Luger P.08 self-loading pistol 9mm

01. Original name LUGER P’08  
02. Other official names Model 1900 & Swiss Luger, Model 1902, Navy Model, Model 1906, Model 1907 US Pistol Trials, Lange Pistole ’08 (Artillery Model)  
03. Popular names Luger  
04. Chamberings 9mmP; it was in .30 luger when adopted by the Swiss and then made in 9mm para once Luger had designed the round as the 7.65 was underpowered for the Army. It was also made in .45acp (very rare) for U.S. Trials.  
05. Designed by George Luger  
06. Design date 1900  
07. In service date(s) First Order placed by the Swiss in 1900 and remained in use with various modifications until 1970’s. In use with German Military from 1900 until 1945. Still in use with other users until 1990’s  
08. Adopted by Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chad, Georgia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Japan, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Iran, Luxemburg, Malta, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, New Zealand, North Korea, Norway, Ottoman Empire, China, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Soviet Union, Sudan, Switzerland, Turkey, Thailand, U.K., U.S., and Venezuela  
09. Production quantities 3,000,000  
10. Mechanism Toggle locked, short action semi-automatic. Fitted with 8rd detachable box magazine  
11. Weight 871grms (1lb 15oz)  
12. Mountings At the early part of WW1 the P’08 was modified by fitting a lug to the heel of the grip. This allowed the fitting of a wooden shoulder stock  
13. Practicality in action The Luger pistols were made to high standard and close tolerances. The design made it necessary for some hand fitting. This meant that interchangeability of parts was not always practical. However, the pistol was accurate and reliable. It also is renowned for its “natural pointability”.  
14. Comments / Other information P08 Luger 9mm Automatic Pistol (Germany) 9WW1 & WW2) Introduced in 1908; 4” barrel; chambered for the 9mm Parabellum round; used with 8-round box magazine; developed from the 7.7mm parabellum version which appeared in 1900; employs a toggle-lock breech mechanism operated by barrel recoil. The intention was to supersede it by the P38 pistol but production continued into WW2.