ABOUT NZAHAA Inc.and NZGS Inc

Please visit the NZAHAA website for information about the Association and how to contact one of the12 branches. The NZSG may be contacted at www.gunsmithsociety.com

If you have expertise or special knowledge on any of the arms listed in the NZ Arms Register we would be pleased to hear from you, contact John at info@gunsmithsociety.com

Thursday, January 3, 2013

NZAR # 377 Luger P 08 Pistol



NZAR # 377, ARM TYPE: Pistol. Draft date (V1) 30 Dec 2012, Compiled by John Osborne AA DTT PhD FSG,
Pattern: Luger P1908. Caliber: 9mm HP. Introduced: RNZAF 1942. Withdrawn: after WWII

Specifications: Maker: Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken (DWM) & others. Barrel: 95mm Caliber: 9x19mm, Range 50m. Action: toggle-locked recoil-operated semi-automatic pistol.  Fixed rear sight and vee foresight. Magazine: 8 round detachable. Butt machined for shoulder stock Muzzle velocity: 350 m/s. Weight: .871Kg. The Luger is well known, its use by Germans during World War I & World War II










New Zealand Service: In 1942 the P08 Lugers held in NZ Government stores were issued to RNZAF officers in the Aerodrome Defence Squadrons, order 7B/N20- Pistols Luger 1 per officer and order 12C/N20 – Small Arms Ammunition 9mm, 48 rounds per Luger Pistol.
Captured P08 Lugers were carried unofficially and used by some NZ Service personal during WWI and WWII. At the end of WWI many captured Lugers were repatriated to New Zealand both officially and by returning individual servicemen, many of these Lugers were surrendered under amnesty (and held in NZ Government store) following the 1920 Arms Act which introduced universal firearms registration and outlawed the civilian possession of machine guns, machine carbines and 'semi-automatic pistols' as well as ammunition for such arms. The outcome of the 1920 Act was the 'disappearance' of large numbers of pistols and revolvers. Many of these did not resurface until after the 1983 Arms Act which permitted their lawful possession - although in limited circumstances.

                        

Acknowledgements and special thanks to:   NZ National Achieves Military Records.   Osborne Arms Museum armsmuseum@xtra.co.nz ,Phil Cregeen.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luger_pistol

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