Dwm Luger Serial Number Ranges

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Sunday, 17 June 2012

Luger Identification Guide - Rework and non-DWM Lugers (1915-1945) This is one of a series of identification guides for small arms. The 1920 dated and double dated rework Lugers (DWM and Erfurt) are in the 'Lugers - DWM Commercial 1898-1929' Gallery. To the best of our knowledge, all the examples shown are original pre-1945 manufacture. After the end of WWI and the weapons limitations imposed by the Treaty of Versailles DWM began limited production. The nominal 'Commercial' serial number range began around #75,000 and contained many 1920 and 1921 Lugers in both 7.65mm and 9mm. Serial Number: 1261. SOLD Read more; Luger 45 Factory Demo – Ready to Ship $ 6,950.00. Luger 45 – Factory Demo. SOLD Read more; Sale! Luger DWM P08 German Lunch Box WWII with Holster $ 2,895.00 $ 2,695.00. Luger DWM P08 30 Luger German Lunch Box Special with Original Holster Chambered in 30 Luger This is completely unmarked gun, also known.


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POLICE/ARMY ALPHABET DWM LUGER, SERIAL NUMBER 6206r DWM Lugers of new manufacture have sequential serial numbers in the i, k, l, m, n, o, p, q, and r suffix serial range and were manufactured between 1921 and the end of 1928. Most of these are commercial Lugers. A few hundred produced, 1 to 3 digit serial: DWM/Mauser Oberndorf - produced 1930-1934 Commercial sales Caliber 9mm Parabellum - 4' barrel 500 produced, 1 to 4 digit serial: Turkish Contract - produced 1930-1934 Contract sales to Turkey Caliber 9mm Parabellum - 4' barrel Less than 1,000 produced, 1 to 3 digit serial: 1934/06 Swiss Commercial - produced 1934.

Thursday, 25 Oct 2012
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Pictured above is a genuine 1920s commercial Artillery Luger, serial number 2504n and not a made up parts gun from a military issued Imperial Artillery Luger. Although the common belief is that DWM did not manufacture new Artillery Luger parts in the 1920s, such as barrels, multi-position adjustable sights or especially Artillery rear links without the V notched integral rear sight. However, there may be exceptions. So the next question is what was the status of Imperial Artillery spare parts, were they serialized or proofed, blued or in the white? Since the subject 2504n barrel, receiver, toggle link assembly and frame appear to be void of Imperial markings, proofs, serial numbers, et al., then 2504n was C/N and small parts serial number stamped in thecommercial style placement by DWM/BKIW. The frame and barrel full four digit N suffix serial numbers and the N letter suffix are identical in style and font size.

The toggle link assembly, with the exception of the Artillery rear link is a typical 1920s DWM/BKIW without any serial numbers, but with the expected left side C/N breechblock proof. The rear breechblock face is stamped with the number 13 as is the Geladen stamped extractor underside tang. These number stampings, which can be matching or not, and are only found on breechblocks and extractors made, starting in the immediate post war 1919 – 1921 time frame and continuing through the 1920s until about 1928 into the four digit T suffix range.

The frame has the expected GERMANY import stamp below the frame serial number, as does the 1920s wooden bottom magazine, however, with Germany being stamped on wood, it could be either an import or export stamp. The big mystery is why is the rear link is GERMANY export stamped, and can only be seen by removing the toggle link assembly. The stamp is very small with the upper case letters tightly grouped, placed in the upper rear left side edge of the rear link, above the axle pin hole, very deeply struck, so much so that there is evidence of surface frosting and displaced metal on the upper left top rear surface of the rear link. This is not the first instance of a very small GERMANY “export” stamp seen on a commercial Artillery Luger as one is pictured in LE LUGER, Un pistolet de légend on page 55, coincidently, identified as commercial Artillery Luger 9685.

The uniqueness of the Germany stamped rear link is based on the rear frame cam ramps which show evidence of impact contact, in the form of white metal, with the lower rear area of the toggle knobs, which do not show any similar evidence of impact contact with the frame cam ramps, in other words, the original blue is intact. This suggests, at least, the rear link portion of the toggle link assembly has been changed out, and being export stamped at thesource, namely DWM/BKIW, making the rear link a spare part shipped to the USA, i.e. not original to 2504n and apparently was changed/replaced after export to the United States, possibly due to a failure. Since the Artillery rear link replacement is Germany export stamped suggests that it was changed out sometime in the mid to late 1920s. As to whether the rear link is an original WW1 Artillery spare or a new DWM/BKIW 1920s replacement spare is not known, although the fact that the rear link is not serialized certainly characterizes it as a replacement spare, as the rear link is the only component of a 1920s commercial toggle link assembly that is normally stamped with the last two digits of the serial number. It is common knowledge that Luger spare parts were made prior to WW1 as replacement parts for old and new model Lugers, advertised by Hans Tauscher, although no toggle link assembly components, old or new model, have been identified with a Germany import/export stamp. The subject Germany export stamped 2504n Artillery rear link is the first instance of a 1920s Germany stamped Luger spare partscomponent and the first ever for an Artillery specific component. The replacement spare rear link does not diminish the originality of 2504n as a genuine 1920s Commercial Artillery Luger but only enhances the uniqueness as there are only 2 identified, no serial number, Germany export stamped Artillery rear links, in 1920s made commercial Artillery Lugers 2504n and 9685. Also based on the lack of any corresponding impact on the rear link surface, further substantiates the fact that it is a replacement spare and also based on the pristine condition of the barrel, receiver, and frame that the gun apparently became a collectible soon after the new Germany export stamped Artillery rear link was installed.

The above descriptions and questions, with pictures were posed to Dr. G. L. Sturgess with the following responses.

The gun is modified from a standard P.08, with a replacement barrel and rear link, as the non-matching witness mark between barrel flange and receiver shows, not built from scratch as an LP.08. All similar LP.08s of the period appear to be the same, with replacement barrels and either original spare part LP.08 or modified P.08 rear links. What one cannot tell for sure is who did the re-working. The serial number and proofing indicate that this was the factory, but the GERMANY mark was a US requirement and I believe was applied by the importer on importation, not by DWM before export, as is usually shown by the crazing of the blue around the mark. This could have been the reason for the replacement rear link being marked, by the importer of it as a component – the barrels of similar post WWI commercial LP.08s are also commonly marked GERMANY in a variety of die fonts, for the same reason, as they were imported as components and assembled onto P.08s in the US, but marked on importation as spare parts.

This was how Stoeger offered so many barrel lengths, as they re-barrelled on import according to order, using both German and domestically made barrels, but this gun is not SAFE & LOADED, (not allearly 1920s Stoeger guns are marked both SAFE & LOADED, some are marked SAFE & Gesichert extractor stamped and vice versa) so I do not think it would have been a Stoeger import (as a P.08 originally), since their imports of this period (-n suffix is ca. 1924/25) were the plain SAFE & LOADED guns in 7.65 mm, but rather an import by another grey market dealer, such as Pacific, who was active at the time. Assembly of the gun and export from Germany as a 9/200 mm barrelled gun was prohibited under the Versailles Treaty then, so I have to surmise it was exported as normal 7.65/98 mm P.08, or an un-barrelled gun, and the barrel and rear link were shipped separately, probably via a third party country, such as Switzerland, to be re-assembled on arrival by the US importer, who applied the GERMANY marks to each component shipped as they arrived according to US legal requirements – why the barrel was not marked, I do not know.The GERMANY stamped on the rear link was done under the blue as there is no evidence of crazing or displaced metal around the Germany stamp, there is, however, some slight bulging of metal on top of the rear link, near the Germany stamping. In summary the bluing is original, not a re-blue, making the component a genuine post war “in the white” Artillery rear link spare and Germany export stamped, then blued by DWM/BKIW for shipment to the USA. The lack of a serial number on the rearlink is further evidence of a generic replacement spare part.

The old wartime parts were held in quantity by DWM, in the white, un-serialled and un-proofed, so, since the serials and proof marks are obviously factory applied to the barrel, the gun started as a stock 7.65/98 mm P.08, fully finished, blued and serial numbered. The spare LP.08 barrel was proofed in the white, as was usual in case it failed proof and wasted the effort of blueing, probably in a proofing jig used to proof spare barrels, then blued and finally serial numbered through the blue and trial assembled to the recipient P.08, which had the original 7.65 mm barrel removed, the mainspring changed for a 9 mm version and the LP.08 rear link, another wartime spare part, fitted. It was probably then test fired for functioning, disassembled and the parts shipped separately.
An interesting proposition as DWM/BKIW monetary frugality apparently varied from gun to gun in the 1920s as there are many examples of 1920s Luger crown N nitro barrel proofs stamped through the blue. As to why to two proofing scenarios are offered by Sturgess is confusing, as to which method, 1) proofing rig or 2), test firing, resulted in the application of the barrel crown nitro proof?

This was an extension of the practice of the period whereby finished, proofed and serialled, but un-barrelled, New Models were shipped to Switzerland to be fitted with Swiss made barrels, as e.g. the A&F pistols. The export of the 9/200 mm barrel from Germany was illegal, but its import to the USA from another country was not, so I assume a third party cut-out was used in another country, quite probably Switzerland, and the barrels were simply smuggled by land over the border – lots of such things went on in Switzerland at the time to get various German made weapons to illegal (for German direct export) destinations. That is the most likely provenance for 2504n, and explains why the link was marked, but the omission from the barrel is not really significant, as both marked and unmarked barrels are found.

The Sturgess explanation for the existence of the subject 2504n commercial Artillery is possible, except for a few unresolved issues. Some critiques of the Sturgess conclusions and observations are, for clarity, imbedded in his comments, highlighted in red. Other comments and thoughts are presented throughout the article in a “stand alone” format.

The gun is modified from a standard P.08, with a replacement barrel and rear link, as the non-matching witness mark between barrel flange and receiver shows, not built from scratch as an LP.08. All similar LP.08s of the period appear to be the same, with replacement barrels and either original spare part LP.08 or modified P.08 rear links. (The fact that the barrel/receiver witness marks are not matching is not always indicative of a barrel replacement asmany original Luger barrel/receiver marks are not matching. The barrel witness mark does indicate that it was applied to the barrel flange after the barrel was blued, as indicated by the white metal appearance of the mark.

Pictured side-by-side is the subject 2504n barrel/receiver witness marks compared against another totally original unmodified 1920s SAFE and LOADED Luger 89812 with similar, apparently “non-matching” witness marks. Additionally, not mentioned, is the fact that the 2504n receiver chamber top has a machined step to accommodate the tangent rear sight, making the receiver, also a DWM post war Artillery spare. The circle N DWM factory inspection stamp located on the stop lug, defined by Sturgess to be used on receiver stop lugs beginning in late 1917, supports the LP08 receiver as an un-serialized, not Imperial proofed 1918 military spare as indicated by the single tangent rear site set screw. With that said it is hard to imagine that the barrel and receiver were notassembled as at unit by DWM/BKIW, test fired together, also obviously requiring a toggle link assembly) What one cannot tell for sure is who did the re-working. The serial number and proofing indicate that this was the factory, but the GERMANY mark was a US requirement and I believe was applied by the importer on importation, not by DWM before export, as is usually shown by the crazing of the blue around the mark.(There is no crazing around the rear link “mark” as it was stamped prior to bluing, the frosting and slightly displaced metal is on the top left side rear link surface with the subsequent bluing reacting to the change in the structure of the affected metal.)This could have been the reason for the replacement rear link being marked, by the importer of it as a component – the barrels of similar post WWI commercial LP.08s are also commonly marked GERMANY in a variety of die fonts, for the same reason, as they were imported as components and assembled onto P.08s in the US, but marked on importation (meaning export marked at the source, prior to importation) as legitimate spare parts.

This was an extension of the practice of the period whereby finished, proofed and serialled, but un-barrelled, New Models were shipped to Switzerland to be fitted with Swiss made barrels, as e.g. the A&F pistols. The export of the 9/200 mm barrel from Germany was illegal, but its import to the USA from another country was not, so I assume a third party cut-out was used in another country, quite probably Switzerland, and the barrels were simply smuggled by land over the border – lots of such things went on in Switzerland at the time to get various German made weapons to illegal (for German direct export) destinations. That is the most likely provenance for this gun, and explains why the link was marked, but the omission from the barrel is not really significant. (if the entire gun consisted of two items 1), the barrel and 2), the rest, consisting of the frame/receiver/toggle link assembly, then, as exported to the USA only the frame or the barrel, not necessarily both, needed an import stamp and not the rear link).

Another factor that errs toward the 1924-1926 manufacture of this gun is the DWM factory markings on the 2504n breechblock rear face and the extractor underside rear tang, being, in this instance, a two-digit number 13. This factory numbering system was instituted in the immediate post war years, starting in 1919/1920[1] and continuing through to about 1928 with the earliest serial number example being 75948, a Swiss Basel Police Luger and into the four-digit T suffix serial number range. The early post war 1919-1921 commercial Luger breechblock/extractor numbers do not always agree, for unknown reasons, but mostly do agree, coinciding with the change from the five digit serial numbersystem to the four-digit letter suffix system of which the 2504n commercial Luger is in the middle of the 1919-1928 time frame. Pictured is a table showing several examples.

The magazine

Another interesting aspect of 2504n is the wooden bottom magazine, which at first glance, appears to be a typical 1920s Germany export stamped Erfurt made magazine, but after a closer examination, it turns out to have two Imperial army inspection marks. These crown-over-Gothic letter inspection marks are found only on Erfurt magazines. The two stampings are significant, as the magazine has to be a post war spare that was Imperial inspection stamped, but without an assigned gun serial number that was later 1920s Germany export/import stamped, which in this case, is almost as good a serial number, as the magazineis probably is original to the gun as assembled/exported in the mid 1920s, incidentally, as with all wooden bottoms, with Germany stamped in wood, it is impossible to determine if it was stamped in Germany for export or by the United States, received as an import.

Per G. Sturgess:The two Imperial inspection marks are Erfurt (never DWM) and were only applied to finished serial numbered magazines - armourer's spares (unnumbered) have only one mark, the second was added when the gun was serial numbered and in the finished state, until late in the war when inspection was relaxed and only a single stamp may be found, so I think the original serial number has been removed as all such Imperial inspection stamping ceased in 1918, so the magazine, or at least the base, was made up before the end of WWI.

Sturgess essentially makes the same assertions in Pistole Parabellum, volume three, Chapter Fifty, page 1453, figure 1385 where he pictures several Erfurt magazines, one identified with the specific caption: Above, right: an un-numbered Erfurt magazine with a single inspector’s mark, which was either an armourer’s replacement or issued as a spare magazine for the LP08.Conspicuously absent in figure 1385 is an example of a two inspection mark, un-numbered Erfurt spare.

Contrary to the explanation put forth by Sturgess, claiming that the LP08 Erfurt magazine that came with 2504n has been tampered with, there is no evidence, as Sturgess suggests that a serial number was removed from the 2504n Erfurt magazine wooden bottom, then over stamped by GERMANY and that the magazine body is Erfurt, which is correct, based on the follower button style, despite the pin being not possibly original, although, both the magazine body and wooden bottom are correct for an Erfurt magazine.

Additionally, there is no doubt as to the existence of this dual Imperial army crown inspection stamped Erfurt variation as evidenced in another identical, however significantly, un-serial numbered Erfurt example, identified as number 1, except with no wooden bottom GERMANY clearly not exhibiting any evidence of a removed serial number, nor tampering, with original pin, the wooden bottom never having been stamped with a serial number.

Conclusions

Since the original spare, un-serial numbered LP08 replacement rear link Germany stamp is under the blue, it was, therefore, not stamped in the USA and since this particular, extremely small 6.75mm x 2.25mm size and style, tightly grouped GERMANY stamp is unique and at this point, only identified in this location, found on only two guns, both commercial Artillery Lugers and has not been identified on any other Luger variation rear link, therefore, one has to conclude it is unique to a few early to mid-1920s 4-digit, with or without letter suffix serial numbered commercial Artillery Lugers, specific to the rearlink.

In the same early 1920s time frame Stoeger contract guns were being received in the USA with an 11.5mm x 1.5mm GERMANY export mark stamped on the receiver left side, some through the blue, and some under the blue, therefore, those under-the-blue GERMANY stamped examples being applied by DWM/BKIW, along with the A.F. Stoeger two line stamping, prior to bluing the receiver. Whatever explanation can be made for the “under the blue” Stoeger stamping can be applied to the Artillery rear link stamping. And if one adheres to the theory that the purpose of the GERMANY export stamp is to indicate the country of origin, to be clearly visible, without dismantling the pistol, then the export stamped rear link assembly was imported, to the UnitedStates, as a separate component or a component parts assembly, meaning the final assembly of the gun occurred in the United States. It is hard to imagine though, that the barrel with the “under the blue” crown N nitro proof was not done by mating, at least the barrel and receiver, in Germany by DWM/BKIW.

Notwithstanding the mystery GERMANY stamped, “concealed” location on the post war spare Artillery, no serial number rear link, the 2504n commercial Artillery Luger is proofed and serial number stamped (through the blue) and Crown N nitro proofed (both barrel and receiver under the blue) in the same locations as the above described 1920s SAFE and LOADED 89812, 30 Cal 98mm barrel Luger, in addition both frames are import stamped under the frame serial number. With that said it is much easier to conclude that, for whatever reason, commercial crown N nitro proofed Artillery Luger 2504n, managed to escape the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles, exported to the United States in the mid-1920s, fully assembled and GERMANY import stamped upon arrival.

1920s commercial Artillery Luger 2504n is the closest one can come in defining a 1920s non-Stoeger commercial Artillery Luger and as such the invariable conclusion reached is that 2504n is considered to be a genuine 1920s assembled commercial Artillery Luger, regardless what convoluted assembly path it took.


Althoughnot acquired until 1921, the commercially marked Basel Police Lugers likelywere manufactured in 1919 or 1920, before the IMKK barrel restrictions wentinto effect. Weimar and Early NAZI Lugers by Jan C. Still, copyright © 1993page 255, Appendix A: Basel Police Lugers.

Click on footnote number [1] above to return to article footnote reference.

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Number

DWM Commercial BUG Proofed Luger Pistol Model 1906 Description: Serial #25670, 7.65mm Para. (.30 Luger), 4 5/8' barrel with an excellent, bright bore.

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This article is about the Luger pistol. For other meanings of parabellum, see Parabellum (disambiguation).
Luger (Parabellum)
Luger pistol, in this instance a regulation Wehrmacht model.
TypeSemi-automatic pistol
Place of originGerman Empire
Service history
In serviceGermany (1904–1945)
Switzerland (1900–early 1970s)
Other countries (1900–present)
Used bySee Users
WarsBoxer Rebellion[1]
World War I
German Revolution
Irish War of Independence
Finnish Civil War[2]
Irish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
World War II
Second Sino-Japanese War
Indonesian National Revolution
Chinese Civil War
Korean War (limited use)
Algerian War (limited use)
Vietnam War (limited use)
Rhodesian Bush War
Production history
DesignerGeorg Luger
Designed1898
ManufacturerDeutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken, Imperial Arsenals of Erfurt, Simson, Heinrich Krieghoff Waffenfabrik, Mauser, Vickers Ltd (final assembly only), Waffenfabrik Bern
Unit cost35 RM (1943)
120 EUR current equivalent
Produced1900–1943
No. built3,000,000
Specifications
Mass871 g (1 lb 15 oz)
Length222 mm (8.74 in)
Barrel length120 mm / 4.7 in (Pistole 00)
100 mm / 3.9 in (Pistole 08)
200 mm / 7.9 in (Artillery)
Cartridge7.65×21mm Parabellum
9×19mm Parabellum[3]
ActionToggle-locked, short recoil
Rate of fire116 rpm (semi-automatic)[4]
Muzzle velocity350–400 m/s (1148–1312 f/s) (9mm, 100 mm short barrel)
Effective firing range50 m (55 yd) (9mm, 100 mm short barrel)
Feed system8-round detachable box magazine, 32-round detachable drum
SightsIron sights

The Pistole Parabellum—or Parabellum-Pistole (Pistol Parabellum), commonly known as just Luger[5]—is a toggle-locked recoil-operated semi-automatic pistol produced in several models and by several nations from 1898 to 1948. The design was first patented by Georg Luger as an improvement upon the Borchardt Automatic Pistol and was produced as the Parabellum Automatic Pistol, Borchardt-Luger System by the German arms manufacturer Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM).[1] The first production model was known as the Modell 1900 Parabellum.[1] Later versions included the Pistol Parabellum Model 1908 or P08 which was produced by DWM and other manufacturers such as W+F Bern, Krieghoff, Simson, Mauser, and Vickers.[6] The first Parabellum pistol was adopted by the Swiss army in May 1900. In German Army service, it was adopted in modified form as the Pistol Model 1908 (P08) in caliber 9×19mm Parabellum.[1] The Model 08 was eventually succeeded by the Walther P38.

The Luger is well known from its use by Germans during World War I and World War II, along with the interwar Weimar Republic and the postwar East German Volkspolizei. The P.08 was introduced in 7.65mm Parabellum, though it is notable for being the pistol for which the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge was developed, also known as the 9×19mm Luger. The pistol has been used in fictional works by many villainous characters over the past several decades because of its association with Nazi Germany.

  • 3Model 1900 and Swiss Luger
  • 14Users

Design details[edit]

Cutaway drawing of the Luger pistol from Georg Luger's 1908 9mm. patent.

The Luger has a toggle-lock action which uses a jointed arm to lock, as opposed to the slide actions of many other semi-automatic pistols. After a round is fired, the barrel and toggle assembly travel roughly 13 mm (0.5 in) rearward due to recoil, both locked together at this point. The toggle strikes a cam built into the frame, causing the knee joint to hinge and the toggle and breech assembly to unlock. The barrel strikes the frame and stops its rearward movement, but the toggle assembly continues moving, bending the knee joint, extracting the spent casing from the chamber, and ejecting it. The toggle and breech assembly then travel forward under spring tension and the next round is loaded from the magazine into the chamber. The entire sequence occurs in a fraction of a second.

This mechanism works well for higher-pressure cartridges, but cartridges loaded to a lower pressure can cause the pistol to malfunction because they do not generate enough recoil to work the action fully. This results in the breech block either not clearing the top cartridge of the magazine or becoming jammed open on the cartridge's base.[7] This malfunction with under-powered cartridges does occur with Browning-type and other pistol designs as well, but the Luger is sensitive to cartridges other than the brass-cased ammunition which it was designed to use.[8]

Submachine guns were found to be effective in trench warfare during World War I, and experiments were conducted to convert various types of pistols to fully automatic machine pistols, including the P08. The Luger proved to have an excessive rate of fire in full-automatic mode, however, as did the Mauser C96.

Service[edit]

Luger pistols were manufactured in Germany and Switzerland to very close tolerances and exacting standards using the highest quality materials of the day, and original pistols were known for having a long service life.[9] The design requires hand fitting of certain parts for proper operation. Assembling the gun using a sideplate from another pistol, for example, may prevent the sear from working, making the pistol inoperable. The Luger barrel, which was rigidly fixed to the barrel extension and carried the front sight, provided excellent accuracy.[9]William B. 'Bill' Ruger praised the Luger's 145° (55° for Americans) grip angle and duplicated it in his .22 LR pistol.[9] The famous handgun author and revolver enthusiast Elmer Keith observed that the Luger design had been unfairly criticized by gun writers over the years as unreliable, partly due to poor experiences with Lugers constructed from salvaged parts.[9] Keith noted that the Luger was a 'natural pointer', one of the most accurate of all autoloading pistols—particularly at long ranges—and reminded critics that the Luger was the choice of more nations as their military sidearm than any other contemporary pistol or revolver.[9]

Swiss Pistol 06/29, 7,65x21mm
'Artillery Luger' Lange Pistole 08 with 32-round Trommel-Magazin 08 and removable stock.

Model 1900 and Swiss Luger[edit]

A number of countries purchased the Model 1900 Parabellum in 7.65×21 mm Parabellum (.30 Luger) caliber and issued the pistol on a limited basis to officers, non-commissioned officers and mounted troops, including Germany, Switzerland, and the United States.[1] The Model 1900 or Pistole Modell 1900 was issued to German officers and likely first saw combat in China during a bloody intervention by German troops in the aftermath of the Boxer Rebellion of 1900.[10][11] On April 16, 1901, following a successful preliminary test of the Model 1900 at Springfield Armory,[12][13] the U.S. Board of Ordnance purchased 1,000 Model 1900 Parabellum pistols with 4.75-inch barrels, marked with standard U.S. ordnance bomb proofs and 'American Eagle' stamps over the chambers, and issued them to each troop of mounted cavalry of the U.S. Army for field testing, with the remainder to the light artillery and officers at West Point.[1][4][13] In 1902, U.S. Army officials purchased another 50 Model 1902 Parabellum pistols with 4-inch barrels, again in 7.65mm Parabellum caliber, for further testing and evaluation. This was followed by a third test of 50 so-called 'cartridge counter' Parabellum pistols in 9 mm caliber by Springfield Armory in 1904. Other nations either tested the Model 1900 or purchased small numbers for limited field service, including Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Holland, Luxembourg, Russia, Norway, Sweden, and Portugal.[1]

Commercial models of the Model 1900 were exported in quantity as well. In the U.S., Model 1900 pistols in 7.65 Parabellum caliber (aka .30 Luger in the U.S.) were first imported by Georg Luger, then by a DWM sales agent, Hans Tauscher, until World War I.[14] Referred to at the time as the 'Borchardt-Luger' by U.S. authorities, Tauscher consistently referred to the pistol in his marketing and advertising materials as the 'Luger', after its inventor. Model 1900 pistols shipped to the U.S. were typically stamped with an American Eagle atop the barrel extensions.[14] 'American Eagle' 7.65 Model 1900 pistols were used by variety of buyers, including American lawmen such as Stringer Fenton, outlaws, and Texas Rangers.[15][16][17][18]

Swiss Luger[edit]

After testing, the Swiss Army adopted the Model 1900 on April 4, 1901 in 7.65x21mm caliber as its standard side arm, designated Pistole 1900.[19] This model uses a 120 mm (4.7 in) barrel and incorporates a grip safety and leaf-type mainspring. A later Swiss military contract with DWM resulted in the latter supplying improved Model 1900/06 pattern pistols designated the Model 1906 or Pistole 1900/06. Commencing in 1918, these Model 1906 Parabellum pistols were manufactured and assembled in Bern, Switzerland.

In 1929, Swiss authorities adopted an improved version of the Modell 1900 designated the Modell 06/29 with improved sights, trigger and a stronger toggle link. Manufactured entirely at Bern, Switzerland, the 06/29 pistol served the Swiss Army until well after the adoption of a new service pistol in 1948, and was still in limited service in the late 1960s.

Model 1902[edit]

In 1902 DWM introduced a slightly improved version of the Model 1900 Parabellum as the Model 1902. The Model 1902, with its shortened 4-inch barrel, was the first Parabellum pistol to be offered in 9x19mm Parabellum caliber, along with a change from four-groove to six-groove rifling.[20]

Navy model[edit]

The Luger pistol was accepted by the Imperial German Navy in 1904 in 9mm Parabellum as the Pistole 04 (P04). The navy model had a 150 mm (5.9 in) barrel and a two-position ( 100 meters (110 yd) or 200 meters (220 yd) ) rear sight. This version was also referred to as the 'Marine Modell 1904' or, more colloquially in the US as the 'navy Luger'.[19] The Pistole 04 was later updated with a coil mainspring to Model 1906 pattern as Luger continued to refine and improve his design.

Model 1906 (Neues Modell)[edit]

Georg Luger introduced a new version of the Parabellum pistol in 1906 which would become known as the Model 1906 or New Model (Neues Modell). This latest version of the Parabellum replaced the old flat laminated main spring with a new, more reliable coil design.[1] As all models of the Luger built after 1906 have the coil mainspring, they are known as New Models.[1] Older Parabellum pistols in German service were usually upgraded to the New Model specification.

1907 U.S. Pistol Trials[edit]

By 1906, the United States evaluated several domestic and foreign-made semi-automatic pistols, including the Colt M1900, Steyr Mannlicher M1894, and an entry from Mauser.[19] Although Springfield Armory had previously purchased 7.65×21mm Parabellum pistols for two separate field trials in 1900 and 1902, U.S. authorities had rejected the 7.65x21mm cartridge as insufficiently powerful for military use. In 1904, a small number of Parabellum pistols were tested in the then-new, more powerful 9×19mm round, but U.S. authorities again rejected the pistol. By this time, numerous adverse combat reports of insufficient stopping power of the Army's Colt .38 caliber revolvers used in the 1899-1902 Philippine Insurrection and the published findings of U.S. Army personnel obtained from the Thompson–LaGarde Tests resulted in a requirement for a military handgun in .45 (11.25mm) caliber.

In 1906 and 1907, the U.S. Army held trials for a large-caliber semi-automatic pistol, which constituted the fourth and final evaluation of the Luger or Parabellum pistol design by U.S. authorities. At least two, and possibly three Parabellum Model 1902/1906 pattern pistols in enlarged form and chambered in .45 Luger caliber were brought to the U.S. by Georg Luger for the 1907 trials, each chambered in .45 ACP caliber.[1] Prior to his arrival, the U.S. Frankford Arsenal had provided Luger with 5,000 rounds of .45 ammunition for experimentation and to serve as a guide for chambering measurements.[1] Finding numerous defects in this prototype ammunition (U.S. authorities later were forced to produce new ammunition for the 1907 trials), Luger had DWM pull the bullets of these cartridges, which were re-loaded with a special faster-burning powder in new brass cases.[21] Luger brought 746 rounds of this new ammunition to the March 1907 trials with his .45 Luger pistol.[1][21] Two test .45 Luger pistols, bearing serial numbers 1 and 2 are known to have been used in the 1907 tests.[21] Although the .45 Luger passed the firing tests, it was ranked below the Colt/Browning and Savage pistols in number of malfunctions and misfires, though Army officials conceded that the .45 Luger performed satisfactorily with the DWM-loaded ammunition.[21] In the words of the testing commission: 'The Luger automatic pistol, although it possesses manifest advantages in many particulars, is not recommended for service tests because its certainty of action, even with Luger ammunition, it is not considered satisfactory, because of the final seating of the cartridge is not by positive spring action, and because the powder stated by Mr. Luger to be necessary, for its satisfactory use is not now obtainable in this country.”[22] DWM and Luger later rejected an invitation by Army officials to produce 200 pistols in caliber .45 for further competition against the Colt and Savage submissions, at which point DWM effectively withdrew from the U.S. trials.[1][21]

The fate of the .45 Luger, serial number 1 is unknown, as it was not returned and is believed to have been destroyed during testing. The .45 Luger prototype serial number 2, believed to have been a back-up to Serial Number 1, survived the 1907 trials and is in private ownership. Its rarity gives its value of around US$1 million at the time the 'Million Dollar Guns' episode of History Channel's 'Tales of the Gun' was filmed,[23] recheck by Guns & Ammo as of 1994.[24] At least two caliber .45 Luger pistols were manufactured later for possible commercial or military sales; one is exhibited at the R. W. Norton Art Gallery, in Shreveport, Louisiana. The other was sold in 2010 and remains in a private collection. A single .45 Luger carbine is also known to exist.[25]

Pistole Modell 1908 (P08) and World War I[edit]

In 1908, the German Army adopted the DWM Parabellum pistol as the Pistole Modell 1908 (P08) Parabellum to replace the Reichsrevolver in front-line service.[26] The Pistole 08 (or P.08) had a 100 mm (3.9 in) barrel and was chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum. This version of Georg Luger's design reflected a number of improvements requested by German military authorities. The grip safety used on earlier versions was omitted, while a lug was attached to the heel of the pistol frame for attachment of a shoulder stock. The barrel was reduced in length to 4 inches (102mm), and the caliber was 9x19mm Parabellum, and the 9x19mm DWM cartridge (Catalog No. 278F) initially adopted by the German Army featured a 123-grain truncated-nose bullet design intended to increase wounding effect of the fully jacketed bullet.[27] With slight modifications, notably the addition of a stock mounting lug and a hold-open latch, the P08 would serve as the German Army's principal sidearm during World War I, augmented by Mauser C96 and Model 1914 pistols. Over 2 million Luger pistols were used by German forces from 1914 to 1918.[20]

The Bolivian Army also adopted the DWM Luger in 9×19mm Parabellum in 1908 as an officer's sidearm; a few hundred were bought, starting with a batch of about 250 that were included in an order of 4,000 Mauser DWM 1907 rifles and 1,000 Mauser DWM 1907 short rifles. Subsequent Model 1908 purchases occurred each year until 1913. Only the first shipment had national crests bearing the legend 'Ejercito Boliviano' stamped on the barrel extension.

Lange Pistole 08 (Artillery Luger)[edit]

The adoption of the Lange Pistole 08 or LP 08, aka the 'Artillery Luger', was authorized by the Kaiser on the 2nd of July 1913. This P08 variation was equipped with a 200 mm (7.9 in) barrel, an 8-position tangent rear sight (calibrated to 800 meters (870 yd)) and a board-type shoulder stock with an attached leather holster. In the event of close combat, the pistol was intended to be used as a carbine with the shoulder stock attached to a lug mounted on the heel of the pistol frame. When set for long range use the rear sight element visibly moves to the left to compensate for spin drift. While initially intended for use by German artillery units who could not be encumbered by the long and heavy K.98 rifle, the LP 08 was also used by Aviation units (prior to equipping aircraft with machine guns) as well as the Infantry, primarily on the Western front during World War I. The famous infantry Stoßtruppen or Stormtrooper units frequently employed the Artillery Luger equipped with a new large magazine – the 32-round Trommelmagazin or 'snail' magazine. Production of the LP 08 ended in 1918 with the end of the war. By that time, German troops had begun using the newly developed MP 18 submachine gun in place of the LP 08 for their stormtroop assault companies. However, by this time enough LP 08 barrels had been manufactured and stockpiled to fill LP 08 export orders into the 1930s.

Carbine versions of the LP 08 were also produced commercially, with yet longer barrels. The firm Armeria Belga of Santiago (Chile) also manufactured a detachable stock, the Benke Thiemann stock, that could fold out from the grip section.

In the early 1920s, carbine production was restarted, with barrels up to 600mm (24 in) long. Under a small contract, LP 08 or Artillery P08s were assembled in the 1930s to fill an order from the Shah of Iran for his artillery troops, with some of these weapons ending up with Thai police forces. Existing LP 08 pistols which had remained in storage were re-issued in WWII with new-production board stocks for some German units such as artillerymen and Waffen SS units, and these continued in use until the end of the war in 1945.

Luger Rifle M1906[edit]

The M1906 was an attempt to make a full-powered semi-automatic rifle using the same toggle-bolt action of the pistol. A single rifle, serial number 4, was found and put on auction and was said to be made by Georg Luger. The description mentioned a German patent No. 4126 of 1906—the patent applied specifically to serial number 4. The rifle was chambered in 7.92x57mm Mauser, and the stock resembled the later K98k style.[1][2]

Interwar years and commercial production[edit]

From 1919 on, DWM rebuilt P08 frames with new parts or existing parts (including barrels) into complete pistols for sales to the civilian and export markets. These sales helped restore DWM to solvency after the Armistice.[28] Most of these commercial pistols were in 7.65 Parabellum (.30 Luger) caliber, although a number of pistols were also rebarrelled to 9mm Parabellum (9x19mm). The new component parts were stamped with serial numbers to match the frame to ensure that all the fitted parts stayed together. Many thousands of these pistols were thought to have been assembled and sold between 1919 and 1923. Some of these pistols were fitted with new barrels of different lengths by the importer upon customer request. Many so-called 1919 and 1920 Commercial Lugers were imported to the United States by such firms as Abercrombie & Fitch, Pacific Arms Co., and A.F. Stoeger Inc. The latter importer sought and registered the name Luger in 1929 in the United States.[14]

In 1923, A.F. Stoeger Inc., the predecessor to Stoeger, Inc. began importing commercial pistols from DWM stamped A.F.Stoeger Inc. – New York. and 'Germany'. These pistols were exported to the United States in both 7.65 Parabellum (.30 Luger) and 9mm calibers, with barrel lengths from 75 mm to 600 mm. These imported Parabellums were also the first pistols to bear the name 'Luger', roll stamped on the right side of the receiver. That same year, DWM also signed contracts to supply small numbers of P08 pistols to the armed forces of Finland (8,000 pistols, designated m/23),[2] the Netherlands, and Sweden.

Until 1930, DWM continued to export both P08 and commercial Parabellum pistols to nations in Europe and to overseas markets, including the United States and the Far East. Although never officially adopted by Nationalist forces, all variants of the Parabellum or Luger pistol were highly sought after by both Chinese Nationalist officers and irregular guerrilla forces. In 1924, just before the outbreak of the Chinese Civil War, a review of Chinese Nationalist small arms reported that 'Among officers, bodyguards, and police, the German Parabellum (Luger) 9-mm automatic pistol was the weapon of choice...'.[29]

In 1930, Mauser took over manufacture of the P.08 from DWM.[5] Additional P08s were produced by Simson and later Krieghoff.Many P04 and P08 pistols would continue in service with German army and navy personnel throughout World War II. Towards the end of 1937 (beginning with 't' & 'u' block pistols) Mauser phased out rust blue process and 'straw finishing' small parts and levers on the P08, choosing to salt blue all parts of the weapon at one time. In 1941 some of these pistols were fitted with inexpensive black Bakelite grip panels to cut production time and expense. Years after the war, these pistols would be given the name 'Black Widow' by a postwar US arms dealer as a marketing ploy.

World War II production[edit]

The P08 was technically replaced in service in 1938 by the Walther P38, but ever-growing wartime demands for handguns resulted in continued P08 production by Mauser until December 1943.[5][20] Mauser production was supplemented by a small contract for Luger pistols given to Heinrich Krieghoff & Son of Suhl in 1935 to produce a Luger variant for the Luftwaffe; a second contract for 15,000 pistols was only partially completed when Krieghoff ceased Luger production in 1944.[20] The German Army took their last delivery of 1,000 Mauser-made pistols in November 1943.[20] A further 4,000 pistols assembled by Mauser in December of that same year were sold to Portugal, which renamed them the Model 943.[20] German military authorities refused to take any more Luger pistols, leaving a large stock of parts at the factory in Oberndorf.[20]

Captured Lugers were much prized by Allied soldiers during both of the world wars as war trophies.[30] However, during World War II, German soldiers were known to sometimes use a discarded Luger pistol to lure unsuspecting trophy hunters, rigging it to detonate land mines or hidden booby traps when disturbed.[31] Word also spread of accidental discharges and deaths of Allied troops by users unfamiliar with the P08 and its safety mechanisms, as well as stories circulating that American soldiers were being executed if captured in possession of German weapons.[32][14]

German Luger Serial Number Search

Post-WWII production and assembly[edit]

Although Mauser P08 production terminated in 1943, the P08 re-appeared in postwar form because of a continuing demand for handguns for military and police requirements. In 1945 Mauser restarted Luger production under the control of the French occupation authority to supply the French military and occupation police forces. Assembly commenced under French control from June 1945 until mid-1946. In the second half of 1946, tooling and some Mauser personnel moved from Oberndorf to Chatellerault in France, the location of MAC (Manufacture d’Armes de Chatellerault) to continue assembly from existing parts stocks. About 4,000 Luger 'parts' pistols, including a few LP 08 models, are thought to have been assembled for French forces, a sufficient number to justify the production of new-manufacture Luger magazines in France for several years.[10][20] Surviving examples of Lugers assembled under French supervision are usually found with a distinct, gray parkerized finish. A few early French control pistols bear a five-pointed star proof mark known to have been used by French Occupation authorities. Later pistols assembled in France often carry a French arsenal/manufacturer name, such as Manufacture Francaise d’Armes & Cycles de St. Etienne (Manufrance). Surviving French Control Lugers were retained in French storage depots as late as 1970.

Pistols were also assembled under the direction of Soviet (and later, East German) authorities to arm military and MP units, as well as the VOPO secret police.[20] During the immediate postwar period, complete Luger pistols were also assembled from rejected or salvaged parts with different serial numbers, then sold as souvenirs to occupation forces in Germany. Thousands of original Luger pistols were taken home by returning Allied soldiers after both world wars. Other Luger pistols were later assembled in the United States by gunsmiths of varying aptitude using secondhand, rejected, or salvaged parts imported from Germany and other countries. These pistols and their construction quality (or lack of it) would contribute to criticism of the Luger as a finicky and unreliable weapon. However, a well maintained Luger with new springs and suitable cartridges is a very reliable weapon.[33]

Luger Markings

The Swiss Parabellum 06/29 continued in production until 1946. In 1969, after purchasing the Swiss 06/29 tooling, Mauser Werke in Oberndorf restarted Parabellum production, which ceased in 1986 when the last commemorative model was produced.[34] While new Mauser Luger production ended at this time, pistols continued to be assembled and sold from parts on hand until the 1990s.

The Luger pistol is still sought after by collectors both for its sleek design and accuracy, and for its connection to Imperial and Nazi Germany. According to Aaron Davis, writing in The Standard Catalog of the Luger, 'From its adoption, the Luger was synonymous with the German military through the end of World War II' and 'Ask any World War II vet of the [European Theater of Operations] what the most prized war souvenir was and the answer will invariably come back, ‘a Luger.’”[26] Colonel David Hackworth mentions in his autobiography that it was still a sought-after sidearm in the Vietnam War.[35] Vietnamese gunsmiths even copied the basic Luger design, producing a few crude 'Luger' pistols with which to arm Viet Cong and other irregular forces.[36]

Users[edit]

  • Austria: Armed forces used Lugers after 1945, supplied from the French controlled Mauser factory [37]
  • Bolivia[37]
  • Brazil[10]
  • Kingdom of Bulgaria[38]
  • Chad
  • Democratic Republic of Georgia: Mainly issued to officers.[39]
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador[citation needed]
  • Egypt
  • Empire of Japan: Used Luger pistols in a semi-official capacity taken from disarmed Dutch forces in Indonesia.[6]
  • France: The French occupied and operated the Mauser factory 1945–46, then seized remaining Mauser parts stocks to assemble approximately 4,000 Luger pistols for French forces[37]
  • Finland[40]
  • Georgia
  • Germany[41]
    • German Empire[30]
    • Weimar Republic[30]
    • Nazi Germany[30]
    • East Germany: Used by the Volkspolizei and Stasi agents.[6]
  • Greece[citation needed]
  • Grenada[42]
  • Guatemala[citation needed]
  • Imperial State of Iran[6]
  • Luxemburg[14]
  • Malta[14]
  • Namibia
  • Netherlands: Dutch arms factories made Lugers in 1912 for use by the Dutch East Indies Army.[37] Other contracts were completed for the Dutch Navy commencing in 1923, and the Dutch Air Force in 1928.
  • Nicaragua[citation needed]
  • Indonesia: Almost 14,000 Dutch KNIL M.11 Lugers were in Indonesia before the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies. As such, the Luger was widely used during the Indonesian National Revolution. General Sudirman is known to have personally carried an M.11.[43]
  • Italy
  • Lebanon
  • Libya[44]
  • Lithuania
  • New Zealand: Captured Lugers issued to RNZAF ADS officers 1942-45.[45]
  • North Korea
  • Norway: In use from 1945 and phased out in 1987.[46]
  • Ottoman Empire
  • People's Republic of China
  • Portugal[47][48]
  • Republic of China: Used by Chang Tso-lin's warlord army.[49]
  • Poland
  • Romania
  • Russia[14]
  • Spain[40]
  • Soviet Union-Used captured
  • Sudan[citation needed]
  • Sweden[14]
  • Switzerland: The Swiss Army was the first to adopt the Luger. 1900-1950[40]
  • Turkey[48]
  • Thailand
  • United Kingdom
  • United States[14] The U.S. Ordnance Board purchased 1,000 Model 1900 7.65mm pistols under an official military contract order and issued them to active duty cavalry troops for field testing.
  • Venezuela[50]
  • Yugoslav Partisans[51]

Non-state entities[edit]

  • Lebanese Forces[52]
  • Organisation armée secrète[53]
  • Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army[54]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Citations
  1. ^ abcdefghijklmDatig, Fred A., The Luger Pistol, Gun Digest, 1957 ed., Chicago Illinois: Edward Keogh Co. Inc. (1956) pp. 164-165
  2. ^ abJowett, Philip; Snodgrass, Brent (5 July 2006). Finland at War 1939–45. Elite 141. Osprey Publishing. p. 46. ISBN9781841769691.
  3. ^German Infantry Weapons. United States War Department. 25 May 1943. p. 5.
  4. ^ abProceedings Of The United States Naval Institute, Annapolis MD, Vol. 27, No. 1 (March 1901) p. 436
  5. ^ abcFitzsimons, Bernard, ed. (1977). 'Luger'. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Weapons and Warfare. 16. London, UK: Phoebus. p. 1778.
  6. ^ abcd'DWM Luger P-08 Pistol'. chuckhawks.com. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  7. ^Hogg, Ian; Weeks, John (2000). Military Small Arms of the 20th Century (7th ed.). Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. ISBN0-87341-824-7.
  8. ^Dunlap, Roy, Ordnance Went Up Front, Stackpole Books (1948), p. 104
  9. ^ abcdeKeith, Elmer, Sixguns, Ravenio Books (1961)
  10. ^ abcWalter, John. The Luger Story. Greenhill Books. p. 127. ISBN1-85367-436-2.
  11. ^Cohen, Paul A. History In Three Keys: The Boxers As Event, Experience, and Myth, Columbia University Press, ISBN0231106505 (1997), pp. 185-185
  12. ^U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, Vol. 27 No. 1 (March 1901), p. 436: 'The Board...has recommended that $15,000 be appropriated for the purchase of $1,000 of the Luger automatic pistols, which recently made such a wonderful record in the tests at Springfield Armory. The sum allotted—for the recommendation of the Board was instantly approved by the Secretary of War—is sufficient to furnish five of these pistols for each Troop of Cavalry in the service...'
  13. ^ abAnnual Report of the Chief of Ordnance, United States, Army Ordnance Dept., 28 October 1902, p. 258
  14. ^ abcdefghiDavis, Aaron, The Standard Catalog of Luger, Gun Digest Books, ISBN9780896894112 (2006) p. 6
  15. ^Tells Of Taking Bandit M'Curdy, Tulsa Daily World, 15 October 1911, p. 18
  16. ^Skelton, Bart, For The Love Of Lugers, Shooting Times, 4 October 2010, retrieved 12 December 2017
  17. ^Dolan, Samuel K., Cowboys and Gangsters: Stories of an Untamed Southwest, Rowman & Littlefield, ISBN9781442246690 (2006), p. xx (Introd.)
  18. ^Farris, David, The Last Of The Old Time Outlaws, Edmond Life & Leisure 29 Dec 2016, retrieved 14 Dec 2017
  19. ^ abcDatig, Fred A. (20 April 2009). 'The Luger Pistol Gun Digest'. Gun Digest. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  20. ^ abcdefghiStephenson, Jan, The Parabellum Story, Part I and II, Gun Facts Magazine (July 1969) pp. 10-15, 35-37
  21. ^ abcdeAmerican Rifleman, The 1907 Pistol Trials,, (Feb 2001) www.nramuseum.com/media/940450/1907%20pistol%20trials.pdf
  22. ^Appendix, U.S. Army Annual Report for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 1907 (1907), p. 89
  23. ^'Tales of the Gun: Million Dollar Guns'. History Channel – via YouTube.
  24. ^James, Garry (October 2010). 'Would you Shoot the Million Dollar Luger'. Guns & Ammo. InterMedia Outdoors. Archived from the original on 4 June 2013.
  25. ^'Investment Firearm – .45 Luger Carbine'. rennlist.com. Archived from the original on 15 November 2004.
  26. ^ abHuard, Paul Richard (6 March 2015). 'The Nazis' Handgun'. War Is Boring. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  27. ^Kinard, Jeff, Pistols: An Illustrated History of Their Impact, Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO Publishing, ISBN1851094709, p. 178
  28. ^Davis, Aaron, Standard Catalog of Luger, p. 25: In 1922 DWM became part of a holding company, Berlin-Karlsruher Industrie-Werke (BKIW).
  29. ^Waldron, Arthur, From War to Nationalism: China's Turning Point, 1924-25, Cambridge University Press, ISBN0521472385 (1995), p. 57
  30. ^ abcdBishop, Chris, ed. (2002). The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. Metrobooks. p. 228. ISBN1-58663-762-2. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  31. ^Rottman p.49
  32. ^Rottman p.32
  33. ^InRangeTV (18 April 2016), Mud Test: WW1 & WW2 P08 Luger, retrieved 12 February 2019
  34. ^Bishop, Chris, ed. (1998). The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. New York: Orbis Publishing Ltd. ISBN0-7607-1022-8..
  35. ^Hackworth, David H. (1990). About Face: The Odyssey of an American Warrior. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN978-0-67169-534-7.
  36. ^McCollum, Ian (27 January 2016). 'Viet Cong Handmade Luger Lookalike'. ForgottenWeapons.com. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  37. ^ abcdWalter, John (1991). Luger Book: The Encyclopedia of the Borchardt and Borchardt-Luger Handguns, 1885–1985. London, UK: Arms & Armour. p. 66. ISBN978-0-85368-886-0.
  38. ^Miller, David. Fighting Men of World War II, Volume I: Axis Forces — Uniforms, Equipment, and Weapons. Stackpole Books. p. 369. ISBN0-8117-0277-4.
  39. ^https://history.mod.gov.ge/ge/page/39/msubuqi-sheiarageba
  40. ^ abcDavis, Aaron (2006). Standard Catalog of Luger (2nd ed.). Gun Digest Books. ISBN0-89689-411-8.
  41. ^Miller, David (2001). The Illustrated Directory of 20th Century Guns. Salamander Books Ltd. ISBN1-84065-245-4.
  42. ^JWH1975 (18 October 2015). 'Urgent Fury 1983: WWII weapons encountered'. wwiiafterwwii. Wordpress. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  43. ^KNIL-wapens in Indonesische musea (KNIL weapons in Indonesian museums), D.W. Staat, SAM Wapenmagazine 85, p.51 (In Dutch)
  44. ^Grey Tiger (2015). 'World Infantry Weapons: Libya'. WorldInventory. Retrieved 13 December 2017 – via Google Sites.
  45. ^Osborne, John. 'NZ Arms Register'. ArmsRegister.com.Missing or empty url= (help)
  46. ^Hæren etter Annen verdenskrig: 1945–1990 [The Army of the Second World War: 1945–1990] (in Norwegian). Oslo: Fabritius. 1990. p. 563. ISBN8290545169.
  47. ^Telo, António José; Álvares, Mário (2004). Armamento do Exército Português, Vol.I – Armamento Ligeiro [Armament of the Portuguese Army, Vol.I - Light Armament] (in Portuguese). Lisbon: Prefácio. pp. 100–103. ISBN972-8816-43-X.
  48. ^ abArnold, David W. (11 November 2010). 'Classic Handguns of the 20th Century: The P.08 German Luger'. Handguns. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  49. ^Jowett, Philip (2010). Chinese Warlord Armies 1911–30. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing Ltd. p. 21. ISBN978-1-84908-402-4.
  50. ^Cite error: The named reference Lugerarticle was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  51. ^Scarlata, Paul (1 October 2017). 'Yugoslav Part II: World War II small arms: an assortment of small arms from friends and foe alike'. Firearms News.
  52. ^'The Weapons: Semi-auto Pistols'. lebaneseforces.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  53. ^Perez, Jean-Claude (March 1992). 'Les armes de l'O.A.S.'Gazette des Armes (in French). No. 220. pp. 28–30.
  54. ^Stewart, Major Michael P. 'Art of War Papers'(PDF). Retrieved 12 March 2015.
Bibliography
  • Bishop, Chris (2002). The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. ISBN978-1-58663-762-0.
  • Rottman, Gordon (2011). World War II Axis Booby Traps and Sabotage Tactics. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN178096143X. OCLC650113182.

Further reading[edit]

  • The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols by Joachim Gortz and Dr. Geoffrey Sturgess (Simpson Ltd, 2012)
  • Imperial Lugers by Jan C. Still (Still's Books, 1994)
  • Third Reich Lugers by Jan C. Still (Still's Books, 1988)
  • Weimar Lugers by Jan C. Still (Still's Books, 1993)
  • Lugers at Random by Charles Kenyon (Hand Gun Press, 1990)
  • Simson Lugers by Edward B. Tinker and Graham K. Johnson (Simpson Ltd, 2007)
  • La Luger Artiglieria by Mauro Baudino (Editoriale Olimpia, 2004)
  • Luger Book: The Encyclopedia of the Borchardt and Borchardt-Luger Handguns, 1885–1985 by J. Walter (Arms & Armour, 1991)
  • The Parabellum is Back! 1945–2000 by Mauro Baudino and Gerben van Vlimmeren (Simpson Ltd, 2010)
  • Imperial Lugers Ян С. Тем не менее (Стилла Книги, 1994)
  • Рейх Lugers Яна С. Тем не менее (Стилла Книги, 1988)
  • Веймар Lugers Ян С. Тем не менее (Стилла Книги, 1993)
  • Lugers наугад Чарльз Кеньон (Hand Gun Пресс, 1990)
  • La Люгер Artiglieria Мауро Baudino (Editoriale Олимпия, 2004)
  • Luger Книга: Энциклопедия Борхардт и Борхардт-Luger пистолетов, 1885-1985 Дж. Уолтера (Arms & Armour, 1991)
  • Парабеллум вернулся! 1945–2000 by Mauro Baudino and Gerben van Vlimmeren (Simpson Ltd, 2010)
  • The Mauser Parabellum 1930–1946: Analysis of a Million Luger Pistols by Don R. Hallock & Joop van den Kant (HaKa Arms Publications C0, 2010) 1945-2000 Мауро Baudino и Gerben ван Vlimmeren (Симпсон Ltd, 2010)
  • Маузер Парабеллум 1930-1946: Анализ Million Luger Pistols Дон Р. Халлок & Joop Van Den Кант (Хака Руки Публикации С0, 2010)

External links[edit]

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Dwm Luger Serial Number Ranges

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Dwm Luger Serial Number Ranges Free

This is a 1900 Model, 7.65mm (.30 Cal Luger), the 'old model' Parabellum with the transitional frame, a Type II thumb safety that is not marked but is polished with the extractor an old style leaf type. The Luger has all matching serial numbers and a grip squeeze safety. There is an 'American Eagle' from the US Great Seal over the Chamber and the DWM (Deutsche Waffen-und Munitionsfabriken AG) on the first toggle link. This Luger has all the characteristics of the American Eagle Test Luger of the US Military Test Guns from the trials conducted in 1901 and fall with in the accepted serial number range with a Serial 6960.(1888)

NOTE: Photographs taken today with the high mega-pixel camera show more than we sometimes can see with the human eye. Magnified close-ups show us tool marks and natural surface conditions that one normally doesn't see in the ordinary handling of the weapon. Photographs are copyrighted, all rights reserved, any extraction, reproduction or display of gun pictures without the express consent of the Phoenix Investment Arms is strictly prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation. Please visit Legal (tabbed) for Conditions of Sale.