Borchardt C-93
Ludwig Loewe & Company / Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken (DWM) · Pistol · Out Of Production · 1893
Also known as: C93, Borchardt Selbstlade-Pistole, Borchardt Pistole 1893
Overview
The Borchardt C-93 was the world's first commercially successful semi-automatic pistol, designed by Hugo Borchardt in 1893 and produced by Ludwig Loewe & Company (later DWM) in Berlin. Based on the Maxim toggle-lock mechanism, it introduced the concept of a detachable box magazine in the grip - a feature that would define semi-automatic pistols for the next 130 years. It used the bottlenecked 7.65x25mm Borchardt cartridge, which itself became the parent case for the famous 7.63x25mm Mauser. While unwieldy due to its near-vertical grip and rear-heavy balance, it directly inspired Georg Luger to refine the design into the Luger P08.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1163 g (41.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 356 mm (14.02") |
| Barrel Length | 196 mm (7.72") |
| Action Type | Short Recoil |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 8 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 385 m/s (1263 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 407 J (300 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 50 m (55 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Slide Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 7.65x25mm Borchardt · primary — also known as 7.65 Borchardt, 7.65mm Borchardt
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Toggle Lock Action, Detachable Grip Magazine, Shoulder Stock Attachment, Leather Holster Stock Combo
Service history
Operators
- German Empire (limited trials)
- Ottoman Empire
Production
Estimated total produced: 3,100 · Production years: 1894-1902
Approximately 1,100 by Ludwig Loewe & Co. and ~2,000 by DWM after the 1896 merger. Production ceased once Georg Luger's refined Parabellum design (P08) entered production.
Origin
Country of origin: Germany
Designer: Hugo Borchardt
Discontinued: 1902
Notes
Approximately 3,000 produced in total: about 1,100 by Loewe and roughly 2,000 by DWM. Often sold with a wooden shoulder stock/holster combination similar to the later Mauser C96.
Background
The Borchardt C-93 is the firearm that started the modern handgun era - every magazine-fed semi-automatic pistol in existence traces its lineage back to it. Hugo Borchardt himself reportedly refused to redesign the unwieldy grip, which is why his employer's young engineer Georg Luger went off and built his own version: the Luger P08.