Borchardt C-93
Encyclopedia
The Borchardt C-93 pistol was designed by Hugo Borchardt
(1844–1921) in 1893. Ludwig Loewe & Company of Berlin
, Germany, a manufacturer of machine tools, produced the C-93, a semi-automatic pistol that he had invented based upon the Maxim
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principle. He also developed the 7.65×25mm Borchardt cartridge around which the C-93 was built. The Borchardt C-93 was the first semi-automatic pistol to be made in appreciable numbers. The pistol used a toggle lock system, which meant that when the gun fired a two-piece arm rose and flexed as the gun recoiled, thus allowing the breech to unlock and release the empty cartridge case.
Although it was accurate and rapid, the Borchardt pistol was expensive to produce and unwieldy to handle due to its almost vertical grip. Furthermore, its recoil was unexpectedly powerful. Georg Luger
studied the Borchardt design and developed the Luger Parabellum pistol in the late 1890s.
The cartridge used in Borchardt C-93 Pistol inspired the development of the cartridge used for the Mauser C96
pistol (7.63×25mm Mauser
); they have the same dimensions, but the 7.63 mm Mauser is too powerful to be used in a Borchard C-93.
Hugo Borchardt
Hugo Borchardt was a firearms inventor and engineer, born in Magdeburg, Germany. He is known for his inventions of the Borchardt C-93 pistol and the Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878 rifle....
(1844–1921) in 1893. Ludwig Loewe & Company of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany, a manufacturer of machine tools, produced the C-93, a semi-automatic pistol that he had invented based upon the Maxim
Maxim gun
The Maxim gun was the first self-powered machine gun, invented by the American-born British inventor Sir Hiram Maxim in 1884. It has been called "the weapon most associated with [British] imperial conquest".-Functionality:...
toggle-lock
Blowback (arms)
Blowback is a system of operation for self-loading firearms that obtains energy from the motion of the cartridge case as it is pushed to the rear by expanding gases created by the ignition of the propellant charge....
principle. He also developed the 7.65×25mm Borchardt cartridge around which the C-93 was built. The Borchardt C-93 was the first semi-automatic pistol to be made in appreciable numbers. The pistol used a toggle lock system, which meant that when the gun fired a two-piece arm rose and flexed as the gun recoiled, thus allowing the breech to unlock and release the empty cartridge case.
Although it was accurate and rapid, the Borchardt pistol was expensive to produce and unwieldy to handle due to its almost vertical grip. Furthermore, its recoil was unexpectedly powerful. Georg Luger
Georg Luger
Georg Johann Luger was an Austrian designer of the famous Luger pistol and the 9 x 19mm Parabellum cartridge.-Early life and military service:...
studied the Borchardt design and developed the Luger Parabellum pistol in the late 1890s.
The cartridge used in Borchardt C-93 Pistol inspired the development of the cartridge used for the Mauser C96
Mauser C96
The Mauser C96 is a semi-automatic pistol that was originally produced by German arms manufacturer Mauser from 1896 to 1937...
pistol (7.63×25mm Mauser
7.63×25mm Mauser
The 7.63×25mm Mauser round was the original ammunition of the Mauser C96 service pistol. This cartridge headspaces on the shoulder of the case. The basis of this cartridge was the 7.65×25mm Borchardt cartridge of 1893, the only successful automatic pistol cartridge in production at the time...
); they have the same dimensions, but the 7.63 mm Mauser is too powerful to be used in a Borchard C-93.
