Automatic, 9mm caliber, Parabellum semi automatic pistol, with its original holster and 12 cartridges
Made by Luger and Borchardt, Germany, 1918
George Luger worked as a engineer and demostrator for Borchardt and soon realised the limitations of the Borchardt pistol. Luger and Borchardt worked on a new design together and took out a new patent in 1900. The large return sring was now housed inside the butt which was re-designed to slope at an angle of fourty-five degrees. When the arm was raised the pistol came into the firing position automatically. In 1901 the pistol was adopted by the Swiss Government and officially called the 'Pitole Parabellum'. In 1902 the standard barrel was reduced from 4.75" to 4" and its caliber changed to accept the Luger 9mm cartridge. In 1904 a 6" barrel version was adopted by the German Navy. Later versions had barrels up to 24" long and could accept snail drum magazines
