WWII German Handguns: Luger, Walther P38, Vis/Radom, Browning Hi-Power

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From Season 1 of TAC-TV, Ken and I discuss some of the most influential and famous German WWII handguns including the P08 Luger, Walther P38, and the Vis (Radom) as well as the Browning Hi-Power

[@dopedoge3603]

I never realized how modern the p38 looks without the long barrel

[@hdexotic1914]

yeah looks like some miniature carry pistol

[@tropicaldimitri7374]

Even p08 would look modern without the long barrel

[@gameragodzilla]

The P38’s modern counterpart is the Beretta M9, which has a similar locking block short recoil system and an open top slide.

[@claytonhess5512]

@@gameragodzilla Yep, and the only significant functional change was the mag release.

[@markanthonypar-wise1499]

Yeah the Beretta 92 series is essentially the modern version of it .

[@abracing199]

That is a hell of a mustache

[@Marty_-nx2rk]

I couldnt look away from it lol

[@Germfish]

Hell of a stupid mustache.

[@David-ft7xq]

abracing199 yessssss lol

[@anobviousreadablename8372]

Lol i was about to comment about that too😂

[@mikesintelligenceconcepts4255]

That's serious.

[@irtazaazam2573]

The Luger is so aesthetically beautiful. Seems fairly reliable too.

[@gustavmeyrink_2.0]

With new springs and army-style +P ammo it is extremely reliable in all conditions. It does not like low powered ammo. Check out the InRange mud test!

[@mothmagic1]

Never felt comfortable with the grip angle. Supposed to feel natural, in my mind only if you are deformed.

[@user-jy3zq5li4p]

germans got the coolest weapons, the luger is so great, it looks like a little hand cannon lol one of my favourites

[@WinterInTheForest]

German engineering during that time was the marvel of the world. Ally propaganda has distorted so much.

[@pixelkraut3428]

I Love the „knielader“

[@bluedogviking]

It's my dream gun I plan on buying a black widow luger and use it as my regularly at the shooting range it's such a beautiful gun I'd probably have 2 1 for display and another for carrying.

[@kanchou7698]

@@bluedogviking do not use a luger for self defense. The action doesn't like spicy 147 grain ammo, may struggle to feed hollow points, and it's a historical piece. Also in the event you do use it, it'll be taken in for evidence, marked up by the police, and possibly not come back to your hands. It was a cool and well made gun at the turn of the century, but there are far better and cheaper options today.

[@bluedogviking]

@@kanchou7698 I meant I'd bring it to the shooting range regularly I plan on buying 2 one that I'd never shoot that's more expensive and keep on display then the other one I'd like for the shooting range I plan on collecting alot of old weapons from ww1, ww2 and other guns from wars in the 1900s I'd buy 2 of each just like the pistol. The reasoning like all these old guns is becauseive had family in almost every main war even in different countries. I know I wouldn't use it as a self defense weapon I'd probably buy a glock or something I'd rather be safe then have an old gun that's more likely to jam especially because where I live its dangerous and I'd want to be able to protect my family in a worse case scenario.

[@BlueLineofthesky]

It is amazing to see how a pistol invented in 1900 is still awesome even today, after 120 years. Great quality can last for centuries.

[@FadedAllDay]

My grandfather picked up a Luger from a dead soldier and still has it till this day with bullets.

[@xxrobohorse64xx]

I thought you couldn't bring back enemy weapons to the states?

[@theloudamerican2193]

Transistor Express in ww2 it was OK. my grandfather did the same has a luger (100% complete with matching extra mag and holster) . it is an incredible piece of history. I'm sure you honor and cherish it as I do.

[@xxrobohorse64xx]

loud american i'm sure i would, hell if i even went to world war 2 my self i'd make sure to bring back a few mp-40's and k98's with me. :D

[@moc6897]

But beware! Those guns were not "for free"! Could cost your life trying to get one ... :D

[@twelveweeks9009]

Logan Polomny smuggled in his ass?

[@chronicmilitarycollector9232]

Knowing his history in the Army, It's a privilege to get to watch Mr. Vickers shoot these German handguns. Brings these guns new life to have real operators evaluating and shooting these wonderful weapons, especially the Luger (that Hi Power is sweet too, I have one with the markings, but most of the finish is gone, but I think it adds character to it, imagining some FJ or W-SS soldier was carrying it around). I also saw the Stg44 video, and I just want to say thank you for taking the time to highlight these truly historic weapons.

[@martin128]

I really love when you and Ken are testing the weapons and are talking about them.

[@brugge216]

Vis pistols captured during September 1939 became marked as Pistole 645(p), these later produced were marked as Pistole 35(p). Beautiful classic handgun :)

[@SilkyNoah]

Damn, I love me a Luger!

[@SUBARCTICPSYCHO]

What's with that nazi bullshit on your picture?

[@SUBARCTICPSYCHO]

Vit Varg Nazis are my problem, bitch. The only idiot is the one advocating for fascism.

[@1sanitat1]

Vit Varg More like semi-socialism

[@specialfart7578]

Vit Varg +cascorgi lmao yall funny

[@mindblowndudvedos3682]

michael holt ye

[@gregrainwater6701]

the P-08 is a amazing gun it does not jam. it was only replaced cause its price!

[@vonsteuben6475]

I loved my P1(P38). i was trained on this pistol in 2002. I can say, i had more fun, accuracy with this gun as later with the P8! I miss the P1

[@thewhitedeath586]

What? Trained? For ww2?

[@_kommandant_3055]

@@thewhitedeath586 The P1/P38 saw service in the German army up to 2004

[@blackcathardware6238]

Really? I hated it (in 1989). Comrade once said "If I throw it then at least I will hit something." Couldn't agree more. In basic training (Grundausb.) we had some MP2 (Uzi) and with them one was able to score +110 of 120 points - at least if one wasn't cross-eyed ;-) Was waaay before the introduction of the P8. But I hated G3, too. And loved MG3. You could cut trees with that thing.

[@chitownbangin]

@@blackcathardware6238 Thanks for the insight, very interesting!

[@abbcc5996]

@@blackcathardware6238 i used the g3 and its being held down by its ammo and size, due to USA hegemony and insistence on nato to use its own ww2 designs. all full sized battle rifles are shit by design (expect for a designated marksman). if g3 was more compact and used 8mm kurz ammo it would have been a great gun still, and maybe have a g3 family with full sized mgs and marksman rifles like we already have but make the infantry rifle an assault rifle

[@deathlegionair]

love the luger, my dad has one and it just feels good in the hand even though its missing part of the grip cover..

[@MaxwellBenson80]

Excellent video! I have a deep respect for all 4 of those firearms. I recently fired a p08 and hi power for the first time. I found the hi power to be very accurate and fun to shoot. The p08 is a work of art and has a funky action. Thanks for making this video and sharing your knowledge of these fine war horses.

[@basilbcf]

1943 P38 inherited from my WWII veteran dad when he died in 84. Mine is byf code (Mauser).

[@lancelott9171]

glad you referred to the army as the "Wehrmacht" and not "nazis"

[@jenniferrojas7024]

Frost 101 Im sick of the negativity against german warriors myself.

[@user-ok8yq6nc6x]

Well if you want to be technical the Wehrmacht was the entire armed forces including the heer (army) Luftwaffe (air force) and kriegsmarine (navy).

[@robertblake7824]

Well that's because they weren't Nazis actually in fact most of the German army didn't like what was going on within the SS,Gestapo & Einsatzgruppen that's what actually led to the operation Valkyrie the Germans started to get a clue on what was really happening and alot of em didn't care for it..but that's not to say some German soldiers actually did participate in some really really fucked up shit

[@robertblake7824]

@@UnderFried The SS wasn't a party Shutzstaffel translates into secret service basically Hitler's/Goring/Himmler's bodyguard not a party that's just like saying the Einsatzgruppen were a party they weren't they were death squads

[@Odin029]

@@robertblake7824 This is revising history a little. The Nazi Party was the elected government of Germany. It's not like they were a fringe group that came to power in a coup. I have no idea how the German military people voted, or even if they voted since military men tended to want to remain apolitical, but to think that a majority of Germans didn't back the Nazi party is silly. Look at the elections in 1933 even before the Enabling Act passed. The Nazis held an easy plurality in parliament

[@eversforgeworks]

Loving the steady stream of wicked content good sir!

[@rickbourne1376]

Interesting and well done. I remember back in the 80s when some company was going to bring back the Luger, and I questioned that for all I had every heard and read about it. "Ammo sensitive", yeah it jams. P-38, fantastic design, I really respect it. I didn't realize the Germans used Browning High Powers to the extent you infer they did. Wow, how ironic. I LOVE the Browning High power. I was my first handgun purchase.

[@VRichardsn]

You should do more segments like this. Quality work.

[@pray4mojo35]

Seeing the thumbnail had me excited thinking at first Lifesizepotato was back posting videos. Not disappointed at all after watching this video.. very informative. Great job as always Larry and Ken!

[@andyk9685]

My father as a teenager had Parabellum 08 until 1953. Thanks for VIS ;-)

[@TE4MTIGER]

that mustache is fkn epic

[@deltawhisky5977]

Ja

[@sundevilification]

My first viewing of your videos. Excellent. Thank you.

[@teagoodstuff734]

Beautiful Polish ViS

[@Ivar818]

Nasz ViS

[@operator_hoodie]

Mhm. Some guy said the VIS is a German pistol. Lol

[@teagoodstuff734]

@@operator_hoodie XD idk why. But its polish gun

[@jakeskully5637]

Nice to see some old stuff in good quality!

[@stallio5612]

I hear this regularly with German made products 'so high quality that was hard to keep production' German seems to be obsessed with quality and I am too, your is the only video which talked about the quality. I love German, japanese, Swiss and Finnish made goods.

[@stallio5612]

@@derekakaderek agree yet there is something about good quality.

[@carloparisi9945]

I love this series of videos and I hope you'll do more videos on historical weapons comparison. I'd love one on pocket pistols, comparing walther pp, mauser hsc, colt 1903, beretta 34 and browning 10/22 :)

[@ChimkenNuggers]

The Canadian Army still uses the Browning High-Power! Crazy how long some guns, particularly pistols are in service for.

[@LeeRenthlei]

Because there's no way to really upgrade it it's already good enough

[@ChimkenNuggers]

@@LeeRenthlei Hell yeah brother

[@asatrv]

The P38(P1) is still in use in the german military today!

[@BigLisaFan]

First pistol I ever fired in the army. Had a few pass through my hands, still have one.

[@wizzzer1337]

Love the accurate to the era one handed pistol hold.

[@leopoldburgos6451]

These guys are awesome, that guy with the mustache is hero 👍🏼

[@11BOOYAKISHA]

Another awesome video Larry. I really enjoy the videos where You and Ken get together and give your analysis on, and shoot weapons from the past. Any chance you will be doing a video on the Sauer 38? I know they were widely used by the Fallschirmjäger in WWII, and I am very curious having never handled one personally.

[@einefreunde]

Thanks Larry really informative video. Had no idea about the captured factory's

[@vrbas8238]

P38 is a great gun my grand grand father took one from SS officer during "43 in ex Yugoslavia.I can still shoot bottle on 40 meters with him.Awesome pistol!!!

[@ThatGuy-a48]

Poor bottle

[@steffeness1]

I know a guy that has one (P-38) with Nazi insignia, very cool

[@ChrisVellrath]

I like the presentation. I like the mustache. I like the guns. What I don't like is, the missing Fräuleins!

[@KissakiShinobi]

and the missing Walther PPK! Instead they have a Browning wtf!

[@wpherigo1]

Very interesting history. Must be fun to run them thru their paces!

[@nyc10021]

Well done video. Facts, no bs or agenda. Thanks for posting.

[@TryingtoSurvive2day]

Mr. Vickers in the opening scene of this video it appears you are a left eye dominate pistol shooter??? If so could you do a video on left eye dominance with some tips on shooting this way. Thank-you.

[@samheller8394]

P-38. By far. The perfect weapon to be turned into a double stack magazine.

[@DaljitSingh-kj2om]

sam heller ppkrk

[@coinjeremy8864]

I have a Walther P38 from WWII. I got it from my Great Grandpa. It looks amazing and in great shape.

[@yuteyang6811]

your channel has the most various guns and histories ,in addition to very professional comment . i love your channel

[@Shellshock1918]

I think the Hi-Power would be the most influential. Double stack mag, inclined plane method of locking.

[@jmeh20]

The VIS look beautiful and slim me like one.

[@roccozambrifoto]

Amazing Content !!!

[@marcomartini9239]

Great episode

[@generalcarlgustavfleischer368]

I have always liked tje wz. 35, its so beautiful.

[@generalcarlgustavfleischer368]

the*

[@krzysztofgaw2223]

yes, it is(:

[@MentoriumTV]

To be correct, VIS was not a German pistol, but Polish. It was produced since 1936 in Radom (Polish city). The pistol was named firstly WiS. those where the first surname letters of its 2 constructors Wilniewczyc and Skrzypinski. After German army invaded Poland they overtook the production of the pistol and have later moved the production facility to Austria.

[@AlexSZ241]

+Robert Oliński They said it

[@MentoriumTV]

AlexSZ241 Correct :)... I have been fooled by the headline of the vid :) "WWII German Handguns..."

[@cardano5842]

You look like a testicle

[@NoNameForMe_G]

Dude he said it was a polish weapon that the Nazis captured

[@normanroscher7545]

And so it became a German WWII handgun. The headline is correct. The HiPower - which actually was the Belgian FN HiPower, did not originate in Germany either, but it was produced in the occupied countries for and used by the Germans during the war.

[@BadBonsai1]

I miss the Astra 600, this gun also was in in service of the Wehrmacht from 1942 to the end.

[@neogeoriffic]

Those krouts sure made some truly remarkable firearms!

[@mikerose51]

The hi-power is a beautiful pistol

[@elmee96]

that's the best stash i've ever seen in my life!

[@caringancoystopitum4224]

You clearly haven't seen many mustaches in your live ;) But I agree, his stash is majestic

[@craigscott5661]

I own two WW2 Lugers both numbers matching one has a numbers matching magazine which is really rare. Both are S42’s and shoot perfect. This is the only gun as soon as you hold it feels perfect just like a 1911. The Luger to me has the best point ability of any gun ever made. Just a piece of art and will only go up in value over time.

[@Waldemarvonanhalt]

I know a veteran of 32 Battalion who preferred to use his personal Walther P38 as his sidearm, instead of the Star pistols the SADF normally issued to officers.

[@scullmaster125]

I like how the length of the video is 9:18

[@allenaussie7041]

Germans got class. I love my people!

[@thezodiac8973]

Daniel Paul Debs yah with a class 3 lisence u can own your very own slingshot

[@Spaseebo]

But if you're an Aussie, your people FOUGHT the Germans !

[@danielpauldebs6526]

Items. Are you asking me or trying to tell me? Just because you can't own a 50 cal sniper rifle and you cant buy ammo in a supermarket, doesn't mean you can't own firearms in Aus.

[@danielpauldebs6526]

Spaceebo. So what, that was 80 years ago! Get present. And "Australia" didn't fight the Germans, the "British Empire" who owned 25% 0f the earths geography, and were the largest imperialist dictators, fought the Germans. The 2nd WW was caused by the selfishness of the whole world. Not by Germany. And I can qualify that if you want me to.

[@lenardmalcolm8800]

Guido Ahsam ???? I’m Australian we have what ever we want just have the permit I own AR15/ M14s a original Luger glocks you name it and I also have a collection license so I have automatics. $128 and can have suppressors cheaper then the US

[@chazitup13]

For me, the German Luger 9mm, is the best design by far hand gun to point and shoot. The gun just naturally aims like pointing your finger. P38...amazing firearm. Luger best of all.

[@erich3071]

Super ! Like the Luger so much, a very nice gun.

[@john90430]

What's with the thumb-sticking-up shooting grip? Is that the pistol shooting equivalent of taking a drink while extending the pinkie finger?

[@kevinjheath]

I am surprised that after you decided to do the Walther P08 that you did not also do the "Broomhandle" Mauser C96 which was also a WWI firearm that carried over into WWII and was carried by many Wermacht officers.

[@gustavmeyrink_2.0]

Unlike the guns here the C96 was never formally adopted by the German army. The famous Red 9 was a kind of inofficial supply because it was available. It was however a very successfully exported, Winston Churchill is on record as having said that he owed his life to his C96 which he carried during the 1898 campaign in Sudan.

[@IAmStillNotMatthew]

It's a fun fact that the Walther P38 was inspired by the KD Danuvia, which was a hungarian pistol from the 1920s, but it was never mass produced, it only had ~20 models.

[@XO-nm8nx]

Ken's precision mustache completely dominated this video. He's rocking it high and tight.

[@animeweeb9192]

*Switching to your pistol is always faster then reloading*

[@onlythewise1]

45 still the best close range fighting

[@jackdaalfbrainork6392]

Thanks for the video Need to do a three paper history about the luger

[@mihailshevchenko1346]

The valther is a really good gun i have one at home what was from my grandpas dad and it was given to him by our army for his service

[@doomblackdragon]

I hope he was not using the Luger sights. That pistol was not design for that. They where made just to point and shoot. The Luger fits in your hand perfectly.

[@kimisdaman]

If you can see the sights, they help greatly in shooting accurately (aim small . . . there's no other way to aim a Luger). The two guns that are most often described as fitting perfectly, like an extension of your arm, like pointing your finger, are the Luger and Peacemaker, and the only gun I can think of that's less natural than those two is the Lahti!

[@normandegeorge6526]

They were made to get real close to the back of someone’s head and pull the trigger!

[@songgut]

Larry, is there a chance that you will post some of the older stuff like segments from tactical arms on here?

[@VickersTacticalLAV]

We are working on putting a lot of the older material on here. We will post segments from Tactical Impact soon.

[@mindybi8361]

Begetter 85f

[@EvilWhiteGuy7.62]

They just look amazing

[@toolthoughts]

0:45 what a tactical way to go for a handshake

[@guntherbgunnerson8989]

You never know when he might attack

[@ZeldaBoyandGirlPlushVideoMaker]

I just wonder if the Luger the Walther P38 the Radom/Vis and the Browning Hi-Power are going to be in Battlefield V

[@guyknightley3499]

I know more about guns then most but you do show me alot of stuff I did not know about thank you about that lol The more you know

[@harryb8945]

So true

[@darrellblake799]

You could to google and memorize what they did.

[@FakiMadajaki]

this man is cool, I subscribed :D

[@stefanic88]

I had the oportunity to shoot the p08 and I must say Larry did a great job at 25 meters and onehanded!

[@charlesbarnett4240]

The ppk 32cal saw a considerable amount of use on the front line by the german army in WW 2.

[@ahall442]

As did the 38 acp/9mm corto....but I was expecting the full testing of the firearms as mentioned, not just the parabellum 08. Gorge Luger invented the toggle mech but was refined by others... Luger is the generic term. Parabellum 08 pistol is the official name.

[@annaa3878]

10/10 good trigger discipline

[@ijsaenz]

Great info

[@JoaoSoares-rs6ec]

The p38 was the service gun in the Portuguese military until very recently,

[@rmblwgn]

I HAVE THAT EXACT GUN. AC42 P38 WITH BROWN BAKELITE GRIPS

[@myfavoritepointguard446]

The Luger is one of the most price souveneir of WWII.

[@egzonsalihu1451]

And WWI.

[@mikeray5475]

Yea I know I got a 1916 luger I've been trying to get rid of it for $500 I wish I knew where to sell mines

[@saxandphone6440]

Does anyone know where I can find out all the exact differences between the first contract P.08's and the later ones? I have an early one which does not have the catch for a stock on the back. Was wondering if there are any other differences or if that's the only one?

[@mrterrywatkins]

It always bugged me that the luger safety scratched the gun when flipped back and forth . Such perfect gun you would think they would have addressed that issue

[@davids11131113]

I own a lot of guns but my grampas old perfect condition Hi-Power is a prized possession.

[@jjoyjit_162]

You must be arrested for illegal arms smuggling 🤣

[@carlnapp8673]

In German the "th" is pronounced like a "t". So the name Walther should be pronounced like the Christian name Walter.

[@VRichardsn]

Carl Napp But since the "W" is like a "V", it shouldn´t be pronounced like the Christian name Walter (at least the English Walter)

[@VRichardsn]

aurvandil Regionalisms, I guess? I am being told that Germans from the North speak rather differently from the Germans of the South. Or it can just be the influence of English.

[@carlnapp8673]

UnitedForces257 Not bad your thinking! But I hope you don't mind, I'm afraid that regional idioms or influenced idioms have nothing to do with it. There is a generally binding grammar. If you watch old films for instance, the pronunciations in "Hochdeutsch" ( equivalent to the former "BBC's English" or the "Queen's English" ) were exactly as they are today. I didn't want to make a fuzz of it in the first place. I just thought he who admires a P38 or a P1 - which undoubtedly are outstanding guns - ought to know how to pronounce the maker's name. Cheers

[@carlnapp8673]

UnitedForces257 You are welcome.

[@darrellblake799]

Also a large difference from north Poland to south Poland.

[@michaelflores3468]

I got the Luger in .22, I did clean it every time cause it was my father's gun. I shoot it several times but it doesnt cycled well. and sometimes it doesnt fire.

[@benjamindavidovichwaals2899]

Wow that was awesome

[@jim22222]

The Luger is fantastically accurate. This test does not illustrate what it is capable of it. I accept of course that you are replicating a test from a different era.

[@gustavmeyrink_2.0]

In it's time it was frequently used as a target pistol. A popular upgrade was a heavier barrel which also improves the looks a little bit.

[@MrKullukkul]

This VIS Radom is a polish gun. When German take over Poland in 1939, they continue production in Radom - polish city where was factory of this gun. I know that in this film is that question explane, but i think the title must change on exemple guns that German used i WWII . Sorry for my english.

[@swunt10]

germay also produced the in austria. since the vis is only a copy of a 1911 everyone who makes them can claim them.

[@C_Papi]

where is the C96?

[@x20dankshots5]

That's mainly ww1

[@monarchist1838]

+x20Dankshots Yes but like ww1 era Luger the c96 saw a fair share of action in ww2 and in wars after

[@mcgelloe]

They replaced it with the Polish Radom :/

[@Modernww2fare]

at 1:08 he says specifically "9mm handguns"

[@rippertrain]

StraightOuttaSlothton where is the glock

[@Philmarken1]

NICE VIDEO; greetings from Denmark!

[@Rafal_Wu]

I'm simple man from Poland I see vis I click

[@masonhuffman3480]

Browning HP and the Radom: spoils of war.

[@brianwong7285]

One known piece of info: Oberst Claus von Stauffenberg (key architect of the July 20th plot) used a Browning Hi-Power and had a fixed prostethic hand which was specifically made for chambering the pistol.

[@steventhorson4487]

Achtung!! Excellent 👌 video, but do not forget the finest military pistol of WW 2; the 1934 model Beretta!!

[@egzonsalihu1451]

My Father's pistol Vis 35 9mm Parabellum, I love it.

[@grabarzlalek2252]

Vis is veary veary good pistol polish product

[@TheMegaKidBoy]

What about the C96 ''Broomhandle''?

[@obiwanfisher537]

They covered that in the video - they just wanted weapons that actually were used. And the c96 just wasnt.

[@zcplayer1]

+obiwanfisher537 they did use C96 in war, in Stalingrad German army use it against the soviet soldier who take cover in buildings.

[@TheMegaKidBoy]

Yeah, as far as I know the C96 was used to some extent atleast. I mean it's known for being the first ever massproduced pistol for the German army, right?

[@obiwanfisher537]

+Sean Zhu I meant that the weapon was used BUT in so little numbers that its not worth mentioning it.

[@zcplayer1]

obiwanfisher537 possible.

[@user-sz8tp4zu3n]

Great video. The Luger is romanticized in film and press but sounds like the Walther was the real workhorse.

[@gustavmeyrink_2.0]

The Luger worked flawlessly in the muddy trenches of WW1. It was just too expensive and time consuming to produce.

[@wingedhussar5528]

Radom is the town where the factory that made the gun existed. The company is know as Fabryka Broni Radom (Weapons Factory Radom). In Poland the gun is just called the VIS 35.

[@DrElakMan]

Mauser C96 :'(

[@operator_hoodie]

The C96 was technically a carbine.

[@ESPLTD322]

Well I guess we all know where the Radom got it’s influences from… I actually thought it was a M1911 for a minute, until they zoomed in on the emblem.

[@General.Longstreet]

Larrys the best. Absolute classic!

[@gshock3092]

The HP is ahead of all other designs in the group! Alot of guns today are based off that design.