9 mm Largo
Encyclopedia
The 9×23mm Largo centerfire pistol cartridge was developed in 1901 for the Bergmann Mars pistol. The round was considered powerful for the day, producing a muzzle energy of between 330 and 430 foot-pounds depending on the loading. A number of small changes to the Mars and the cartridge were made and the pistol that eventuated was called the Bergmann-Bayard 1903.
This pistol was adopted by the Spanish army in 1905 as the Pistola Bergmann de 9 mm. modelo 1903. Unable to find a German manufacturer to complete the Spanish order for 3000 pistols, Theodor Bergmann
turned to a Belgian manufacturer, Anciens Etablissements Pieper
(who used the trademark "Bayard") to complete the order. The final pistol, modified by AEP, was known as the Bergmann Bayard 1908, or in Spain as the Pistola Bergmann de 9 mm. modelo 1908. Although adopted in 1908 first deliveries did not take place until two years later. Meanwhile other manufacturers such as Campo-Giro had adopted the 9mm Bergmann-Bayard round and, and due to its long history of use in Spanish submachine gun
s, carbines
and pistols, today it is most commonly known as the 9mm Largo.
At the same time the Bergmann-Bayard model 1910
semi-automatic pistol was adopted by the Danish military and remained in production until 1935.
The cartridge headspaces on the mouth of the case. With 125 grain jacketed projectiles, the muzzle energy is 336 foot pounds, slightly lower than a standard-pressure 9mm Luger. Compared to the 9mm Luger +P, performance is also lower but at lower pressure in the 9×23mm Largo. While dimensionally almost identical, the 9×23mm Largo is a very different cartridge from the modern, high-performance 9×23mm Winchester
. Firing the thicker-walled 9×23mm Winchester round in a 9×23mm Largo pistol is dangerous, as old 9mm Largo pistols cannot handle the pressure generated by the 9×23mm Winchester.
Astra-Unceta y Cia SA
Arrizabalaga
CETME
Destroyer carbine
and similar 9mm Largo Carbines
Fabrica de Armas, La Coruna
Fontbernat
Llama
Parinco
Republica Española
Star Bonifacio Echeverria
This pistol was adopted by the Spanish army in 1905 as the Pistola Bergmann de 9 mm. modelo 1903. Unable to find a German manufacturer to complete the Spanish order for 3000 pistols, Theodor Bergmann
Theodor Bergmann
Theodor Bergmann was a German businessman and industrialist best remembered for the various revolutionary firearms his companies released. Like many entrepreneurs of the era, his activity was centered on bicycles and the nascent automobile...
turned to a Belgian manufacturer, Anciens Etablissements Pieper
Anciens Etablissements Pieper
Anciens Etablissements Pieper is a Belgian arms manufacturer established under the name Henri Pieper in Herstal, Belgium in 1884 , by Henri Pieper. In 1898, it was renamed to Nicolas Pieper, and it became the Anciens Etablissements Pieper in 1905. It stayed in business until approximately 1950...
(who used the trademark "Bayard") to complete the order. The final pistol, modified by AEP, was known as the Bergmann Bayard 1908, or in Spain as the Pistola Bergmann de 9 mm. modelo 1908. Although adopted in 1908 first deliveries did not take place until two years later. Meanwhile other manufacturers such as Campo-Giro had adopted the 9mm Bergmann-Bayard round and, and due to its long history of use in Spanish submachine gun
Submachine gun
A submachine gun is an automatic carbine, designed to fire pistol cartridges. It combines the automatic fire of a machine gun with the cartridge of a pistol. The submachine gun was invented during World War I , but the apex of its use was during World War II when millions of the weapon type were...
s, carbines
Destroyer carbine
The Destroyer Carbine is a small bolt action carbine chambered for the 9 x 23 mm Largo cartridge. It was used by Spanish police and prison services, including the Guardia Civil from the mid 1930s until the late 1960s, replacing the El Tigre Rifle....
and pistols, today it is most commonly known as the 9mm Largo.
At the same time the Bergmann-Bayard model 1910
Bergmann-Bayard model 1910
The Bergmann-Bayard was a German designed semi-automatic pistol produced under license in Belgium.-Bergmann Mars:The Bergmann Mars was produced in 1901, and was the first Bergmann design aimed squarely at the military market, with a comparatively powerful 9x23mm Bergmann round...
semi-automatic pistol was adopted by the Danish military and remained in production until 1935.
The cartridge headspaces on the mouth of the case. With 125 grain jacketed projectiles, the muzzle energy is 336 foot pounds, slightly lower than a standard-pressure 9mm Luger. Compared to the 9mm Luger +P, performance is also lower but at lower pressure in the 9×23mm Largo. While dimensionally almost identical, the 9×23mm Largo is a very different cartridge from the modern, high-performance 9×23mm Winchester
9x23mm Winchester
The 9x23 Winchester is a pistol cartridge developed by Winchester repeating arms. 9x23mm has a long and convoluted development history, but was commercially introduced by Winchester in 1996...
. Firing the thicker-walled 9×23mm Winchester round in a 9×23mm Largo pistol is dangerous, as old 9mm Largo pistols cannot handle the pressure generated by the 9×23mm Winchester.
Firearms chambered for 9 mm Largo
Anciens Establissements Pieper (AEP)- Bergmann Mars (1901)
- Pistola Bergmann-Bayard de 9mm modelo 1903
- Pistola Bergmann-Bayard de 9mm modelo 1908
- Bergmann-Bayard M1910
- Bergmann-Bayard M1910/21
Astra-Unceta y Cia SA
Astra-Unceta y Cia SA
Astra Unceta y Cía. was a Spanish weapons manufacturer founded on July 17, 1908 under the name of Esperanza y Unceta by Juan Esperanza and Pedro Unceta...
- Esperanza y Unceta Campo-Giro Modelo 1912, 1913, 1913–16
- Esperanza y Unceta Astra 400 (Modelo 1921), 1921–1926
- Unceta y Compania Astra 400 (Modelo 1921), 1926–1945 or 1946
- Astra Model F (selective fire 'broomhandle' type pistol) 1934–1935
- Astra A-80Astra A-80The Astra A-80 is a double-action, semi-automatic pistol at one time produced in Spain by Astra-Unceta y Cia SA. The design is similar to the Sig-Sauer P220 and features a decocking lever....
- Astra Custom SPS (IPSCInternational Practical Shooting ConfederationThe International Practical Shooting Confederation is a shooting sport based on the concept of practical shooting. Accuracy, power and speed are all required to achieve a maximum score.-Founding and organization:...
racegunRacegunA racegun is a type of handgun, shotgun, or rifle that has been modified for accuracy, speed, and reliability. Used primarily in NRA Action Pistol , USPSA/IPSC and similar styles of competition, raceguns are typically based on common guns and modified to function the best within a certain set of...
) 1996–?
Arrizabalaga
- Arrizabalaga Sharp-Shooter
- Arrizabalaga JO.LO.AR.JO.LO.AR.The JO.LO.AR. was a semi-automatic pistol of Spanish origin and is chambered in various calibres. It is a development of the Extractor Model Sharpshooter pistol and was manufactured from 1924 by Bonifacio Echeveria STAR, with patent by J. Lopez de Arnaiz and renamed the JO-LO-AR hence the designers...
, 1924–?
CETME
- A.D.S.A. Model 1953 submachine gun 1953–?
Destroyer carbine
Destroyer carbine
The Destroyer Carbine is a small bolt action carbine chambered for the 9 x 23 mm Largo cartridge. It was used by Spanish police and prison services, including the Guardia Civil from the mid 1930s until the late 1960s, replacing the El Tigre Rifle....
and similar 9mm Largo Carbines
- Ayra Durex et al.
- Jose Luis Maquibar
- Onena Carbine
- Ignacio Zubillaga
Fabrica de Armas, La Coruna
- Modelo 1941/44 submachine gun (copy of the Vollmer Erma in 9mm Largo) 1941–mid fifties
- Copy of the Bergmann MP28 in 9mm Largo
- "No maker" Astra 400 (Modelo 1921), 1938–1940's
Fontbernat
- M 1938 Labora submachine gun
Llama
Llama firearms
Llama Firearms officially known as Llama-Gabilondo y Cia SA was a Spanish arms company founded in 1904 under the name Gabilondo and Urresti. Its headquarters were in Eibar in the Basque Country, but they also had workshops during different times in Elgoibar and Vitoria. Llama manufactured ...
- Gabilondo Llama Modelo IV
- Gabilondo Llama Modelo V
- Gabilondo Llama Modelo VII
- Gabilondo Llama Modelo VIII
- Gabilondo Llama Modelo Extra
Parinco
- Model 3R submachine gun 1959–?
Republica Española
- "Naranjero" submachine gun (Modified Bergmann MP28)
- RE (Republica Española) made Astra 400 (Modelo 1921), 1936–1939
- F. Ascaso made Astra 400 (Modelo 1921), 1936–1939
Star Bonifacio Echeverria
- Bonifacio Echeverria Star Modelo Militar 1920, 1920–1921
- Bonifacio Echeverria Star Modelo Militar 1921, 1921 only
- Bonifacio Echeverria Star Modelo Militar 1922, 1922–1931
- Bonifacio Echeverria Star Modelo A (early w/flat backstrap), 1924–1931
- Bonifacio Echeverria Star Modelo A (late w/1911 Colt-style backstrap),1931–1983
- Bonifacio Echeverria Star Modelo M (slightly larger than A), 1931–1983
- Bonifacio Echeverria Star Modelo MD (M w/selective fire), 1931–1983
- Bonifacio Echeverria Star Modelo Super-A (A w/quick takedown), 1946–1983
- Bonifacio Echeverria Star Modelo Super-M (M w/quick takedown), 1946–1983
- Bonifacio Echeverria Star Modelo AS (A w/magazine safety, quick takedown, loaded chamber indicator), 1956–1983
- Bonifacio Echeverria Star Modelo MS (M w/quick takedown, loaded chamber indicator), 1956–1983
- Star Model Z-45 Submachine gun
- Model Z-62 submachine gun