Bob Wright
Hawkeye
As a result of some recent articles in The American Rifleman I've gotten interested in these pistols and been studying them. Many designs were of German origin, no surprise as I think every German mechanical engineer of the day tried his hand at designing an auto loading pistol. While the Anglo American folks were contented with their big caliber revolvers, especially Colts and Webleys, Europeans were trying their hand at the auto loader.
Looking at early designs they exhibit two things in common: (1) Their grips mimicked revolver grips of the day, small and curvy. This necessitated locating the magazine in front of the trigger guard assembly, as the grips could not accommodate the magazine. (2) Internal magazines were favored, loaded by stripper clips or chargers. Most early pistols had clip slots for use of stripper clips, even if the pistol had a detachable magazine. One pistol loaded the clip en bloc, and when the last round was chambered, the clip was allowed to drop free. One pistol retained this clip until it was allowed to drop free through a trap door in the butt.
One pistol was a blow forward design, in which the barrel moved forward leaving the breech block stationary.
John Browning's design always had a detachable magazine, inserted through the butt of the pistol. His reason for that location was that "..one hand can always find the other, even in the dark."
The designs of Hugo Borchardt and John Browning remain the most enduring of the early efforts.
Interesting study to me.
Bob Wright
Looking at early designs they exhibit two things in common: (1) Their grips mimicked revolver grips of the day, small and curvy. This necessitated locating the magazine in front of the trigger guard assembly, as the grips could not accommodate the magazine. (2) Internal magazines were favored, loaded by stripper clips or chargers. Most early pistols had clip slots for use of stripper clips, even if the pistol had a detachable magazine. One pistol loaded the clip en bloc, and when the last round was chambered, the clip was allowed to drop free. One pistol retained this clip until it was allowed to drop free through a trap door in the butt.
One pistol was a blow forward design, in which the barrel moved forward leaving the breech block stationary.
John Browning's design always had a detachable magazine, inserted through the butt of the pistol. His reason for that location was that "..one hand can always find the other, even in the dark."
The designs of Hugo Borchardt and John Browning remain the most enduring of the early efforts.
Interesting study to me.
Bob Wright
