Luger Pistol

[plant-pilot]

Originally posted by stuka101@Oct 15 2004, 12:08 AM
HI my names Peter and I know that the luger also had a detachable snail magazine. This was not widley used in WWII but it was used!

Quoted post

I think you'll find that the 50 round snail magazine was used in conjunction with the detachable stock on the Artillery Luger in order to provide the artillery with a light carbine type weapon for self defence.

Having never fired a Luger with the 50 round magazine I could still believe that having forty odd rounds adding an off-centre counter weight to the weapon, would require the stock and the longer barrel just to keep the weapon accurate to even short ranges.

Any of our American friends had the oppertunity to prove or disprove my suspisions?

[HEKE]

This artillery Luger model really did exist. It was mostly used during the World War 1. It had longer barrel than a normal Luger had. Its drum-like magazine was able to hold 32 9mm Parabellum rounds. The fire rate of the weapon was really high and it didn`t weight much. Therefor its fire bursts were hard to control. By theway did you know that the Luger was a prestage of sub-machinegun?

[HEKE]

Here is a picture of the artillery Luger without the snail magazine.[attachmentid=496]

[morse1001]

[attachmentid=497]


here is a browning 9MM with a similar stock.


Pistol 9 mm (Parabellum) (Pair)

[attachmentid=498][attachmentid=499]

These German Luger pistols were manufactured by 'Deutsche Waffen und Munitions Fabriken' (DWM) in 1917. They are the 1908 long barrelled pattern, having a barrel 8 inches in length and a tangent sight, which were frequently issued with a 32nd 'snail' magazine. The pistols first made their appearance towards the end of World War 1 and are made of P'08 components with the exception of the barrel and sights. This pistol is no longer a standard pistol in any country because it is prone to stoppages when mud or sand gets into the action. A calibre .22 inch version has, however, been produced by 'ERMA' in West Germany.


reme museum

[HEKE]

Finns made their own Luger copy called Lahti L-35. It might look like an ordinary Luger but its mechanism has been modified to suit harsh finnish conditions. It can withstand low temperature, sand and dust better than the original Luger. Here is a picture of Lahti L-35. Note the marking "VKT" on the handle. The letters stand for "Valtion Kivääri Tehdas". If translated it would mean Goverments Rifle Factory.
[attachmentid=504]

Additional information:

Lahti L-35 was desinged by Aimo Lahti (1896-1970) during the year 1935. Lahti L-35s lock mechanism is quite diffirent from original Lugers mechanism because Lahti L-35 was equipped with lock accelrator that the original Luger didn`t have. The purpose of the lock accelrator was to maintain locks function even when it was dirty or frozen.

[egbert]

...and this is my 90 year old Artillery Luger after restoration :

[Doc]

The Lahti was not, I am afraid, a Luger copy or modification. The mechanism is totally different, and the Lahti does not have the luger-type toggle action. I believe the only similarity is in their external shape. Doc

[chollie]

One thing not mentioned is that the Luger had a very slight taper to it's bore, whereas the P.38 did not, nor so far as I know did any of the other 9mm's.

I agree the Lahti was not a copy as it's action was quite different to the luger and, as has been posted, was more reliable in rough conditions and definitely less prone to jamming. I have fired both with factory ammo' (and home made) and the luger always jammed through misfeed, while that was a rare ocurence with the Lahti.

[HEKE]

I checked my sources again and found out that Lahti L-35 was luger like only by appearance. I should have typed "Luger like" instead of "Luger copy". Thank you noticing this error.