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2463
2464

Luger pistol (Parabellum) slow motion (i.imgur.com)

submitted ago by EABACA

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[–]DontBeMeanPeople 234 points235 points ago

Every day since the day I learned how the luger action works has been leading up to this gif. Thank you based op.

[–]UnnecessaryPhilology 50 points51 points ago

The parabellum comes from the Latin phrase 'Si vis pacem, para bellum:' If you wish peace, prepare for war. It conveys the idea of peace from strength, and stands in contrast to Colt's "peacemaker."

[–]Macattack278 21 points22 points ago

I always wondered where the name for the parabellum round came from. I always assumed it came from the word 'parabola', or the ideal arc of a launched projectile. TIL.

[–]drhilarious 37 points38 points ago

Contrast to "peacemaker?" How so? Aren't they saying the same thing? Peace through this motherfucking gun?

[–]Saudiaggie 6 points7 points ago

So what you're saying is we need a Peacemaker in 9mm?

[–]Moregunsthanpatience 4 points5 points ago

Ruger in .357? Eh, close enough.

[–]Whenthenighthascome -1 points0 points ago

Though in modern context all rounds and guns with the distinction "Parabellum" are more in line with the literal translation "For War"

[–]JudgeWhoAllowsStuff 1 point2 points ago

Now that would make a hell of a gun inscription. I think molon labe is a little played out (though still somewhat cool).

load more comments (15 replies)

    [–]rugerlugershooter 31 points32 points ago

    Thanks for posting that. Most people have no idea how the toggle bolt cycles. It's neat watching that whole barrel slide straight back.

    [–]moparornocar 11 points12 points ago

    I am one of those people. Never had any idea a bolt could cycle like that. Looks really cool, but what I learned from other comments, is that it wasnt the best choice.

    [–]iceph03nix 10 points11 points ago

    nope, too many exposed moving parts. Still an awesome little gun though. One day I plan on having one.

    [–]SmokeyDBear 10 points11 points ago

    Hoobler?

    [–]Hyce 3 points4 points ago

    Just curious, how come too many exposed moving parts is an issue? I'm not well read in terms of gun design. When I think of too many exposed moving parts, I think this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn6BTH7cZG4 and they seem to work fantastically.

    [–]wildo421 6 points7 points ago

    More possible points of failure I'd imagine.

    For a hobbyist they are probably fine, I wouldn't want to depend on a gun that could get all crudded up if I end up crawling around in the mud and such.

    [–]Hyce 2 points3 points ago

    Good point, but some guns seem to handle the mud pretty easily from what I've heard, although that may be simple due to a lack of moving parts- like I said, I don't know terribly much about gun design other than general basic principles.

    [–]Tennessean 1 point2 points ago

    It's not really a gun design principle so much as a mechanical design principle. More moving parts is generally worse than fewer moving parts. Having those many moving parts exposed to mud, dirt, and weather adds possible points of failure.

    When seeking a reliable system, simpler is better.

    [–]Akira_kj 4 points5 points ago

    Quite a few pistols have a "sliding" barrel like you see in the luger. The p38 slides back in a similar way.

    [–]Quw10 1 point2 points ago

    I would love to have one too, instead i got the stoeger 22 version like an idiot and have regretted it.Most guns the barrel does slide back but what you probably didnt notice is that the breach of the barrel doesnt tip down so the round can be loaded but instead slides up a ramp. Sadly that means you cant use very many kinds of ammo, mainly hallow points and wad cutters. Also the gun wasnt just made in the 9mm parabellum, but originally the .30 luger, and a bit more rarer version is made that shoots 45 acp. One of the two original test models made by the americans is estimated at around a million dollars.

    [–]rugerlugershooter 0 points1 point ago

    I knew the p38 and the Borchardt had a sliding barrel but I wasn't aware of any others. Care to enlighten me? I'm not real big on gun history specifically, I just like all the different actions.

    [–]Akira_kj 1 point2 points ago

    Beretta m9.

    [–]Ausgeflippt 0 points1 point ago

    Most handguns that aren't a straight-blowback (and many that are) have a barrel that slides back and decams to unlock the breech face. Think anything derived from a 1911, Hi-Power (which is really just revamped 1911), any Glock, etc.

    [–]BattleHall 1 point2 points ago

    Technically, just about every auto pistol that isn't a blowback or gas-operated has a barrel that recoils at least some.

    [–]Akira_kj -1 points0 points ago

    Floating and sliding could be categorized separately. Most modern tend to float when not locked into battery. Some slide on rails.

    [–]Ausgeflippt 0 points1 point ago

    No?

    Most modern handguns use an action very similar to that of a 1911 or BHP.

    [–]gabbagool 0 points1 point ago

    except the p7. which people often confusedly say is gas operated, but it's gas delayed blowback which is not the same as gas operated.

    [–]Ausgeflippt 0 points1 point ago

    Almost all automatic handguns are blowback. The difference is whether or not they're a straight blowback, or a locking/camming/delayed blowback.

    [–]gabbagool 0 points1 point ago

    including all the browning type short recoil delayed blowback pistols. so all glocks except the 380s and 1911s and sigs and M&Ps and SRs and

    [–]Lithandrill 21 points22 points ago

    That is amazing. I never quite got what the round part on the Luger was for till now.

    [–]sabreteeth 60 points61 points ago

    And here it is in real time

    [–]MatesWithPenguins 38 points39 points ago

    Wow. The comparison really adds to how incredible the ejection motion is.

    [–]McBurger -4 points-3 points ago

    teehee

    [–]ChickenBaconPoutine 33 points34 points ago

    Managed to pause it just at the right time

    http://i.imgur.com/2KPTl.jpg

    [–]92camaro 8 points9 points ago

    You paused it right after the next round failed to be chambered, so not really.

    [–]ggk1 5 points6 points ago

    you're being downvoted for being right. Had he waited 1 second he could've had the same shot with the entire gun in view

    [–]92camaro 0 points1 point ago

    Typical hivemind, It doesn't bother.

    [–]ChickenBaconPoutine 4 points5 points ago

    Haha wow, I didn't even realize that, you are correct.

    So here, then.

    http://i.imgur.com/miVJT.jpg

    [–]BitsAndBytes 4 points5 points ago

    Did it jam near the end?

    [–]ropid 13 points14 points ago

    The YouTube uploader writes, it did not jam, the magazine failed to feed the next round.

    [–][deleted] ago

    [deleted]

    [–]crispyfry 10 points11 points ago

    I'm also clueless about guns, but I think a jam typically means it failed to eject the spent (empty) shell from the round it just fired.

    So the end result is the same (gun doesn't fire), but the cause is different.

    [–]ropid 1 point2 points ago

    The jam could also happen with a live round for the next shot, not only with a spent shell. It's a lot more annoying and perhaps dangerous to have to fiddle with something stuck in the actual gun, I imagine, though I'm also not really experienced.

    [–]NiceGuysFinishLast 2 points3 points ago

    Both are generally cleared the same way. Rack the slide, sometimes repeatedly. Sometimes you remove them with a pocketknife.

    [–]dotrob 6 points7 points ago

    First, "jamming" is a generic term for "the gun doesn't work (for probably some mechanical reason)." Sometimes it more specifically means "a part -- probably ammunition -- is caught in a mechanism in some a way that prevents the mechanism from moving correctly."

    Some terms that are more descriptive are failure to feed, failure to fire, and failure to eject. Each of these terms will give you some indication of which mechanisms to inspect for the cause of the failure.

    In the case of a failure to feed, fresh ammunition from the magazine is not feeding into the chamber correctly. This failure could be due to a weak or broken magazine springs, bent magazine lips (on a detachable magazine), incorrectly seated magazine (on a detachable magazine), ammunition that's incompatible with your gun, improperly loaded ammunition, etc.

    A failure to fire means that the round was loaded the chamber correctly but didn't fire correctly. Perhaps a spring in the firing mechanism is weak and the firing pin struck the primer too lightly. Perhaps the round is a dud, squib, or inert training round.

    A failure to eject means that the spent brass didn't leave the chamber correctly. The empty case's rim may not have been grabbed by the extractor. The gun may not have been cycled completely. There may be gunk preventing the ejector from working with enough force. Incorrect grip may cause the slide on a semi-auto to eject the case only part way, causing it to get caught in the ejection port as the slide goes forward.

    It might be like saying "my car won't start" compared to saying "I have a fuel problem" or "I have an electrical problem."

    [–]Audiovore 0 points1 point ago

    Real time & slowmo.

    [–]Snowblindyeti 40 points41 points ago

    Was this really an effective ejection system? I feel like it would be easily jammable or damaged.

    [–]a_can_of_solo 32 points33 points ago

    it was susceptible to dirt and problems, that's why they don't use it any more, believe or not the luger was the simplified version of this they were still throwing stuff at the wall to see what stuck.

    [–]Snowblindyeti 8 points9 points ago

    That gun is from before ww2s mad dash for insane weapons, does that mean Germany's weapons designers have always been power mad five year olds? Minus the jet or whatever.

    [–]bitter_cynical_angry 24 points25 points ago

    The Luger predates WW1 even.

    [–]angertrain 9 points10 points ago

    Yep, Luger 1908.

    It was generally replaced by the Walther P38.

    [–]a_can_of_solo 8 points9 points ago

    yeah, that's Europe's thing, they basically spend the entire 1800s having on again off again wars with each other, so they were always looking for the next big thing.

    [–]Oelund 6 points7 points ago

    That toggle-lock system is the exact same as in the Maxim Gun, which predates both the Borchardt and Luger and was invented by an American.

    [–]drhilarious 7 points8 points ago

    Indeed. I'd argue that the USA has had the best firearms inventors and manufacturers for a good long while now: Samuel Colt, John Moses Browning, Eugene Stoner, etc.

    [–]Moregunsthanpatience 3 points4 points ago

    While I agree, and have a safe filled with Sam Colt, JMB, and Stoner designs, someone has to graduate at the bottom of the class. We still have a large number of failed firearms designers, and shitty firearms designers who haven't failed due to dumb luck and one good design.

    [–]drhilarious 3 points4 points ago

    Totally true. And I can't deny the Mauser brothers' and Kalashnikov's accomplishments in weapon design, either. Nor whoever designed the roller locking system (I think it was a German).

    [–]a_can_of_solo 0 points1 point ago

    Mauser, so good the USA stole it for the Springfield 1903

    [–]Akira_kj 1 point2 points ago

    There is a borch here in Anchorage in a retail gun shop worth seeing.

    [–]JudgeWhoAllowsStuff 85 points86 points ago

    Or jammaged.

    [–]lolbacon 48 points49 points ago

    Oh fuck you, now I want to start a shitty hippie band called "Jammaged Goods".

    [–]funkpandemic 15 points16 points ago

    I'm going to start a rival band called "Critical Jammage".

    [–]LeftyNS 11 points12 points ago

    And your "Best-Of" album will will be called "Critical Hits"

    [–]chels-guevara 2 points3 points ago

    critics claim "Critical Hits" a critique of the modern critic

    [–]BattleHall 10 points11 points ago

    FWIW, it's not really the ejection system you are seeing (it uses a pretty standard spring loaded fixed ejector riding in a slot in the bolt). What you are seeing is the toggle-locked recoil action.

    [–]H_war 18 points19 points ago

    I think this gun was famous for going off on officers legs back in the day. It also jammed (like in schindler's list)

    [–]Snowblindyeti 11 points12 points ago

    Yeah as cool as it looks I can't see how an ejection system that complicated is practical, especially not in the mud and blood of war.

    [–]ItscalledCannabis 2 points3 points ago

    It's less complicated then an slide action pistol... the only thing is that that little triangle below the action appears, which debris could get stuck in.

    [–]chubbs8697 2 points3 points ago

    Um.... It itself is an automatic pistol

    [–]ItscalledCannabis 3 points4 points ago

    My bad, Slide action.

    [–]angertrain -2 points-1 points ago

    Pretty sure it's semi-auto.

    [–]chubbs8697 13 points14 points ago

    "Automatic pistol" refers to auto-loaders, both semi-automatic and fully-automatic. The term "automatic" by itself refers to the guns operation utilizing a single chamber that is automatically cleared after a round is fired, and another round is pushed into battery automatically. Hence the term automatic. For example, the 1911, 92FS, CZ75, Glock 19 and Sig P226 are all automatic pistols. A double action revolver is not an automatic, even though every time you pull the trigger a round is fired

    [–]angertrain 5 points6 points ago

    TIL, thank you.

    I always thought it meant a gas or recoil operated action that allowed constant depression of the trigger to continually fire rounds.

    [–]drgk 0 points1 point ago

    A fully automatic handgun is usually called a "machine pistol."

    [–]BedHedNed 2 points3 points ago

    I always thought it meant a gas or recoil operated action that allowed constant depression of the trigger to continually fire rounds.

    Technically, that would be "fully automatic".

    [–]specter800 0 points1 point ago

    That's more commonly known as "fully automatic". I know it's confusing, but hey, what can you do?

    [–]n1c0_ds 0 points1 point ago

    The original version was automatic, but had a rate of fire considered too high.

    [–]Artyom2033 0 points1 point ago

    Its far more complicated, a slide pistol has a barrel, slide and frame as the parts that operate and create the delayed blowback, in the luger you have a slide that moves back, the toggle grips hit the raised bump in the frame, the toggle which is two parts attached to a bolt can bend and then the whole thing resets. Not only do you have all those parts moving, they are all fixed to each other with load bearing pins or rails for the slide which ups the precision load bearing parts count. It was dropped as a system as a single lugged barrel mating with a slide and dipping into a frame recess is far simpler and far more reliable which is what most modern semi auto's use.

    [–]ItscalledCannabis 0 points1 point ago

    In the context of comparing a Luger to lets say, a colt 1911. It is less complicated..

    [–]Artyom2033 1 point2 points ago

    The 1911 is far less complicated, it is a tilting lug pistol it just has a linking between the frame and barrel. The luger was a complex gun design, the trigger unit alone had 3 or four parts between the trigger and sear lined up along it's side.

    [–]weecefwew 3 points4 points ago

    I think this gun was famous for going off on officers legs back in the day.

    That's how my great-grandfather died. He made it all the way through the war, only to be killed on accident by some other soldier's souvenir while waiting to be sent home in France.

    [–]Frankeh 3 points4 points ago

    I think if someone shot me in such circumstances, if I still had the ability I'd draw my pistol and shoot them back.

    Fuck. That. Shit.

    [–]Akira_kj 0 points1 point ago

    I've never heard this before. They had been known for weak firing pins but would like to know where you heard they "went off". I own a ww2 luger and the internals don't easily allow for an accidental misfire. I do know that you can disassemble one with a round in the chamber and easily cause it fire with the entire lower removed. That wouldn't be a leg shot per say.

    [–]Artyom2033 0 points1 point ago

    The operating parts were all hand fitted and stamped with matching serial numbers, it was a precision instrument that didn't suit the dirty job of war. You are thinking of the Nambu though which is the gun that goes off in the holster, which is a japanese luger clone.

    [–]Moregunsthanpatience 0 points1 point ago

    I know Nambu's had a bit of an issue with exposed sears. The Japanese weren't experienced in firearms manufacture at the outbreak of the war, and a few thousand years of sword making didn't quite translate into an understanding of the mechanical and practical needs of an effective firearm. Exposed sears and trigger guards too small to fit a hand wearing gloves often worn by soldiers operating equipment, clearing obstacles, digging holes, etc. are a big problem.

    [–]Ausgeflippt 0 points1 point ago

    It was the Type 94 with exposed sears, not the Type 14.

    The Type 94 had exposed sears due to rushed production, not due to a fatal design flaw.

    [–]Ausgeflippt 0 points1 point ago

    You're thinking of the Type 94. The more common Nambu is the Type 14, which were fairly well made and a brilliant design.

    Also, they're nothing like a Luger other than the vague footprint of it. The shape of the handgun lent itself well to small hands.

    Source: I own a couple of them.

    [–]leakybutts 0 points1 point ago

    I don't know... there is a safety and an indicator that pops up to show that a round is chambered, my guess would be operator error.

    [–]Uhrmacher 0 points1 point ago

    I don't have a source handy but I remember reading a book/article that attributed the accidents (amongst American soldiers capturing them) to unfamiliarity, not mechanical or design failure.

    [–]RidiculousIncarnate 5 points6 points ago

    My general rule of thumb (Without any practical experience with guns specifically.) is that the more I go, "Ohh, that is so cool to look at." The less practical/efficient/safe said thing is.

    [–]-3055- 1 point2 points ago

    Check out the an-94 mechanism. that thing is awesome.

    [–]EABACA[S] 9 points10 points ago

    And if you've seen HBO's Band Of Brothers when easy company fighting the battle of the bulge one of the soldiers Hoobler has a Luger go off in his pants and kill him. I don't understand why it was so coveted if it had that flaw

    [–]Jables237 28 points29 points ago

    I think it was more of a trophy. Look at this gun I got from a german I killed.

    [–]LLordRSom 9 points10 points ago

    Fun fact for you, Easy Company referred to Lt Sobel as the "fucking jew".

    [–]TheseIronBones 38 points39 points ago

    To be fair, so did the cast of Friends.

    [–]angertrain 4 points5 points ago

    The guy was kind of a bastard. It was not uncommon to use someone's minority background as a slight towards them at that time either.

    They would have done the same if he was Irish, British, Scottish, German, Russian, whatever. Maybe not protestant, unless they were a teetotaler. I think they ragged on Winters a bit for that actually if I remember the book correctly.

    [–]Moregunsthanpatience 2 points3 points ago

    I served with a large number of Asians, Blacks, Southerners, and a couple people from Detroit. You would not believe how normal it was for me to walk into a room and be greeted with "Hey Jew.", "What's up Kyke.", "Honky.", "Yankee", ect. Just the same as it was for us to call our Asian friends "Chink", black friends "Nigger", southerners "cousin-fucker", and tell the guy from Detroit not to steal anything while we were gone.

    As much as it might make someone on the outside looking in cringe, those slant eyes, coons, cousin fuckers, and thieves were the best friends I could ever ask for.

    [–]angertrain 1 point2 points ago

    This is actually somewhat normal in many close circles, that's true.

    [–]caucasian88 9 points10 points ago

    Taken from wikipedia

    Cpl. Hoobler was killed when a pistol he had taken from a dead German snagged on a piece of barbed wire, causing it to fire.[3] The bullet entered his thigh, severing a major artery, and he died of blood loss

    From what I understand about the Luger, instead of altering the gun they altered the holster to make it protect the gun more. What flaw are you talking about specifically?

    [–]loansindi 13 points14 points ago

    The one where it goes bang if you pull the trigger, obviously.

    [–]Akira_kj 0 points1 point ago

    Any pre-trigger safety gun had that problem. The only notable safety issue on the p08 is that you can easily fire it even when its trigger has been removed and the pistol is partially disassembled. There is no more inherent dangers than any other hammerless auto pistol.

    [–]k3nnyd 0 points1 point ago

    This was probably just a movie exaggeration, but wasn't it a Luger that Indiana Jones uses in The Last Crusade when he shoots through 3 people with 1 bullet? Maybe that was a higher caliber weapon, but I always thought German pistols were quite powerful since seeing that movie.

    [–]Gark32 1 point2 points ago

    very movie exaggeration. it may MAY be possible to punch through two people and hit a third with a not 9mm, but it would have to be FMJ, which would make a nice neat hole but probably not kill anyone for at least a while.

    [–]gabbagool 1 point2 points ago

    No

    [–]MrGoodbytes 3 points4 points ago

    It was horrible: jammed, easily fired, and you had to completely reacquire your target since the action blocks the sights.

    Walther P38 was a far better choice.

    [–]DrakeGmbH 1 point2 points ago

    I don't notice the target acquisition taking any longer with my P.08 than my P.38. The muzzle rise pushes the front sight off target with both guns during recoil. The toggle moves so quickly you can barely see it. If anything the small rear sight notch is the biggest hindrance to quick target acquisition - the P.38's sights are much larger and clearer.

    [–]MrGoodbytes -1 points0 points ago

    Then maybe it was just me. I loved the P38 and regard the P08 as ... well... more of a piece of art than a weapon.

    [–]Ausgeflippt 0 points1 point ago

    When a handgun recoils, you have to reacquire your target anyways regardless of what handgun it is.

    The P38 also had much of its action exposed and had a fairly complicated dual recoil-spring system.

    The P38 won out because it was cheaper and easier to produce, not because it was a better gun.

    [–]ABirdOfParadise 3 points4 points ago

    Well you can see how much it's used in modern firearms. It's not as efficient, or simple as having pieces sliding back and forth.

    [–]erock0546 1 point2 points ago

    From what I remember, that's the biggest fault of the Lugar. I remember reading that it was highly unreliable.

    [–]Ausgeflippt 0 points1 point ago

    It was plenty reliable. Reliable enough that when there weren't enough rifles to go around, many soldiers had a handgun as their primary weapon.

    Also, it's Luger.

    load more comments (4 replies)

      [–]Bravetoasterr 6 points7 points ago

      The greatest thing about this .gif, is the rippling shock wave through the hand. The trigger finger pulls, and from the knuckles of his other fingers the wave starts to travel toward his wrist.

      [–]RickyBigRigs 6 points7 points ago

      Quick, stick your finger in the triangle!

      [–]aramid 2 points3 points ago

      Quick, stick your finger up inside the rear of your normal pistol's slide!

      [–]Akira_kj 1 point2 points ago

      You hardly even see the toggle move when you fire one.

      [–]0replace4displace 23 points24 points ago

      Holy shit, that's bonkers cool. Having not known this was the way they ejected spent cartridges, Lugers just became tits².

      [–]d_wootang 21 points22 points ago

      You're going to love the Hino Komura pistol then, it has a blow forward mechanism.

      Vid here: http://youtu.be/IelUFboWuOA

      [–]gyrorobo 1 point2 points ago

      That's too cool! I want to see that thing fired in slow motion!

      [–]d_wootang 0 points1 point ago

      Dunno if we'll ever see anything like that, I remember looking after I first saw the video; apparently those pistols are extremely rare, and finding one of those in firing condition with an owner who will let someone fire it seems impossible.

      [–]leakybutts 7 points8 points ago

      It is really cool, they go STRAIGHT up. Sometimes on the way back down the empty brass will bounce off the top of the gun.

      [–]JakesGunReviews 5 points6 points ago

      P38 goes nearly straight back: sucks for right-handed shooters because it ejects to the left... sucks for left-handed shooters because it's got right-hand-only safety and slide controls.

      Still love the P38, though, and a Luger is definitely on the "to get" list.

      [–]OBLIMINON 5 points6 points ago

      Bonkers has just re-entered my lexicon. I can't believe I've neglected that word for so long.

      [–]TomTheGeek 3 points4 points ago

      I love that word.

      [–]OBLIMINON 1 point2 points ago

      Haha.. that show was awesome.

      [–]andrewsmith1986 84 points85 points ago

      That is a marvel of engineering.

      It's beautiful.

      [–]n1c0_ds 54 points55 points ago

      I disagree. It was more cumbersome, less efficient and more expensive to manufacture.

      In other words, it was not a feat of engineering, but a clever mecanism.

      [–]DrFourton 100 points101 points ago

      Yeah, but it's cool as fuck.

      [–]qweoin 13 points14 points ago

      Valid point.

      [–]NismoJase 0 points1 point ago

      Represents so much history in the palm of your hand. I want.....

      load more comments (59 replies)

        [–]TH0UGHTP0LICE 4 points5 points ago

        Yeah first time I held one I had a friend show me how to chamber a round.

        Spent the next half hour just looking at the mechanism.

        Those kooky Huns!

        If you havent held a Luger, get your hands on one. Soooo comfy. They mold to your hands.

        [–]ChaplnGrillSgt 3 points4 points ago

        The only shot that was able to be fired before jamming. I have fired a handful of Lugers and every one could only get off 3-4 rounds max before jamming.

        [–]rugerlugershooter 3 points4 points ago

        Were these Lugers with matching part #'s? I have a matching .30 Luger and in the 400 rounds I have put through it it has never failed to fire, extract or load. They were hand made so I could see where swapping parts around could cause reliability problems.

        [–]ChaplnGrillSgt 1 point2 points ago

        They all belong to buddies of mine so I'm not really sure. I know what you're saying though.

        [–]rugerlugershooter 1 point2 points ago

        Just curious. I have never shot any others but the one my grandpa handed down to me. Mine is very well worn and broken in so that may have something to do with it as well. I wonder if .30 has more recoil to cycle the action? I hear the 9mm's need a hotter load to cycle well. Where is DrakeGHMB when we need him?

        [–]Akira_kj 1 point2 points ago

        I only shoot Winchester target retail loads in my G date luger. Only ever had issues with cheap reloaded crap ammo so I just avoid that issue and run ammo I trust. Same issue with same ammo in my glock 17. Otherwise zero issues with it.

        [–]Bikewer 3 points4 points ago

        This actually goes back to the very dawn of auto-pistol design, and it was pretty much a marvel of engineering. It was based on the older and bulkier Borchardt design, with a big spring housed in an extension behind the qrip. Luger refined and compacted Borchardt's system, and the iconic Luger pistol resulted. Many don't know that when the US army went looking for an auto pistol, Luger furnished prototypes in .45 ACP. That's the tests/trials that resulted in the adoption of the M1911. As I recall, there were only three of the .45 Luger prototypes produced, and only two remain... Vastly valuable. They failed the trials... Too susceptible to dirt and dust.

        The action is a marvel of engineering and tooling, but is expensive to manufacture and requires a lot of hand-fitting and care to make function properly.

        [–]purdueracer78 8 points9 points ago

        Sweet action!

        Also, why is everyone saying tits again? I feel like i'm in 5th grade.

        [–]ProjektTHOR 7 points8 points ago

        ctrl-f tits: 3 of 3. One of which is yours and one is mine

        [–]purdueracer78 1 point2 points ago

        I've seen it on other threads within this subreddit.

        [–]Ihavetheinternets 1 point2 points ago

        Tits. 4 of 4.

        [–]NineMil 7 points8 points ago

        We have a sophomoric sense of humor.

        [–]whatthefuckguys 2 points3 points ago

        You might say that our jokes are fitting for the junior league.

        [–]Imtheone457 0 points1 point ago

        I think this gun is tits, and I thin most guys think this gun is tits

        [–]MaxPowers1 0 points1 point ago

        You'd be surprised (as I was) to find out how many 5th graders are Redditors.

        [–]purdueracer78 0 points1 point ago

        but.... but... on r/guns? :/

        [–]bologna_sammich 0 points1 point ago

        if you don't start em early, you end up with air soft mall ninjas with empty plate carriers on.

        [–]purdueracer78 0 points1 point ago

        Keep them around guns, away from forum like sites.

        [–]taurus45 2 points3 points ago

        Its like the VW of firearm actions "need to change a drive belt?, REMOVE FRONT OF CAR"

        [–]boatplane 2 points3 points ago

        What an elegant, smooth, inefficient, and jamming prone mechanism.

        [–]Gewehr43 2 points3 points ago

        They made a handsome, but exceptionally problematic rifle based on the toggle design as well.

        [–]agnosticnixie 0 points1 point ago

        The pistol was no less problematic when used on the front during ww1.

        [–]AndyRooney 5 points6 points ago

        Dat mechanical recoil.

        [–]stopsayingdat 0 points1 point ago

        Please.

        [–]Iwokeupwithoutapillo 2 points3 points ago

        Dat novelty account

        [–]agnosticnixie 0 points1 point ago

        Das?

        [–]Tovarishch -1 points0 points ago

        Fantastic picture.

        [–]Anal_Justice_League 1 point2 points ago

        I have to be honest I had no idea the action worked that way. That's awesome...thanks for the gif!

        [–]Ozzy73 1 point2 points ago

        Interesting to see how much the gun flips up because of this design.

        [–]Akira_kj 1 point2 points ago

        Less than a Glock 17 with the same ammo. The toggle slamming forward brings the barrel back down.

        [–]That0neGuy 0 points1 point ago

        Related Video.

        [–]Nushif 1 point2 points ago

        I used to really really want one.

        ThennI shot one and because it felt so damn odd I was cured. Recoil is super mild and it is really accurate, but it feels like it just kinda ... Skips straight up?It just bunnyhops straight up every time you shoot it. So odd.

        [–]Akira_kj 1 point2 points ago

        Its a different stance and hold than newer pistols. One arm straight out strong shoulder forward. Makes a world of difference.

        [–][deleted] ago

        [deleted]

        [–]Akira_kj 5 points6 points ago

        Edit: the deleted above was "wonder how many Jews and Americans this gun killed?"

        Less than traffic accidents.

        [–]Kamarunga 0 points1 point ago

        only high ranking officers had a Luger. So the question should be how many times was a luger near when death/executions orders where given.

        [–]Ashcrexl 1 point2 points ago

        Somehow this WWI pistol mechanism looks like the most futuristic thing ever.

        [–]Endevour 1 point2 points ago

        TIL the barrel and upper assembly moves on the Luger. Fascistnating!

        [–]Akira_kj -1 points0 points ago

        So does the p38 and most modern auto pistols.

        [–]Endevour 0 points1 point ago

        I always was under the impression that the barrel was fixed, due to the toggle-locked mechanism.

        [–]BattleHall 0 points1 point ago

        That'd be true if it were a toggle-delayed blowback (toggle providing momentary mechanical disadvantage to the bolt), but it's an actual locked action, so both the breech and the barrel recoil together before unlocking.

        [–]Jorgwalther 0 points1 point ago

        Ah I love my Luger.

        [–]greenmandoo 1 point2 points ago

        Ah, craftsmen ingenuity at it's finest. :D

        [–]Tofu24 0 points1 point ago

        It's beautiful. I don't know anything about guns, do they still make these or is this purely a historical artifact at this point?

        [–]DrakeGmbH 2 points3 points ago

        No one makes Parabellums these days. The last attempt was a stainless steel American Eagle with an investment cast frame. These had quite a few reliability and durability problems. If you want a Luger, it's best to buy an original.

        There was a run in the 1970's by Mauser imported by Interarms which was made on Swiss tooling which aren't too shabby. Not a whole lot cheaper than an original these days, though.

        [–]Tofu24 0 points1 point ago

        Thank you for your detailed and informative post!

        [–]kingxhall 0 points1 point ago

        orgasmic

        [–]LongLiveThe_King 0 points1 point ago

        German engineering continues to amaze and enthrall me.

        [–]makeyourownsalad 0 points1 point ago

        what is that, a howitzer for ants?

        [–]Rementoire 0 points1 point ago

        I had no idea that the action worked like this!

        [–]shasnyder20 0 points1 point ago

        Anyone else just seen Cloud Atlas? I'm sure this is the gun in it..

        [–]kimber48 0 points1 point ago

        Dat action!

        [–]Anticlimax1471 0 points1 point ago

        At exactly the same time the gun went off in that gif, a massive firework went off outside my house. It was pretty fucking awesome.

        [–]19peter96r 0 points1 point ago

        I wonder how different (and bizare) pistols might have evolved if not for the 1911 becoming the gold standard design. Perhaps lots of weird designs like the Luger might have become common.

        [–]Redeye420 0 points1 point ago

        DAE read this as "Laser pistol"? Maybe I've been playing too much XCOM..

        [–]Frankeh 0 points1 point ago

        I had no idea that the luger used that kind of action..

        [–]Alexiumz 0 points1 point ago

        Dat action.

        [–]RAPES_YOU_GENTLY 0 points1 point ago

        I feel the trigger pull should have been included. I keep waiting for it to happen but it never does.

        [–]chasemedown 0 points1 point ago

        so how does the rear sight manage to stay zeroed in after repeated firing?

        [–]x---x--x-x 1 point2 points ago

        I think the prime directive for German firearm manufacturers was to first make the gun look as awesome and evil as possible, with functionality being a secondary consideration.

        [–]Seyss 1 point2 points ago

        Is this the gun that kills like 10 jews in a line with one shot?

        [–]RedPony51 0 points1 point ago

        Goodness gracious, what a sexy action this pistol has.

        [–]Khanartist911 0 points1 point ago

        A beautiful piece of German ingenuity.

        [–]2773625 1 point2 points ago

        Leave it to the Germans to over engineer their guns and tanks. It certainly looked awesome, but over-engineering leads to complications should some little thing go wrong.

        [–]kyraycverd 0 points1 point ago

        You say this, but they have made very reliable firearms.

        [–]2773625 0 points1 point ago

        probably, but their tanks were known to fail in poor weather. over-engineering is usually bad, but there are probably some exceptions

        [–]agnosticnixie 0 points1 point ago

        From the Luger P-08 to the HK G11, most gun made by a german company not called Walther or Mauser has been an overengineered nightmare that took to battlefield conditions like a fish to molasses.

        load more comments (8 replies)

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