Hence its name, derived from the fictional island of Lilliput, inhabited by tiny people.

It uses a 4.25 mm (.167 in) rimless centerfire straight-sided cartridge (which became known as the 4.25mm Liliput, and which is no longer manufactured), that was introduced with the Erika 4.25mm handgun.

The Liliput was manufactured by Waffenfabrik August Menz in Suhl, Germany, from approximately 1920 to 1927.

[1] The Liliput is featured in a number of novels by Alistair MacLean, though he incorrectly refers to its calibre as ".21".

According to an Allied report, a Liliput pistol was issued to members of the Werwolf resistance force.