walther PP and PPK had no alternative and were in great demand until the 1960s, when they were replaced by the Soviet Makarov pistol.
Captured pistols from Germany are still on the list of award weapons. The population has more than 20,000 units of award trophy pistols in their hands.
