Beholla
Becker & Hollander · Pistol · Discontinued · 1915
Also known as: Leonhardt, Menta, Stenda
Overview
The Beholla is a German blowback semi-automatic pocket pistol chambered in .32 ACP, designed by Becker & Hollander and produced primarily by Waffenfabrik August Menz of Suhl during World War I. The name is a contraction of 'BEcker' and 'HOLLAnder'. Simple, robust and cheap to make, it was adopted as a substitute-standard sidearm for the Imperial German Army when production of the P08 Luger could not keep pace with wartime demand.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 640 g (22.6 oz) |
| Overall Length | 140 mm (5.51") |
| Barrel Length | 75 mm (2.95") |
| Height | 105 mm (4.13") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 7 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 280 m/s (919 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 180 J (133 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 25 m (27 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Slide Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .32 ACP · primary — also known as .32 Auto, 7.65mm Browning, 7.65x17mmSR
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Fixed Barrel, Striker Fired Mechanism, Simple Blowback Design
Variants
Service history
Operators
- Imperial German Army · adopted 1915
Conflicts
- World War I (1914-1918)
Production
Estimated total produced: 45,000 · Production years: 1915-1920
Approximately 45,000 produced during WWI; excludes later Leonhardt/Menta/Stenda variants
Origin
Country of origin: Germany
Discontinued: 1920
Notes
Near-identical pistols were produced under the names Leonhardt, Menta, and Stenda after wartime patent and manufacturing arrangements changed; the fixed barrel is pinned in place and requires a tool to remove for cleaning.
Background
Issued to second-line and lower-ranked German troops when Lugers and Mauser C96s ran short, the Beholla's name is simply a mash-up of its two designers' surnames, Becker and Hollander.