Phoenix Investment Arms

1940 Mauser Reichsbahn PENDING

PHOENIX INVESTMENT ARMS - PREMIUM COLLECTOR LUGERS

Genuine German Luger - Largest Variety of Lugers Offered

This is a 1940 Mauser Commercial Banner Luger issued to the German Railway Service "Deutsche Reichsbahn". The Luger is all matching with two matching magazines in a Waffenamt proofed holster with an Officers Reichsbahn buckle. These were utilized by the Bahnschutzpolizei who were responsible for railway security. (1298)

NOTE: Photographs taken today with the high mega-pixel camera show more than we sometimes can see with the human eye. Magnified close-ups show us tool marks and natural surface conditions that one normally doesn't see in the ordinary handling of the weapon. Photographs are copyrighted, all rights reserved, any extraction, reproduction or display of gun pictures without the express consent of the Phoenix Investment Arms is strictly prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation. Please visit Legal (tabbed) for Conditions of Sale.

The Deutsche Reichsbahn ("German Reich Railway") was the name of the German national railway created from the railways of the individual states of the German Empire following the end of World War I.

It was founded in 1920 as the Deutsche Reichseisenbahnen when the Weimar Republic (formally "Deutsches Reich," hence the usage of "Reich" in the name of the railway) took national control of the German railways, which had previously been run by the German states.

In 1924 it was reorganized under the aegis of the Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft (DRG), a nominal private railway company, which was 100% owned by the German state.

In 1937 it was reorganized again as a state authority and given the name Deutsche Reichsbahn (DRB). After the Anschluss in 1938 the DR also took over the Bundesbahn Österreich (BBÖ, Federal Railway of Austria).


This Parabellum is 9mm with a 4" (100mm) barrel that is proofed and serial numbered to the gun. Serial number placement is in the military ("exposed") style. The thumb safety is marked "Gesichert" and extractor "Geladen." This example has all matching numbers and is one of the finest commercial Banner contract Lugers we have seen.

Above Left: The extractor is marked "GELADEN" (Loaded) which notifies the shooter both visually and digitally that the Luger has a round in the chamber. The barrel is commercially marked with the serial number, gauge marking and pre-1939 acceptance stamp. Above right: The very clean bottom with the last two digits of the serial number on the locking lever and side plate.

The barrel is marked with the serial number and gauge marking to match the receiver and magazines. The magazines were salt blued/black with extruded steel, aluminum bottoms and a new zigzag spring with the P.08 markings. These magazines were supplied for mostly Mauser Lugers bearing the Code FXO, and an E37.

This is an extraordinary clean gun with like new grips and and front and rear back strap. The four digit serial number is in the "i" block and the last two digits of the serial number on all the small parts including the 1st toggle link and rear toggle.

In 1933, the German government established the Bahnschutz (railroad special protection force). This organization, the personnel of which were drawn from railroad employees, was responsible for the protection of the railroads in time of war and civil disorder. Three basic armed security arms acted for the Reichsbahn:

Bahnschutz – protected rail property from theft and sabotage.

Bahnpolizei – kept discipline within the rail workforce.

Wassershutzpolitzei – patrolled railway facilities in harbors, canals & waterways.

In 1937, Hitler brought the German Railway System under complete national control.

All three services were amalgamated in 1941 under the title of Bahnshutzpolizei. It soon came under the control of Himmler and the SS took more responsibility for the control and management of prisoners and security on the German Railway.

In 1944 the Bahnschutzpolizei changed its name to SS-Bahnshutz.


The right side of the Parabellum has the two Eagle 655 proofs of the Stage I & II proofs and the Eagle/Swastika of the Waffenamt proof for the post 1939 Swastika Eagle. The fact that the barrel shows the earlier (pre-1939) dropped wing Waffenamt tells us the barrel was proofed prior to 1939 and was being used from old stock prior to the termination of the P08 Parabellum contract in 1942.

This Parabellum is 9mm with a 4" (100mm) barrel with a fixed serrated front sight that is proofed and serial numbered to the gun. Serial number placement is in the military ("exposed") style. The thumb safety is marked "Gesichert" and extractor "Geladen." This example has all matching numbers. There is a "V" notched rear sight and stock lug.

To conceal production a series of codes to conceal production from the Allies. Codes assigned to Mauser were S/42, 42, and byf. The Mauser Logo in the traditional barrel or Banner design was used for commercial guns so to licensed individuals. Towards the end of Parabellum production commercial Luger's were sold to the military and mostly SS and special government offices. This Luger has a almost deep blue, commercial color to it. It is in very clean condition and an exceptionally fine piece.

The Left side of the receiver shows the Eagle 655 proof and the Waffenamt on the receiver and barrel which is the straight wing eagle with the swastika. A lot of people refer to this as the Nazi proof or Nazi Luger when in fact Der Führer, Adolf Hitler, came to power in 1934 as the Reichskanzler and issued the "Enabling Act" the Nazi Government was firmly in place and every weapon from 1934-1945 can be considered a Nazi gun. The Left close up also shows the drooped wing eagle on the barrel of the pre-1939 Waffenamt acceptance proof.

The Luger has a stock lug and and the rig comes with a loading tool and matching grips. The magazine is a Type III extruded Eagle 37 proofed FXO. Coming to us as a full rig, taken from a train commander or an officer of the Reichsbahn the gun shows little holster wear and the belt buckle is minty.

After the fall of Poland, the DR's primary responsibilities were to ensure the fulfillment of the terms of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact signed in August of 1939. As may be recalled, in return for Soviet "neutrality" during the German campaign against Poland, the Soviet Union was obliged to deliver large quantities of goods (primarily foodstuffs and raw materials) to Germany. Because Germany and Poland used standard gauge rail lines (1435mm) and the Soviets continued to use the Czarist era's wide gauge lines (1528mm) - Germany was obliged to construct two special gauge conversion yards on the German-Soviet border. One such yard was built in Malaszevica (Brest-Litovsk) and the other in Przemsyl. 66% of the required Soviet deliveries were trans-shipped through these two rail yards. Naturally, these two rail yards also became key rail centers once Germany began with Barbarossa.


Above is the inside of the holster, strong white original thread and was customary brown of the civilian-Nazi SA organization. This is a very desirable holster to the collector with the original brown leather and the 1940 date showing on the back side and the front died black to comply with the uniform order.

The back of the holster show the manufactures code and "1940" date, the Waffen Amt proof and there is no P08 which would indicate a commercial holster that was militarized. This is a real collectors jewel.


The Reichsbahn belt buckle came in two variations, the square buckle which was issued to regular trainmen and police. The round gold washed buckle was issued with the dress belt to officers of the Reichsbahn. This buckle has the Assman proof and RZM number. A fine addition to anyone's WWII display.

The proofed loading tool with the Eagle 655 Proof; very difficult to find or match to a gun. The belt appears to be a commercial lined version with the once gold washed buckle latch. The right close up of the Mauser Barrel indicates this is an eight stave barrel. Mauser collectors judge dates by the Banner barrel staves.
The Deutsche Reichsbahn (German National Railway) was one of the major uniformed civilian or "civil service" branches of the German government. It was a branch of the Reichsverkehrsministerium (National Transportffraffic Ministry), headed by the Reichsverkehrsminister (National Minister of Transport).
Above Right: Both of the magazines are an FXO type which makes it another prize for collectors as these are very limited in Mauser Parabellums and mostly found on the 1940's dated Krieghoff. Below the grips are matching in serial numbers. Below Right the last two digits of the serial number on the thumb safety.





It is entirely subjective to give any Luger a rating of excellent or fine, just as it is to declare it xx% blued or strawed. Few Lugers are out of the box new and these are premium priced. Bluing percentages is like Beauty, in the eye of the beholder. We strive to provide pictures so you can judge for yourself if the gun meets your criteria.


In 1939, 84 trains moved eastwards every day - by June of 1941, eight months after the start of the "Otto" program, 220 trains moved eastwards every day. Many of the DR trains serving the needs of the Wehrmacht during this period were cleverly disguised as normal civilian trains. After all, the goal was to move 141 German divisions to the Soviet border without detection. During the fist five months of 1941, nearly 34.000 trainloads of supplies and troops were unloaded in the east. Remarkably, the German and Polish rail lines in the east were not used at their maximum capacities during the build-up period. This in fact benefited the civilian rail commerce greatly and later, it allowed Germany to adjust to the realities of war faster than anticipated or originally planned for.


The above picture shows the Parabellum in full recoil and the side plate and grip removed. Once can see the insides reflect the care and maintenance this 73 yr old battlefield favorite deserves. The barrel is strong with distinctive lands and grooves. At the rear of the gun you can see the numbering of the rear main axel pin. Below Right: In 1932 the Reichswehrministerium issued an order that the rear main axel pin be serial numbered to the gun. You can also see a fine examples of the fire-blued pins.

The exposed trigger reveals the last two digits of the serial number and also on the locking lever. On the right the thumb safety is up in the firing position; a change made in 1908 at the insistence of the German Army.

An Electric Trolley; part of the German Transportation System during WWII

This WWII very seldom encountered Reichsbahn full rig comes with an all matching 1940 dated Mauser Commercial Banner contract P08, an Officer's belt and buckle from the Deutsche Reichsbahn (Railway), along with a "1940" dated holster, Eagle 655 proofed loading tool and extra matching magazine. Included is a black dress belt with the Reichsbahn belt buckle, a rare find. Any questions to josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com. We reserve the right to sell this offering to a direct sale and do not warranty of any gun that does not have a physical deposit. This gun may be withdrawn without notice for in-store sales. This entire rig is offered for $4,295.00.

LAYAWAYS: Sometimes our "significant other" doesn't understand the beauty, craftsmanship and investment potential of one of these investor grade weapons. In these circumstances where discretion becomes the better part of valor we will accept layaways of up to one year with at least 20% down and some activity occurring monthly to insure that after one year the sale is completed. Cancellations of layaways forfeit 33% if done within two months, otherwise 100%. You can transfer a layaway to a consignment sale at any time. See "Legal" for exact terms.

See Credits, Bibliography, Notices and Disclaimers.

3 Day Return Policy

We honor a three day return policy. We will answer any questions, send you any pictures, as detailed as you want, to insure that what we are showing you is what you want to see, before you buy it. See Legal.

FIRING ANY WEAPON NEGATES ANY CHANCE OF RETURN!

WARNING: We do not represent these guns as safe to fire. They are not test fired before sale; they are sold as collectibles only. Prior to firing you should have it inspected by a qualified individual and abide by all safety requirements.

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