Pistole Parabellum by Joachim Gortz and Geoffrey L. Sturgess

[Edward Tinker]

Pistole Parabellum by Joachim Goertz and Geoffrey L. Sturgess, edited by R. Blake Stevens.
This book has received some very controversial press on several forums. I obtained a copy of the three volumes, so I could give a fairly unbiased review of this book. Before I get into the pros and cons of the review, I will simply say that notwithstanding conflict between the authors and the publisher / editor; that this is a set of books that the Goertz estate and Geoffrey Sturgess should be proud of. It is well worth the money and I have found it very easy to read and very encompassing.


The first volume has an extensive table of contents and also an extensive index at the end of the third volume. Volume 1 is called “The Models” which discusses all the assorted models produced. Volume 2 is Manufacture, procurement and markings, while volume 3 is Accessories and Ancillaries. In the big scheme of things, you are getting three books of a set of all-encompassing information for about $125 a book. I think it is well worth the money.

From what I understand, Mr. Sturgess objected to items being moved around and subtitles added. The addition of subtitles he felt made areas of the book sound too dramatic. With this I agree, although I do not find it as objectionable as some might, but it can be a slight distraction from a serious work. Examples include; “Responsibility: Knowledge is a Two-Edged Sword” and “Lowes’ Ducks in a Row” plus “Off on a tangent; Testing new Roth and Frommer designs”.


The second issue from what I understand is that the order of what was written was changed by Mr Stevens. Since I have not seen the original manuscript, I can only go by what I have read, and the book does jump in several directions. A good example is where the Dutch luger is discussed and the following chapter discusses the Imperial Era luger, which to me should have been discussed before the Dutch lugers. In addition, the separate sub-chapters seem to skip a bit, as an example, some of the Erfurt information has to be found in many locations.


These issues withstanding, I have found only a few small mistakes and misconceptions (in my view); specifically the ‘sneak’ lugers are not discussed as the Riff contract, which many collectors presently believe; rather than as Sturgess states were leftover DWM parts and thus not marked to hide them from the liberal press and deceive people into believing they were not made by DWM or Mauser. There is also a discussion that the English firm Vickers had an entire assembly line ready to make lugers, although only 6,000 were made. The argument is pretty convincing, and I am still on the sidelines on whether I agree or not.


There are three volumes of information that is well researched, well written, and I have found no typos or mistakes (I am sure there are some, but I have not found any the last 3-4 days while reading the books). You have three books, totaling almost 1900 pages with color photographs and a huge amount of information that I can barely grasp all the information; this can be taken as a positive or a negative, as there simply is so much information to try and grasp; spread over three volumes. I specifically read the information on the Simson lugers, and found a few things that I found in line with my thinking and a few I don’t agree with. (S codes, I feel this is a misnomer, as I don’t believe that the S was a code, as in say, the byf code; since S toggles and Simson and Co toggles were made simultaneously). But although I do not believe that Sturgess has read our book Simson Lugers, he essentially came to the same conclusions we did.


Mr. Sturgess has stated that he will make a set of books that is exactly as he originally planned and I would suggest that folks buy it when it comes out. Meanwhile, these volumes appear to be must haves also.