IMAGES Dissemination/Reproduction
1893 – Borchardt C-93
Patented by the German Hugo Borchardt in 1892, it was the first pistol to self-load using the recoil energy of the ammunition. Despite this balcony, only 3 thousand units were produced. Depending on the condition, such a relic can be worth up to US$ 100,000!
1896 – Mauser C-96
“Expelled” Borchardt from the market by offering more robustness and magazine for ten projectiles (instead of just seven). In addition, it came in different calibers. It was the favorite of the statesman Winston Churchill and, so reliable, it was used by the Soviets until the Afghan War (1979-1989)
1903 – Browning 1903
American John Moses Browning created his first gun at the age of 13. They have, for example, the Browning .50 machine gun and the BAR rifle. That year, he launched the 1903. Compact and ergonomic, it had a straight bolt system (the upper part moved with the recoil gases) copied since then.
1908 -Luger P8
Most famous item in the lineage started in 1900 by George Luger. It was more stable, thanks to a revolutionary spring system, which reduced recoil (that impact backwards when the gun is fired). Luger also created the 9 mm Parabellum ammunition, which became a world standard.
1909 -M1911
Selected by the US Army in 1911 and also known as the Colt. 45, the M1911 went through both World Wars and continued to be used until Operation Desert Storm (in the Gulf War in 1990). To this day it is considered by many shooters to be the best pistol in history.
1929 -PPK
The German Karl Walther revolutionized the sector by creating the PPK, which was lighter, more compact and discreet. And it had an innovative safety lock, which activated a metallic lock and made it impossible to fire even if the trigger was pressed. Double fame: it’s a favorite of James Bond and was used by Adolf Hitler in his suicide
1938 -Walther P-38
The German armed forces include the Walther P-38 (also created by Karl Walther) in their arsenal. In addition to being cheaper and easier to produce, it was the first double-action service pistol. That is, it allowed the part known as the “dog” to be already retracted, facilitating an immediate shot with a mere pull of the trigger.
1976 -Beretta 92F
The famous Italian pistol appears. Nine years later, it replaces the M1911 as the official pistol of the US Armed Forces. In addition to having a comfortable grip and an ambidextrous lock, it carries 17 cartridges (instead of the Colt’s seven) and, in a test, it has already fired 7,000 shots without any malfunction.
1982 – Glock
Created by an Austrian cutlery company, it was the first production pistol partially made of polymer plastic. This earned her the reputation of being invisible to metal detectors (but that’s not true: she also uses steel in her composition). It has become a favorite of law enforcement and military forces around the world.
2014 -Armatix iP1
This German creation only shoots if it is wielded by the “owner”, identified by a wristwatch that emits a communication signal with the weapon. If the two gadgets are not talking (that is, if someone disarms the wielder), an LED on the gun turns blue, indicating the lockup. The American brand Colt is working on a similar prototype, with a ring in place of the watch.
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SOURCES Books Guns: A Visual Historyby various authors, and Visual Encyclopedia of Small Armsby Martin Dougherty
CONSULTANCY Everett Deger, Director of Marketing, Walther Arms Inc., Belinda Padilla, Armatix USA, and Colt International