P08 Parabellum.

The ancients said - "you want peace? Get ready for war ". In this paradox as contemporary, over the years, And in principle with the course of centuries - we have discovered the true principle governing the military balance in the world. Although it is difficult to find peace aspirations in German reinforcement activities, This name of the p08 pistol was given according to this old proverb with the Latin pedigree.

The beginning of the 20th century turned out to be the beginning of self -tributary pistols. German designer Georg Luger, Inspired by the large and "raw" construction of one of the first Self -Automotive Pistols produced by C93 Borchardt, He created a 9-millimeter Parabellum automatic pistol, which we also know as Luger's pistol, or just Luger. W 1908 year this weapon began to displace Reichsrevolver 1879, Thus entering the armament of the German army, as a prescribed short weapon. What weapon was p08 pistol? Accurate, convenient to use and reliable. On the other hand, a few disadvantages need to be mentioned, of which the most successful difficulties seem to be susceptible to pollution. In each copy of Luger, parts were matched individually, For this reason, several digits from the serial number of the individual unit were knocked out on the significant elements. Complicated, thoroughly fitted gun mechanism, consisting of many parts, he was not ready to act in difficult, and basically "dirty" battlefield conditions. The Germans did not look for a solution to the problem in improving the structure, they found, that they will equip their soldiers with new ones, protecting the gun against hollow contamination. The idea was nice, While the gun was actually moved in the cabin and did not contaminate after removing from it ...

Of course, the weapon did not stop working from a bit of dust or after falling on the lawn, We are talking about more serious pollution, such as mud, sand, or a combination of these two with dust, naked and basically everything that could immobilize this precise mechanism. Although in 1908 The Luger year began to systematically displace revolvers 1879 (in my subjective opinion, shoddy scaring), they did not completely displace them in principle until World War II, where even p08 in 1942 year they have already been replaced, Actually, more densely "supplemented" by simpler and more modern Walthery P-38. Is mentioned, that up to years 40 Reichsrevolvery was equipped with administrative employees of the Third Reich.

A characteristic feature of parabellum is its appearance compared to other pistols. Even when someone associates only a few models of pistols from the first half of the 20th century, This would probably indicate Luger without any problem. "Knee" lock, which is unlocking by fracture up the castle lever, It is like in C93-a borrowing from CKM Maxima. Shocking mechanism without chanterelle, z własną sprężyną uderzeniową w zamku to niespotykane wtedy rozwiązanie. When we look at the first successful self -tributant pistol developed in Mauser's plants - C96, We have the right impression, that we see two different worlds.

What would not be boring and to go beyond the most famous characteristics of the clichéd pattern P08, I will mention here, that German engineers worked on the development of this weapon, As a result, we can read about many modifications of the pistol itself, as well as more "peripheral" accessories related to it. It is worth getting acquainted with the gallery below, containing scans from the richly illustrated publication of "Pistolets" of the Olesiejuk Publishing House. You can read there, among others: Supportable flasks - holsters, versions with a long barrel, a flask and wooden bed, richly decorated Lugers for contemporary dignitaries such as Marshal Göring, but also more ingenious "adaptations" by Parabellum, such as conversion inserts for lateral ignition ammunition, Hostest drum magazine 32 cartridges, or the compact "Baby Luger" - the personal weapon of Georg Luger.

Luger's image, received through the prism of events in which he participated, made, that it became an inseparable element of the image of a German officer and largely a symbol of a totalitarian regime, whose dignits had to serve him. Interesting piece of history and a must -have item for the German weapon enthusiast collection of that period.