The Luger P08 Pistol

The Parabellum-Pistole (Pistol Parabellum), popularly (but incorrectly) known as the Luger, is a toggle locked, recoil operated, semi-automatic pistol. The design was patented by Georg J. Luger in 1898 and produced by German arms manufacturer Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken (DWM) starting in 1900; it was an evolution of the 1893 Hugo Borchardt designed C-93. The Luger was made popular by its use by Germany during World War I and World War II. Though the Luger pistol was first introduced in Parabellum, it is notable for being the pistol for which the 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge was developed. --Design-- The Luger uses a toggle-lock action, which utilizes a jointed arm to lock, as opposed to the slide actions of almost every other semi-automatic pistol. After a round is fired, the barrel and toggle assembly (both locked together at this point) travel rearward due to recoil. After moving roughly one-half inch (13 mm) rearward, the toggle strikes a cam built into the frame,