More elegant than Luger?

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by STEINBVG

You might recognize this good looking and mechanically different handgun more than likely influenced by Luger aesthetics and ergonomics.

Does anybody possess it?

It looks vaguely familiar...

The one you show is an early Finnish L-35 'Lahti' and rarely found here in the US...The Husqvarna M40 'Lahti" is fairly common...Same pistol; different country...Totally different action than the Luger.

[mrerick]

The Lahti is an interesting pistol (I have one of the "H" serial prefixed commercial version), but it is bulky, heavy and has some issues with slide cracking that required design modifications to keep it safe and operating.

The Luger was, of course, refined from the C-93's design (after Borchardt declared it "finished" and Luger asked Loewe management for the opportunity to "improve" it...). Everyone makes mistakes.

The Borchardt and Luger design derives from the Maxim toggle guns. This article will give you an idea of the progressive development of designs by Maxim that eventually incorporated the toggle principle.

http://www.victorianshipmodels.com/a...maximgun1.html

The Luger was a commercial success for DWM principally because of it's performance in the Swiss trials for replacing their revolvers with a self loading semi-automatic pistol. The Luger was one of many designs completed in the 1890's including Mauser's C-96 and a number of others. There are a small number of collectors that focus on these pre-20th century semi-automatic pistols, and they are collecting many that are "unobtainium".

As to safety, there are some design issues withe Luger that were eventually resolved with more modern designs. Walther's introduction of direct blowback single-double action pistols allowed hammer block safety designs and very compact handguns. PP, and PPK pocket pistols were preferred by many at the time they were available. Their "Army pistol", eventually the P.38, took this to the locked breech design still used in the Beretta 92F (M.9 service pistol in the USA).

In the Luger, you are holding history in your hand. I collect them because I like them for what they are and their place in the history of firearm design. They are reasonably unique, and remain landmark in their design.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by STEINBVG

Does anybody possess it?

Several of us do. Here's the definitive site on Lahti's...

http://www.gotavapen.se/gota/m40/pist40_1.htm

[sheepherder]

...But if you really want to influence women and gain the admiration of men...You want the Adler...

[tomaustin]

looks like something you would build with an erector set.....

[wlyon]

That's even more ugly than the first one. Bill

[Heinz]

The Adler is slightly less elegant than the Dreyse.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by Heinz

The Adler is slightly less elegant than the Dreyse.

I have an FN 1900, which is quite similar to the Dreyse. I like it. It's much smaller than evident from photos.

[Heinz]

I like the Browning, I like the Dreyse but not for its looks

[STEINBVG]

I like this gun and impressed with it,s design- rotating locking bolt, one main spring serving 4 functions, etc.