Famous for design and innovation, two of the most easily recognized handguns in the world, the Luger P.08 design has been around for more than a century, and the Walther P.38 remains one of the greatest handguns of all time, still relevant as a defensive sidearm 79 years after it was introduced. Both guns are also made today in .177 caliber blowback action models.
It is a foregone conclusion which handgun was the greatest American semiautomatic pistol of WWII, not quite so easy on the European front where Germany had two very successful and popular sidearms at their disposal, one, like America’s Colt Model 1911A1 came from an earlier era and had already proven its mettle under fire in WWI. This was the famous Luger Parabellum introduced in 1900; the P.08 version (without the grip safety) was introduced in 1908.read more
Luger vs. Luger – Evaluating the Umarex and Gletcher P.08 Models
By Dennis Adler
Two versions of the same design, the Umarex Parabellum P.08 (top) and Gletcher P.08 (bottom) take different approaches to their blowback action .177 caliber models.
The Luger is one of the most “available” military handguns in the world and their values can range from around $1,800 to $10,000 and up, depending upon the model, year of manufacture, the manufacturer, and of course, condition. The average price for a 95 percent condition Code 42 or byf Mauser-produced P.08 model is around the $2,000 to $3,000 mark [1], which makes the Umarex Legends .177 caliber Mauser Parabellum P.08 model a heck of a buy since it has all of the essential operating features and factory markings, right down to the number 42 stamped at the back of the toggle. This was the Mauser GmbH manufacturer’s code for military contract guns built from 1934 to 1940. After 1940 the code was changed to byf.read more
Two of a kind times two, the Umarex Legends Parabellum (toggle locked open), the Gletcher P.08 version (one of two models offered), Gletcher Russian Legends Makarov (slide locked back) and Umarex Makarov Ultra. All four are blowback action semi-autos, but none are alike!
Many of you are going, “What, why is he comparing a Luger with a Makarov?” Two reasons; both have their roots tied to military history and both have become iconic firearms. The Luger Parabellum is an evolution of a late 19th century design, the Borchardt, while the Makarov, an early post-WWII pistol, has its basis in the mid 20th century Russian Tokarev semiautomatic pistol, without which the Makarov might never have been designed. Both 1908 Luger and 1951 Makarov were being used in the post WWII era, and both remain to this day among the most significant of all European handguns, albeit the Luger with a much greater heritage than the Makarov. Both have been recreated as high-quality, blowback action .177 caliber semiautomatic air pistols, and by two different manufacturers, Umarex and Gletcher; two guns, two manufacturers, and two different approaches to the same end. Who comes out on top? You be the judge.read more
