German Pistol Innovations of the 20th Century

Germany has a rich history of innovative gunmaking, from the armories of renaissance nobility to World War 2 and the present, and Rock Island Auction Company’s Oct. 4-6 Sporting & Collector Auction has a fantastic selection of 20th century German pistols.

From the Mauser C96, designed toward the close of the 19th century to Heckler & Koch’s P7 there are plenty of fascinating examples of German pistol design. For more information about a specific gun, click on the photo.

German Pistols: C96 Broomhandle

Easily recognizable by their broom handle-shaped grip and box magazine, the semi-automatic C96 was conceived by the three Feederle brothers – Fidel, Freidrich and Josef — employed by Mauser. Company co-founder Paul Mauser initially dismissed the design before rethinking it with the advent of Hugo Borchardt’s C-93 semi-automatic pistol.

The steel-machined C96’s design was intricate for the time, raising questions about the gun’s durability during military field tests. The hand-fitted parts of the design also made the pistol expensive and therefore typically acquired by officers, generals and the wealthy elite.

This very unique C96 is a large ring 20-Shot Broomhandle Mauser pistol marked with the small “DV” and “AV” markings of the Italian Navy contract. Rather than a spur hammer, this pistol has a large ring hammer, the long extractor on top of the breech bolt, the first style safety lever that is pulled down to engage, and the “20-shot” frame forging.

The gun was never adopted by any major military power but did see limited military purchases. The gun proved popular around the world with numerous unlicensed copies produced for the commercial market. Winston Churchill carried a Broomhandle in the Second Boer War as did T.E. Lawrence (better known as Lawrence of Arabia) during his time in the Middle East. The most recognizable Broomhandle might be the modified one that became Han Solo’s DL-44 Heavy Blaster of “Star Wars: A New Hope.”

This World War 1 Imperial German C96 is a “Red 9” example of a Broomhandle. Normally chambered in 7.65mm, C96 pistols chambered in 9mm had the red “9” branded on both sides of the grip is to let the user know to use the 9mm ammunition.

German Pistols: Luger

The Luger enjoyed a long military life before attaining legendary status and popularity as a prized World War 2 war trophy. It took time and some redesigns before the German Navy and Army adopted it in 1904 and 1908, respectively. It also served as the official sidearm of the militaries of Switzerland, Holland, Bulgaria and Portugal among others. The gun was offered to the Prussian Military Ordnance Board five times before acceptance and tested by the U.S. military three times but never adopted. American test Lugers and those sold commercially in the United States bear an eagle crest atop the receiver.

This American Eagle Luger, serial number 7555, is after the generally accepted approximate 6100-7100 serial number range of the U.S. test trial Lugers but shares similar characteristics. It is listed by its serial number on page 416 of the book “Central Powers Pistols” by Jan C. Still as an example witnessed by the author with test Luger attributes that falls outside the traditional serial range, notably lacking “GERMANY” export markings.

Georg Luger’s pistol utilized many of the principles used in Hugo Borchardt’s design of the C93 but Borchardt wasn’t given any recognition, resulting in a long-time rift between the two men. The 1902 Luger like the one here was chambered in 9mm, changing handgun history. Author Fred A. Datrig considered the 1902 a bridge from the original 1900 model to the 1904 adopted by the German Navy.

This is a rare example of a DWM Model 1902 “Danzig Test” Luger from the 1902 Army Trials. It is found within the 22,200 to 22,400 serial range, produced for the Imperial German army tests of that year. Early features including a recessed breech block, dished toggles with toggle lock, narrow trigger, and grip safety. Blank chamber, and lacking the typical “DWM” monogram on the toggle link.

Following World War 1, Simson & Co., owned by a Jewish family, was given the contract to supply Lugers to the diminished 100,000-man Reichwehr and were the only supplier of pistols from 1925-1934. Simson only made 12,000 Lugers. Arthur Simson who led the company was charged with failing to pay income tax in the 1930s and imprisoned for seven months. After being released from prison he fled Germany and eventually making his way to the United States where he joined his family. The Nazis took control of the company.

This Weimar Era Simson & Co. Luger has a blank undated chamber, with “SIMSON & Co/SUHL” marked front toggle link and only proofs, part numbers and serial number on the gun parts.

German Pistol: J.P. Sauer & Sohn Model 1913 Semi-Automatic

The Luger era was lengthy so let’s work back to J.P. Sauer & Sohn, a distinguished gunmaker founded in 1751. The company’s first semi-automatic pistol was made in 1905 but didn’t bear Sauer’s imprimatur. That wouldn’t happen for nearly a decade with the Model 1913 compact pistol.

Chambered in .32 ACP, the 1913 was considered a sturdy gun, with its most distinctive feature the large knurled cocking knob at the back of the slide. The gun was intended for commercial sale but with the outbreak of World War 1, the German military purchased 10,000. Production ended in 1931 with a run of 175,000 pistols made.

This J.P. Sauer & Sohn Model 1913, chambered in .32 ACP, includes its rare original box with handwritten matching number on bottom.

German Pistol: Walther PPK

Founded in 1886, Walther started making pistols with the Model 1 in 1908. The PP came about in 1929 followed by the PPK, a compact version of the Model PP, two years later. Walther offered the PPK at a discount to Nazi Party officials. These pistols known to collectors as Party Leader pistols, were officially “Honor Weapon of the Political Leaders.”

Chambered in 7.65 mm and concealable, the pistol found new life after World War 2 especially as Agent 007 James Bond’s handgun of choice. The PPK remains in production today.

This Walther PPK, manufactured in 1939, is fitted with a reproduction party leader grip with an eagle, with its wings spread, holding a wreath with a swastika in its talons. It comes with a leather wrapped case with a similar eagle badge on the lid, a period brown leather PPK holster and several pieces of memorabilia.

German Pistol: Walter P.38

The Luger gave way to Walther’s P.38 in 1938 when it was adopted by the Wehrmacht and it was the standard German pistol during World War 2. About 1.2 million P.38 pistols were manufactured by May 1945 by Walther, Mauser and Spreewerk when the factories were captured by the Allies.

The P.38 found new life when it was adopted by the West German armed forces in 1956. A duralumin frame replaced the steel frame making the gun lighter and less expensive to manufacture.

This rare Walther P.38 is marked “480,” the code used by Walther for roughly two months of production in 1940 before it was switched to the more common “ac” code.

German Pistol: Fabrique Nationale Model 1922

Fabrique Nationale’s Model 1922 was manufactured for commercial and military use before World War 2. Chambered in 7.65mm, its German military designation was Pistole 62(b), with the “b” denoting it was made in Belgium. Germany made or assembled 363,200 of the Model 1922 before the FN plant was liberated in September, 1944. This example of the Model 1922 came to the United States as a war trophy and it is accompanied by the capture certificate.

This German occupation Fabrique Nationale Model 1922 pistol was brought back on May 28, 1945 by Col. Paul Mahaney and is accompanied by the capture certificate listing the gun by serial number as well as a Hapo 5 camera and its brown leather case decorated with a Third Reich eagle badge.

German Pistol: MP3008 Submachine Gun

A last gasp weapon, the select fire MP3008 – the MP is for maschinenpistole – was a knockoff of the Sten Mk II except that it utilized a vertical magazine like the MP40. Initially, the gun was made with a skeletal pattern stock and used phosphate components. Mauser created production drawings and tooled up its plant to make the gun in just a few weeks. More than 10,000 were made by February 1945.

The MP3008 was manufactured in the dying days of the Third Reich and this weapon is spartan like the British STEN gun it replicates, with very few markings on it. Included with the gun is a “clg 43” marked dual pouch magazine carrier set, five extra magazines and a loading tool.

German Pistol: Hecker & Koch P7

Described as the most innovative pistol design since World War 2 and advertised as “the most expensive handgun in the world,” Heckler & Koch’s P7 was designed for German police contracts for a compact pistol after the Munich Olympics terror attack. Alas, only three police forces adopted it.

An interesting feature of the pistol is the lever that serves as the frontstrap of the grip and also cocks the gun before firing. If dropped the gun decocks and won’t accidentally discharge, plus it doesn’t require a double-action first shot for more accurate shooting. H&K produced the P7 from 1976 to 1998.

In 1983, the gun was modified for a thumb lever magazine release for sale in the United States (as the P7M8) but was adopted by only a handful of departments. The P7M13 followed a year later with a magazine capacity of 13 rounds, again in an attempt to attract interest from police.

This Heckler & Koch P7 was manufactured in 1984 and includes a hard case and manual.

German Pistols for Sale

With the tragedy of two world wars and the tension of the Cold War, firearms innovations grew rapidly in the 20th century and German firearms grew, too, first as an adversary and later as an ally. These firearms from a once and still mighty military are fabulous opportunities to obtain pieces that turned the semi-automatic pistol into a mainstay of fighting forces around the world and are available in Rock Island Auction Company’s Oct. 4-6 Sporting & Collector Auction.