Pre-WWI DWM 1906 1st Issue Altered German Imperial Navy Luger 9mm, C&R
SOLD FOR: $3,025
LSB#: 231108DM077
Make: DWM
Model: 1906 Naval Luger, 1st Issue Altered
Serial Number: 6852a
Year of Manufacture: 1908-1912
Caliber: 9mm Parabellum
Action Type: Toggle Action Semi-Automatic with Removable Magazine
Barrel Length: 6”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated, ramped blade dovetailed to a serrated, ramped base fixed to a boss at the muzzle. The rear sight is a two-position “V”-notch assembly at the back of the rear toggle link. There is a button on the right of the notch assembly which allows the sight to be moved forward or rear to the 100 or 200 yard position, respectively.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered wood. The right panel has a non-matching number on the interior. The grips have minor handling wear with some discoloration around the edges, most on the right panel. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Fine condition as not original to the gun.
Type of Finish: Blue & Strawed
Finish Originality: Refinished. Serial marked parts are matching with the exception of the grips.
Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion and minor pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 6 out of 10.
Many military and C&R-eligible weapons have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but to the fact that corrosive primers were commonly used in ammunition worldwide.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 97% of its current metal finish. The finish is generally strong with only a few scattered minor marks and light operational wear. There is infrequent minor erosion under the finish, mostly concealed by the grips when installed. The screw heads are lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are generally clear, the barrel markings are shallow and incomplete. Overall, this pistol is in Fine condition as refinished.
Mechanics: The action works correctly. The barrel assembly has barely perceptible play to the frame. We have not fired this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with one tin plated magazine with matching wood floorplate.
Our Assessment: The Luger (Pistole Parabellum or P-08) is perhaps the most aesthetically and ergonomically pleasing of all autoloading centerfire pistols. It is also one of the strongest, most accurate and most recognizable service pistols ever made. Georg Luger developed his famous pistol in 1898-1899 (starting with the Borchardt/Luger transitional pistol). The Luger is, essentially, a much improved Borchardt type pistol, which was itself based on the toggle action concept used by Sir Hiram Maxim in the world’s first practical machine gun.
This is an interesting variant, a DWM 1906 Naval Luger, 1st Issue Altered. The pistol was made between 1908 and 1912 with mostly matching numbers and the correct proofs, though this pistol was altered, as many of the 1906 models were. The original configuration of the safety was engaged by pushing the lever forward, and when pulled to the rear the pistol was ready to fire. It was determined that this led to the safety being unintentionally disengaged and the mechanism was modified with the opposite arrangement. This was performed at dockyards or armories, and the quality of the re-marking varied. This example has a well-marked “GESICHERT” with the previous marking polished away smoothly.
The pistol has about 97% of its new metal finish remaining. The bore is consistent with a pistol which served not only when corrosive ammunition was common, but also near to salt water. The marking on the backstrap indicates that this pistol was issued to the German naval base at Wilhelmshaven on the German North Sea coast. There were about 19,000 of these pistols made between 1906 and 1912 for the German Navy with a couple thousand more produced with the new safety configuration straight from DWM. This is a somewhat rare pistol; many of the Naval models were lost in the wars that would come to Europe in the first half of the 20th Century. It is sure to gather the attention of the Luger collectors out there. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California -Bud
