Krieghoff: Lugers for the Luftwaffe

Published on October 20, 2021
Duration: 13:40

This video delves into the history and specifics of the Krieghoff Luger, a pistol commissioned by the Luftwaffe. It highlights Krieghoff's origins as a Luger manufacturer, their subcontracting work during the Weimar era, and the high-quality tooling they developed for the Luftwaffe contract. The review emphasizes the exceptional craftsmanship and parts interchangeability of these pistols, contrasting them with other Luger variants, and clarifies their actual usage within the Luftwaffe, noting they were more common with ground crews than pilots.

Quick Summary

Krieghoff Lugers are renowned for their exceptional quality and parts interchangeability, a rarity for the Luger platform. While designated for the Luftwaffe, they were primarily issued to ground crews and paratroopers, not pilots. Total production reached 13,825 units, with 12,200 for military use.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Krieghoff Company Origins
  2. 01:52Weimar Era and Subcontracting
  3. 02:19Luger Tooling History
  4. 03:33The Luftwaffe Contract
  5. 04:47Quality and Interchangeability
  6. 06:48Production Numbers and Markings
  7. 11:27Luftwaffe Usage

Frequently Asked Questions

What made Krieghoff Lugers stand out from other Luger models?

Krieghoff Lugers are distinguished by their exceptional quality and remarkable parts interchangeability, a rarity for the Luger platform at the time. This precision manufacturing impressed the Luftwaffe and contributed to Krieghoff's significant expansion.

Who actually used the Krieghoff Luger pistols designated for the Luftwaffe?

Contrary to popular belief, Krieghoff Lugers were rarely issued to pilots. They were primarily distributed to ground crews, paratroopers (Fallschirmjäger), and personnel serving in anti-aircraft batteries.

What was the total production of Krieghoff Lugers for the Luftwaffe contract?

Krieghoff produced a total of 13,825 Luger pistols. Of these, 12,200 were supplied to the military under the Luftwaffe contract, while 1,625 units were sold commercially.

How did Krieghoff obtain the tooling to manufacture Lugers?

Krieghoff created its own high-quality tooling for the Luftwaffe contract. This tooling was based on a worn-out set originally belonging to Simson, which itself had acquired tooling from Erfurt.

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