Erika Complete Specs and Full Gun Specifications

The Erika was semiautomatic straight blowback pocket pistol developed by Franz Pfannl and manufactured in Austria in the early 20th century. Franz Pfannl also developed cartridge for this pistol - the ultra-compact 4.25mm Liliput. That caliber is also known as 4.25mm Erika, 4.25 Lilliput AUTO, 4.25x10 Lilliput, 4.25 mm Erika Selbstlade Pistole, 4.25 mm Liliput Selbstlade Pistole or 4.25 mm Menz-Liliput. The bullet of this cartridge, at a weight of 0.78 grams, developed at a speed of up to 260 meters per second, that is, the muzzle energy was about 23-24 Joules, and the ammunition successfully coped with puncturing the pine board with a thickness of 4 centimeters. The cost of the gun at that time was low enough compared to full-sized guns, so the gun cost only 24 shillings, one cartridge only 8 pennies. Because of low priced ammo and small caliber this pistol was not used as self defense pistol but as a plinker for sportsmen and hunters. In total, about 3,500 of Erika pistols were produced and sold. Eventualy Pfannle sold the license for Erika to Georg Grebner, who based on Erika made more know Kolibri pistol using the same 4.25x10 cartridge.