November 17 & 18, 2021 Extraordinary Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/18/2021
Old Model Luger manufactured by DWM for Holland's 1905 military test trials. According to "The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols" by Joachim Gortz and Dr. Geoffrey Sturgess, 265 Old Model Lugers were manufactured within the military trials block, 168 of which were supplied to the Dutch bearing crown over "D" proof stamps. Only 10 without crown over "D" proofs are known to have survived. The meaning of the lack of a crown over "D" stamp is not definitively known, while speculation from Gortz and Sturgess suggests that these Lugers were supplied to the Dutch as spares, as was common practice for DWM with military trial contracts at the time. This example falls within the appropriate serial number range of 22200 - 22470 and bears no arsenal proofs aside from the factory-applied serial number. Features include a rust blue finish, 4" barrel, grip safety, dished toggles, flat breechblock, as well as 2-piece checkered walnut grips. The full serial number is present on the front of the frame and bottom of the barrel, with the locking bolt, trigger, sideplate, grip safety, receiver lug, breechblock, and forward & rear toggles matching via either the last two of three digits of the serial number in the commercial fashion. Firing pin does not match, being numbered "66". Complete with one nickel-plated magazine with a wood bottom stamped "Cal. 9 m/m". CONDITION: Metal components retain large amounts of their arsenal blue finish, exhibiting areas of wear all around that show through to grey patina as well as a few spots of oxidation overall. Strawed components show varying degrees of wear, with the locking bolt, trigger, and magazine catch retaining good amounts of their straw finish and with remaining components mostly being in-the-white and showing some age-related discoloration. Bore is bright, exhibiting light oxidation within the grooves and retaining good rifling throughout. Grips show smoothing to the checkering, with a few nicks to the diamonds as well as a small repaired split on the left grip panel, just below the safety lever. Magazine body shows light oxidation to the nickel finish, with the wood bottom missing its left ear. A very scarce Dutch 1905 military trials Luger that would make for a fine addition to the advanced Luger enthusiast's collection. MLW