April 27-30, 2021 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/30/2021
Manufactured by DWM under contract for the Portuguese Royal Navy. It is estimated that only 1,000 of these Royal Portuguese Lugers were manufactured during the reign of King Manuel II, who was the last monarch of Portugal. After his exile, a new order of Lugers was placed for Portugal's Navy, with the chamber marking's crown being replaced with an "R.P." (Republic of Portugal). This example's chamber is marked with a crown over an anchor and bears an "MP" proof on the left-hand side for "Marina Portuguesa" (Portuguese Navy). Toggle is marked with the DWM monogram. Matching numbers include the frame, locking bolt, trigger, barrel, receiver, breechblock, and toggles. Grip safety has been renumbered to match, possibly by the arsenal. Grips are mismatched, with the sideplate being unnumbered. Bottom of magazine is marked with the Portuguese triangle within circle proof. Complete with an unidentified leather Luger holster, which shows great resemblances to the Portuguese M2 Luger holster. Holster appears to be unmodified, but is affixed with a should strap which is permanently attached to the rear of the holster and is fitted with a magazine pouch, which is too small for a Luger magazine. CONDITION: Metal components retain good amounts of their original rust blue finish, exhibiting nicks and areas of wear all around that show through to areas of silvering. Frame and grip safety show oxidation beneath the grips. Internal components retain fair amounts of old cosmoline. Proofs are sharp, with the exception of a small area on the bottom of the anchor, which exhibits some fading. Strawed components retain scant traces of their original finish and show age-related discoloration all around. Bore is bright, retaining fair rifling and pitting within the grooves throughout. Grips are mismatched, with the left panel showing a loss to the rear of the safety lever and the right panel showing heavy smoothing. Holster's leather is worn, showing cracking and crazing all around. Stitching is intact. A seldom encountered example of a DWM contract Luger produced during Portugal's last monarchy. -MLW-