[Ponyman]

Hi marl, and welcome to the Forum!

It's not a Luger, although it's often mistakenly called a "baby Luger" because of the physical resemblance. But it's not a "fake", either. What it is: exactly how it is marked - an Erma KGP-68 in .380 Auto. The "A" indicates the modified model: it has a magazine safety - won't fire unless the lever in the cut-out for the left magazine knob is pushed up - required by GCA '68. It differs from the Luger in that it is not a locked-toggle action. The toggle knobs don't lift the middle axle of the toggle to release the breechblock: it's a straight blow-back action. The design was inspired by the Luger, and the original intent was to chamber it for 9mm Parabellum. But the recoil spring necessary for a blow-back in 9mm Luger makes it impossible to cycle the action by hand, so you can't chamber the first round. It won't de-**** the way a Luger will, and both the recoil and the firing pin springs get completely removed during a field-strip. The production run was 1968 to sometime in the '70s. With a 5-round mag, it's not the weapon of choice in a fire-fight - but it's a nice (and cheap) little shooter. It was also offered in 32 ACP with a 6-round mag. There is also a KGP-69 in .22 Long Rifle, with an 8-round mag - and slightly larger dimensions - which was introduced in 1969. If you'd like a pair of checkered brown plastic grips (with right-handed thumb rest) for your gun, see eBay item 7249303494 (not my item).

~Dave