Wehrmacht ‘Z’-Pistole, Kampf/Sturmpistole, Erma
Price: Sold
DESCRIPTION: Wehrmacht Leuchtpistole, ‘Z’-Pistole type know as a Kampfpistole or Sturmpistole; made by Erma-Eurfurt and marked as such on the left receiver; Tooled steel/aluminum construction, short rifled barrel, flare pistol with molded, dark brown bakelite grips. The pistol features a 6 inch long barrel, including the breach; hinged, octagonal shaped breach receiver. The bottom edge of the receiver’s trigger guard has a traditional, pull down, steel integral lever that activates an internal barrel locking mechanism and enables the barrel hinge to fold forward to load the pistol. Lanyard ring at grip butt. This weapon is tight and functions perfectly appearing as unused. The pistol is well marked with a stamped “Z” receiver designating the barrel is rifled (for anti-personnel grenades and long range flare/smoke projectiles), maker name, waffenamt and serial number stamped: “4262” matching barrel to receiver; black finish is 100% and this rare Z Pistol is as good as they come!
BACKGROUND: The German army of the Third Reich period originally utilized two basic models of flare pistols, with one having a short barrel and the other a long barrel, that were both introduced in 1928 to replace the earlier Hebel M1894 flare pistol that had been the standard issue flare pistol utilized in WWI and earlier. Both patterns of the 1928 flare pistol were developed by the Carl Walther Waffenfabrik, (Weapons Factory), of Zella-Mehlis and were constructed in steel until the mid-1930’s when they were produced in an aluminum alloy. The long barrel model was only produced in steel and further production was discontinued around 1935. Both of the basic flare pistols were issued with a specific holster and were capable of firing over forty assorted flares with different functions and purposes. The main purpose of the flare guns and flares was for signaling although they were also used for illumination and producing smoke screens as required. In 1942 the Germans developed a high explosive grenade shell to be utilized with the flare pistols in an attempt to provide an inexpensive, close support weapon for the Infantry. The new, high explosive, grenade shells required that the flare pistols be retooled by rifling the barrel and adding a dial sight. The retooled flare guns were designated Kampfpistole, (Battle Pistol), and were marked with a “Z”, to indicate the barrel was rifled. The Kampfpistole could also fire additional anti-personnel, illumination and smoke shells. The final flare pistol developed for the Germans was the Leuchtpistole 42 which began to be issued in early 1943 and was very similar to it’s predecessors although it was of stamped zinc construction and no specific holster was ever produced for it.
