May 12-14, 2026 Firearms & Militaria
Lot #1179:
(C) IMPORTANT FIRST EVER PRODUCED DWM 1900 SWISS LUGER SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL, SERIAL NUMBER 1.
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/12/2026
Produced by DWM in May of 1901. Rust blue finished with a 4 - 3/4" tapered round barrel with drift adjustable barleycorn front blade sight. Swiss sunburst crest on chamber with script "DWM" on toggle assembly. Finely checkered oil finished walnut grips. Wood based magazine with nickel silver finger plates and shallow loading button. Grip safety and dished/beveled grasping lugs on toggle. Straw finished safety, trigger, and takedown latch. Safety position on frame remains polished bright. The early design also has the non-relieved magazine slot that was almost immediately found to be lacking, and a larger button was installed on magazines requiring a relief slot to be milled into the magazine well. Serial numbered in what later became the commercial pattern, this example, serial number 01, is in fact the very first Military Contract Luger produced and part of a 610 gun contract for Switzerland and became known as the Model 1900. Chambered for the 7.63 Luger cartridge with 8 round capacity. The "01" numbering is believed to have been done because the numbering fixtures were not capable of a single digit application. This pistol was issued in 1901 and remained in the possession of the Swiss Officer until it was deaccession to Hank Vissner and later Geoff Sturgess. This amazing and historic pistol is featured on pages 108 & 109 of the "PISTOL PARABELLUM" by Goetz & Sturgess and is discussed in great detail. This pistol is housed in a contemporary fitted case with 3 original small button magazine, loading tool and cleaning rod. as well as a period faux cartridge box. PROVENANCE: Hank Vissner Collection; Dr. Geoff Sturgess. CONDITION: Superb overall with more than 97% rust blue finish remaining. Most all straw coloring is intact and the grips are excellent with some light handling. Bore is brilliant bright and the gun remains mechanically excellent. All numbers found to be matching and correct. Case and accessories are equally fine. While other military handguns are emblematic to their specific nations the Luger pistol has been known as the "World's Pistol" and is the most identified and prized collectible pistol known.