Langenhan FL Pistol

[RonR]

2728

[RonR]

2930

[RonR]

3132

[Douglas Jr.]

Nice presentation of a very unusual pistol.
Althought you can see the influence of the FN Model 1900, its mechanical features are unique.

Thanks for sharing,
Douglas

[phild]

Very nice and under rated pistol in terms of scarcity and importance to a German military pistol WWI collection. This may be lowest number that I have seen. Some early features on your is the horn grips (later hard rubber and finally wood) and the exposed ejection port...later hidden......which was very unusual. Maybe the most thin handgun that I have ever seen as well.

I will say that there is conflicting information as to how many were made, when production ceased and if any were sold commercially.

[Mijke]

Notches in the grip??

[Gustaf B]

I have heard the collector's story of this pistol being dangerous, and in the hands of a person who knows nothing about weapons or of maintaining them, I can see that it could be dangerous. But is there any historical evidence that anyone in the German military ever had a Langenhan fail in the manner we so often hear?
In my estimation, this is a well made pistol, and the reputation it has seems to be unjustified.
Best
Gus

[JoeW]

I don't know if it is a reputation for being dangerous, or a warning of a potential problem if the locking screw is not tightly secured. The only comments in books on this matter seem to be admonitions about possible danger with that screw, which is self-evident.

[Gustaf B]

That is a good point, I can see how a caution can evolve into a myth. There seems to be a sizable number of people who believe that this pistol killed many of its users due to the design of the pistol. The same thing can happen with a P'08 if it is assembled with out the toggle pin, or the Steyr M1912 if the slide wedge is forgotten. The Breach screw is in plain sight of the shooter on the Langenhan when being used, and that is a good way to check the condition.
Best
Gus

[JoeW]

I don't have a Steyr 1912 anymore, but I am thinking that a P08 cannot be assembled without the toggle pin. Slight pressure must be applied to the toggle to slide in the pin. Without the pin, I don't think you can mount the receiver/toggle assembly to the grip/frame. It will slide apart.

I don't know if it killed anyone, but I do know that I would trust the fatigue factor or wear in that single 100 year old thumb screw that is the only thing holding it together.

[Gustaf B]

Not only can the P'08 be assembled with out the toggle pin, but it will function just fine up to the point the trigger is pulled, and it is difficult to tell the pin is missing.
The screw in not what holds the breach block in place on the Langenhan, it is the bail, the screw holds the bail in place,
My thought that most of the horror stories we hear are because the weapon was not used as designed, even the Webley failures can be written off as operator error, when .45 ACP is used in them.
And the main point is that any weapon can be fatal to the user if it is improperly used or maintained.
Best
gus

[JoeW]

Well I tried on my P08 and finally pushed it together onto the frame. The firing pin spring in the breechblock link keeps pushing the toggle back to warn you of the problem. There is no comparison between the danger of a loose or worn screw which might allow the F.L. part to fail and someone absentmindedly forgetting to replace the toggle pin on the P08 and forcing the receiver/toggle train parts together and onto the frame. And even if someone managed that feat, the rear frame projection keeps the toggle from exiting the receiver.

Did Langenhan use the same design with his subsequent pistol in 6.35mm or did the design change? I thought he used a cross-bolt of some kind. And what about the Steyr 1912. Can it be assembled, cocked and fired without the cross-bolt?

[Gustaf B]

OK, I see the reason we have different results, I was referring to the pin that attaches the back of the toggle to the frame of the pistol, the rear toggle pin, not the breach block pin.
I am unfamiliar with the later Langenhan, so I can not say.
The Steyr can be assembled with out the slide wedge, granted, the slide has to be pushed forward to load a cartridge.
Now we get back to the screw failing on the Langenhan. There is no evidence that the screw ever failed, it has been noted that it can work loose and that if it is not tightened, it can become loose in as few as 16 shots, but then that many shots and one was probably dissembling the pistol for cleaning any way, at least if it was a P'08.
Best
Gus

[Admiraal]

Notches in the grip??

I was wondering about that to, i´ve seen it a few times before.
An P.38 that i own has it as well... but why? kills?