Factory Names and Collector Nicknames: Which Belongs in a Reference Article?

Three key takeaways

• Lead with the documented factory or service designation.
• Explain nicknames and distinguish contemporary names from later terminology.
• Keep model names separate from designer attribution and individual provenance.

Both belong, but they should perform different jobs. A reference article should establish the firearm’s identity through its documented factory or official service designation, then introduce established nicknames with their meaning clearly explained. A familiar name should help identification without implying an unsupported model distinction, designer attribution, or service history.

The Colt Single Action Army, also known as the Peacemaker, illustrates how formal identification and familiar terminology can coexist.[1] Colt itself uses Peacemaker in its official company history.[2] “Colt Single Action Army, commonly called the Peacemaker” therefore retains the model designation while acknowledging an alternative name also used by the manufacturer. A colorful name is not necessarily confined to collectors.

Chronology matters. An article about a particular production period should distinguish contemporary terminology from names applied afterward. Later collector terminology can remain useful, provided it is identified as such. Modern factory usage should likewise be distinguished from the wording of an original catalog or manual.

Some nicknames describe an identifiable mechanical feature. The Mauser C78 revolver’s “Zig-Zag” name refers to the zigzag slots on its cylinder that form part of the cylinder-rotation mechanism.[3] “Mauser C78 (‘Zig-Zag’) revolver” supplies both the designation and the descriptive name. Explaining the feature gives the nickname a practical purpose in an identification article.

A service designation also needs to be distinguished from a manufacturer’s name. The Lange Pistole 1908, abbreviated LP08 and known as the “Artillery Luger,” was manufactured by both DWM and the Royal Arsenal of Erfurt.[4] An entry describing an individual pistol should therefore identify its maker separately from its model and nickname.

The word “Artillery” does not establish an individual pistol’s service provenance. The LP08 was issued to artillery units, aviation personnel, and assault troops.[4] Its nickname can be retained without assigning a surviving example to a particular branch or unit.

Misleading names require a different treatment. The MP38 and MP40 became known as “Schmeissers,” although Hugo Schmeisser did not design either weapon.[5] In a reference article, that name belongs in an explanation of the misidentification, with the correct model designation retained throughout. Schmeisser did design the earlier MP18,I, which was manufactured by Bergmann.[5]

Frequently Asked Questions

Which firearm name should lead a reference article?
Use the documented factory or official service designation appropriate to the firearm and period. Introduce established nicknames afterward when they help identification.

Should collector nicknames be excluded from reference articles?
No. Include established nicknames when they clarify identification, and explain what they describe.

Is “Peacemaker” used only by collectors?
No. Colt also uses Peacemaker for the Single Action Army in its official company history.

Does “Artillery Luger” prove that a pistol served with artillery?
No. The LP08 also served with aviation personnel and assault troops, so the nickname alone does not establish an individual pistol’s service history.

Why does calling the MP40 a “Schmeisser” require clarification?
Hugo Schmeisser did not design the MP40. A reference article should explain the mistaken attribution and retain MP40 as the principal designation.

Sources

[1] Pegler, Martin. Colt Single-Action Revolvers. Osprey Publishing, 2017, p. 6.

[2] Colt’s Manufacturing Company LLC. “The Colt Story.” Colt’s Manufacturing Company LLC, n.d.

[3] Ferguson, Jonathan. The ‘Broomhandle’ Mauser. Osprey Publishing, 2017, p. 5.

[4] Australian War Memorial. “Luger LP08 Artillery Model Pistol: German Army.” Australian War Memorial, collection record REL/07430.001, n.d.

[5] Roxby, Dean. “Book Review: Two Great MP40 Books.” Small Arms Review, vol. 25, no. 8, October 2021.