German Luger Collectibles

1916 DWM Navy SOLD

This is a early pistol in the Luger contract series with the Imperial Navy. Originally designated the Selbstladepistole Model 1904 by the Navy for the first contract; this is a 1916 DWM (Deutsche Waffen und Munitions Fabriken) dated Navy.

This piece is a 6 inch (150mm) barreled 9mm Parabellum with the Navy adjustable rear sight and matching Navy magazine. The DWM monogram markings appear on the 1st toggle link and the extractor is marked 'Geladen' (Loaded). This example has all matching serial numbers. The thumb safety is marked "Gesichert" and when exposed (safety down) means safe. It also has a very unusual characteristic with an adjustable hold-open adjustment. (1773)

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Serial number placement is in the civilian ("hidden") style. The serial number appears on the front of the frame, on the bottom of the locking bolt, on the trigger, on the bottom of the barrel, the side plate, and under the first toggle, and the thumb safety.

This is a very difficult gun to find in any condition. The German Navy was a salt-water service and the survivability of the German Imperial fleet was not enviable. Penned into the North and Baltic sea for duty the Navy spent a lot of time in port. The Parabellums were initially issued with the safety up but then with the 1908 conversion to safety down the Navy recalled all the Luger's and had the thumb safety modified. See Kenyon *Lugers at Random* Page 152.


The Marinen Proof and the 3 digit serial number appearing on the bottom of the barrel and the last two digits of the serial number on the stop lug & on the bottom of the first toggle.. (We have lightened the number for your convenience.) .

This Luger has all matching numbers. The four digit number is mid-range in the 1916 production range. The magazine is the original with the *Marinen* Crown Proof and the matching serial number. Here you can see the matching serial number of the barrel, the front of the frame, the locking lever and the bottom of the side plate plus the grips are numbered to the gun. The magazine is matching with the *Marinen* Crown Proof & the matching serial number.

The right side of the Parabellum is as clean as a commercial; model without any proofs or stamps (standard configuration on the Navy version). Also seen is the hold-open adjustment knob which has never been reported in any of the research material we have ever seen.

1916 German Submarine Crewman

Above Left: The flags of the Imperial Navy from the Kriegsflagge (War Flag) to the Squadron Pennants. There was a special flag for when the Kaiser was aboard the ship.


What makes this Navy a very unusual go is the adjustable hold open on the right side of the gun. What the purpose of this additional appendage is unknown to the ages; what we can see is that that shooter can raise or lower the hold open to any elevation.

The first toggle link is marked with the DWM logo. There is the two-position (100-200m) sight on the rear toggle link and the last two digits of the serial number appear on the rear toggle. Most of the Imperial Luger's are marked on the right side of the receiver with the Imperial proof marks; the proofing on the "Navy Model" has always been distinctive with the Crown M for Imperial Marinen, the small date on the muzzle and side rail of the frame and the Crown acceptance proof all on the left side.

Above Left: This is a post-1914 short sear model that enables the Luger to be cocked when the thumb safety (Gesichert - Above) is in the safe mode. This problem was solved by one of Georg Luger's last patents shortening the sear on later models. Above Right: The Parabellum in full recoil shows the rear main axel pin that the Imperial Navy ordered to have an enlarged flange to protect it during recoil. This large flange was not adopted by the army.


The extractor is marked "Geladen" (Loaded) which not only can be seen but also felt by the shooter in the dark. The rear ramp sight is two position for 100 meter and 200 meter sighting. The serial number is on both the short sear and the sear stop. In 1915 Luger shortened the sear so the gun could be cocked without releasing the safety. This Navy is the classic; complete with matching magazine. Note below the GELADEN showing the gun is loaded both visually and by feel by the shooter. The wear on the side plate shows this gun was holstered most of its service life. The highlight of the rails and wear at the muzzle are further demonstrations of honest holster wear.

Above: The Navy squeeze-type 200 meter rear sight. This Navy is the classic; complete with matching magazine. The finish shows honest wear and would be rated excellent for an Imperial Navy. This model has a custom or experimental hold open latch and comes with a stock lug.

The 100/200 meter Navy sight. The Navy was issued with a stock and holster similar to the 8" (200mm) Artillery model for the Navy Marines. This is the basic Navy that collectors either add or upgrade into their collections. Truly an Imperial Navy collectors classic gun.


The right side reveals a knob below the ejector which permits that shooter to adjust the height of the hold open. There is no clear path to an answer as to why, perhaps they were experimenting with different multi-round magazines that didn't match the conventional Parabellum extension into the chamber well. This 1916 Navy has the thumb safety and a stock lug.

The German Navy had three dockyards — at Wilhelmshaven, Kiel and Danzig. The last named was of minor importance, at least as a fitting-out yard. The dockyard superintendent (Oberwerst Director) was a Rear-Admiral or captain, and is directly subordinate to the Secretary of State. For instanced a Parabellum delivered to Wilhelmshaven and would have subsequently been assigned to a ship where the ships armorer would have placed a unit number for which it was assigned. The absence of this number suggest the Luger wasn't assigned but remained at the Werft in storage or this Parabellum was sent directly to the units serving as infantry after the order to cease unit marking the guns.

Navy Lugers were always marked in an non-exposed manner as opposed to the Army guns which marked on the face of the side plate and locking lug. Navy Models were marked on the bottom of the side plate and locking lever as they did with the commercial models. Both the sear and safety stop are marked with the last two digits of the serial number. See Görtz, *The Navy Luger* See Kenyon *Lugers at Random* Page 156.

The magazine for this Navy Parabellum is the rolled crimped steal, very clean and functional with the ring wooden bottom and the Imperial Navy proof.


On the front of the receiver is the four digit serial number 6381 indicating that this is the 6,381st Navy Parabellum produced in 1916. The rear toggle has the last two digits of the serial number. There were only approximately 8,000 1916 150mm barrel Imperial Navy's issued.


The interior of the Luger is in excellent condition with all the parts matching. The Luger is shown in full recoil and one can see the rear main axel pin and the Imperial Navy proofs. By pushing the thumb safety up we can see where the sear stop can be engaged and moved down to permit the sear to function. The Altered and Second Issue 1906, 1908, 16-17 Navy Models show a clean space under the thumb safety meaning it was ready to fire.

This perhaps an experimental or one-of-one test model shows the adjustment of the hold-open to the lower position with the magazine removed. The above right show the button full up pushing the hold-open to the top of the device to stop the breach block from moving forward.

This Luger has all matching numbers. There are many theories as to why the rings on the Navy magazines; 7.65 - vs. - 9mm, to separate the magazines for accountability. In any case it makes it easy to identify a Navy magazine

The 1916 -18 Imperial Navy put the date on the site band and on the front left rail of the frame. No particular reason can be found for this practice but it is characteristic of all these models. There are no import marks on the WWI marked Navy.

It is entirely subjective to give any firearm a rating of excellent or fine, just as it is to declare it xx% blued or strawed. Few collectible weapons 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. Any questions or request for additional purchases email to josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com This firearm is eligible for transfer to C&R permit holder, even in California. We are registered with CA DOJ for firearms shipment.

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.

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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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