General Name?
 

I was thinking about the name "Luger" recently. I know it's not an official name for our pistols in any way and never has been during the "lifetime" of the gun.

Is there any other "official" designation that can be used in a generic sense for a Luger? I mostly refer to it as Parabellum but I'm not sure if that is not specific to the WWI Lugers?

I think that "P08" is a common term.

Charlie

P.08 'Pistole.08' is the correct term. Parabellum designates the cartridges it was chambered in, 7.65MM (.30 Luger) Parabellum and 9MM Parabellum (9MM Luger).

Fritz, The Latin name Parabellum (prepare for war) was the official name and teletype (pre fax or email) address used by DWM. IMHO the PO8 term, indicates a military 9mm luger with a 4" (100mm) long barrel. TH

The official name was the selfloading pistol 'Parabellum' or simply the Parabellum pistol.

Parabellum was intended as a brand name for the firearms that DWM produced. Over the years, this brand name idea vanished and the pistol became known as the "Parabellum".

Personally, I think that the phrases "Luger", "the Luger pistol", 'Parabellum' and 'the Parabellum pistol' are all acceptable generic names for the gun.

P08 is reserved for the German military type (9mm, no grip safety, military style), just as LP08 and 'Navy' or 'Navy Luger' are associated with other models.

P08 did not come into usage untill the German Army accepted the pistol as it's replacement sidearm in 1908.

Most German weapons are designated by year of acceptance in the Army. P35-MP38-M37-MP44 on and on.

As Vlim notes Parabellum was an early brand name but the designation has a progression.. and ultimately in the USA... Luger is more common than the European designation of Parabellum or P08.

Jerry Burney

Thanks guys, that clarifies it a bit. I know that Luger is the common name, but it's also not an official name so I was just curious. I was also betting my money on Parabellum it seems to be more like a crossover between the cartridge and the pistol it was designed for so I'm good with these two names :)

It sure depends on where you are. You go to gun shows and ask to see their parabellum and they'll look at you like you're an idiot.

Tascher patended / copyrited the name "Luger" in the early 1900's in the USA, so in the USA it has become known as the luger.

As Tom said, a P08 is a 4 inch military, a p04 is a early navy, a LP08 is an artillery, etc.

Let alone "old fashioned names" for the luger, such as model 1914 (with a stock lug) etc. alll depends on who you talk to.


Ed

ALCON

If we are taking a vote, I think Ed said it the best.

Out.

Mike Dunham

Para is actually a better name. Luger sounds too close to Ruger. But convention is powerful.

Or as Mauser wrongfully suggested at the time of the reintroduction in 1969: '.38 luger', lol.

The first time that I read the name Parabellum was from Russian novel "Судьба человека". A Russian soldier was captured by German during the war (WWII) and he was recycled to serve a German Major as a car driver. He finally knocked out the German and returned to his home. The German Major carried a "Parabellum"..... cool name for a pistol.

http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A1%...1%D1%82%D1%8C)

Alvin
I didn't know they spoke Russian in Madagascar?
Bob