*WW1, 1915, German, Imperial DWM Pistole Modell 1908 (PO8) Luger Semi Automatic 9mm. Deactivated.*
This a rare and exciting early WW1 Luger with matching numbers. Serial number 6252. 9mm Cal. 4″ barrel length. This is chambered for 9mm and has a standard 4″ (100mm) barrel fixed sights and walnut grips.
The chamber is dated 1915 which is consistent with DWM production for the German Military contract 1914-1918. DWM – Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken. Serial number 6252 is stamped on the frame before the barrel, and under the barrel followed by a C. (military lugers were numbered 1-10000 and then 1a-10000a, 1b-1000b, and so on) and the abbreviated 52 in an additional 7 places. The magazine is stamped with a cross 7 6682 – signifying it was a DWM military spare mag with a wood bottom which were in use 1908-1918. The right side of the receiver has the Imperial Military Receiver Proofs plus the Eagle (Alder) consistent with DWM 1914 production models. The toggle mark is the logo DWM which is consistent with Lugers produced by DWM Production 1900-1922. The luger safety mark “Gesichert” is the 1908 type safety marking used on most models made after 1908.
The Luger, also known as the Luger P08, is a toggle-locked, recoil-operated semi-automatic pistol. It was manufactured in various models by multiple nations between 1898 and 1949. Georg Luger patented the original design, aiming to enhance the Borchardt C-93 pistol. Initially, it was produced by the German company Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken (DWM) as the Parabellum Automatic Pistol, Borchardt-Luger System.
The Luger found official adoption by the Swiss military in 1900, the Imperial German Navy in 1906, and the German Army in 1908. In 1908, the German Army replaced the Reichsrevolver with the DWM Parabellum pistol, naming it Pistole Modell 1908 (P08) Parabellum. When World War I began, the German Army was well-equipped with the Luger, with DWM’s Berlin factory reaching peak production in 1915, manufacturing 700 Parabellums per day. The estimated total production by DWM during the war was approximately 740,000. This was remarkable considering that each Luger was individually machined, hand-fitted, and proofed. Many Lugers were lost during the war, making surviving examples, now nearly a century old, highly valued collectibles worldwide.
*Condition*
This rare Luger is in great condition. The magazine release button works and the mag itself is also in good condition. Fully deactivated. Please see pictures for more detail.
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