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Title:	PISTOL, SEMI-AUTOMATIC -  GERMAN PISTOL LUGER LANGE P.08 ARTILLERY 9MM SN# 9205
Maker/Manufacturer:	LUGER, GEORG
Date of Manufacture:	1917
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:	SPAR 861
Measurements:	OL: 31.1CM 12 1/4" BL: 19.6CM 7 3/4" 2 lbs. 3 oz. empty

Object Description:

GERMAN PISTOL LUGER LANGE P.08 ARTILLERY 9MM SN# 9205
Manufactured by DWM, Berlin, Germany in 1917 - Standard German WWI, semi-automatic "Artillery" Luger (1914 long barrel). Short-recoil operated. Tangent-rear sight with sight graduated to 800 meters. The fitting of the sight required that a lateral step had to be cut into the barrel ring at the front of the frame. Weapon can be equipped with 8-round or 32-round drum magazine. Weapon weighs approximately 2 lbs. 3 oz.
Cartridge: 9mm Parabellum.

Markings:
Barrel: 8811c/8.83.
Frame: 9205.
Slide: 8811, 1917, commercial and government proofs.
Toggle:14, DWM (script).

Exhibit label: "MAGAZINE LOADED SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL - Magazines increased the ready supply of ammunition available to the gun, and reduced loading time. The long barrelled version of the P-08 was the first Luger to use the 32-shot snail magazine. This pistol is considered to be one of the most accurate long-range handguns in the world, particularly when used with a detachable shoulder stock."

Notes: "Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabrik - Established in 1872 and one of the two major sources of German ammunition,the famous DWM." - Colonel Robert E. Gardner

"The Lange P 08 was adopted in 1913 and manufacture commenced by the Prussian Royal Arsenal at Erfurt and by Deutshe Waffen u. Munitionsfabriken in 1914. Manufacture ceased by Erfurt in late 1914 and continued at DWM until 1918.... About 205,000 were procured by the Army.
The longer barrelled military P 08s were issued with a shoulder stock, holster, tool, cleaning rod and later a 32 round drum magazine (trommel magazine) and drum loading tool. The combination of pistol, stock and drum magazine formed a formidable source of mobile close range fire power and its success led to the development of the first submachine gun, MP18I, later in in the war.
The Lange P 08 was issued to artillerymen, airmen, machine gun units and others. According to Walther (1977, pg. 27) many were withdrawn from the artillery and reissued to the Navy's gunboat crews towards the end of the war." - Jan C. Still

"Developed by Georg Luger of Germany, the famous toggle action pistol is actually based on an improvement of a design by Hugo Borchardt, onetime gunmaker and resident of Connecticut. The Borchardt, it would seem, was in turn based on a crank operated machine gun of the Civil War, invented by a chap named Barnes." - William E. Meuse, NPS Curator

References:
Davis, Aaron. THE LUGER HANDBOOK. Krause Publications. Iola, Wi. 1997.
Gardner, Robert E. SMALL ARMS MAKERS. Crown Publishers, Inc. N.Y., N.Y. 1963.
Still, Jan C. THE PISTOLS OF GERMANY AND ITS ALLIES IN TWO WORLD WARS. Vol. I. Jan C. Still. Douglas, Alaska. 1982.
Walter, John. THE LUGER STORY: THE STANDARD HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS HANDGUN. Stackpole Books. Mechanicsburg, Pa. 2001.