Baby Luger

[Patrick]

Werle wrote the following description (my translation):


I would call this a â??Mini Lugerâ?� in contrast to Georg Luger�´s â??Baby Lugerâ?�. After a hundred years of development, it is now time to re-produce this early Luger prototype. A Mini Luger was made by DWM in the 1920s in 9mm short and 7.65 Browning under the supervision of August Weiss and was often called a â??Baby Modelâ?�. Ninety years ago, Georg Luger also had a compact, custom made Parabellum pistol for his personal use.


The middle part of the grip frame was shortened on these pistols and a parallel segment was removed. Both parts were then silver soldered back together. The magazine contained seven rounds. The length of the barrel was 80 mm (3 1/4 inches) and the wooden grips for this model were custom made.


After the War, the pistol was taken to the United States. Later, Georg Luger jun. identified it as his father�´s personal weapon.


The legendary U.S. gunsmith John Martz also developed a special, shortened version of the Luger with a 2 inch barrel and a shortened grip for seven rounds as well as a .45 ACP caliber Luger and a Luger carbine.


If it were possible to further shorten the grip to take only six rounds, the general impression would have been more compact and more attractive.


The present pistol looks neat and compact and creates the impression that not just the barrel and the frame are smaller, but that the receiver has been shortened as well. This was the result of a lucky coincidence in that the stock lug provided the necessary thickness so that shaft for the shortened recoil spring could be milled further into the frame.


Although we were at first apprehensive, hardly any changes were necessary for the prototype to function perfectly (approximately four hundred rounds have been fired). The enclosed target group shows that the Mini Luger is in no way lacking in comparison with the full-scale model.


The pistol has been proof-fired by the official German authorities. Lapua 320 m/s ammunition is recommended.