Bayard 1908
| Bayard 1908 | |
|---|---|
The Bayard M1908 was used by the Germans during WW1 | |
| Type | Pistol |
| Place of origin | Belgium |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Bernard Clarus |
| Manufacturer | Anciens Etablissements Pieper |
| Produced | 1908 − c. late 1930s |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 460–470g (16.22–16.57oz) |
| Length | 126mm |
| Barrel length | 57mm |
| Diameter | 6mm |
| Cartridge | 6.35mm Browning, .32 ACP, 9×17mm |
| Action | Blowback |
| Feed system | 5-round magazine |
The Pieper Bayard 1908 is a compact semi-automatic pistol designed by Belgian Bruno Clarus and based on a system developed by John Browning. It was produced by Belgian manufacturer Anciens Etablissements Pieper (AEP).
Clarus designed the pistol's sear to be suspended in the slide behind the hammer, moving simultaneously with the hammer and slide during recoil. Ramps and a leaf spring were absorbed the recoil energy.
The Bayard 1908 was sold on the civilian market. Smith & Wesson engineers reintroduced the design of the Bayard 1908 in their Model 61 pistol, which ran in production from 1970 to 1974.