Type Pistol In service 1879-1945 | Place of origin German Empire Used by German Empire | |
Wars German Colonial Conflicts, Boxer Rebellion, World War I, World War II Designed Exact date of development is uncertain. Sometime between German unification (following the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71), and formal adoption of the Reichsrevolver in 1879. |
The 10.6x25mmR German Ordinance cartridge, also called the 10.6mm Reichsrevolver, the 10.6mm Service Ordinance, or the 10.55mm German cartridge, is a pistol cartridge designed by the then newly formed German Empire for their first two official service revolvers the M1879 & M1883 Reichsrevolvers. It is believed to have been influenced by, or developed from the .44 Russian cartridge, which had been developed by the American firearms manufacurer Smith & Wesson for the Armies of Imperial Russia.
When they were adopted by Imperial Germany, both the 10.6x25mmR German Ordinance cartridge and the Reichsrevolver had already been surpassed by more advanced developments already in use by other nations and empires of Europe and the Americas. The 10.6x25mm German Ordinance cartridge would be slowly phased out and replaced in German service by the modern 9x19mm Parabellum round with the adoption of the Pistole Parabellum 1908 (more commonly called the Luger pistol) in 1908, and would be used alongside its successor, the 9x19mm Parabellum, in World War I, and would see minimal use through the period of World War II, before finally being completely phased out.