1926 Simson & Co, Suhl Luger

This is a very rare 1926 Dated Simson & Co., Suhl Luger that was produced for the German Weimar Republic. It is a 9mm military model with a 100mm barrel and all matching. It has a stock lug and hold open, magnificently proofed with the Eagle 6 of Simson. (928)

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Simson & Co., were the designated sole producers of the Parabellum after WWI. Simson began producing Lugers for the Weimar Republic from April 1, 1924 until March 31, 1934. Hence the 1925-1926 chamber dates. Some people write that dated Simsons are all re-works; others indicate that after the initial supply of parts from Erfurt were expended Simson built their own. No Simson worker has survived to document all the antidotal history so we have to surmise most of our information from collective inspections of various guns attributed to Simson and their multitude of identifying proofs.

The recent book by Edward Tinker and Graham Johnson, The Simson Luger has attempted to document by profusely illustrating the development of the Simson Luger and provides extensive research into this most prized collector Parabellum. This is a marvelous gun to study for all the proofs it provides.


This is a 1926 dated Simson. It is Eagle 6 Simson 1st & 2nd proofs plus acceptance marks. The Eagle proof indicates that new manufacture. The first toggle link is marked with the Simson monogram, and there is the "V" rear sight on the last toggle link. The extractor is marked "Geladen" on the left side and the safety is marked "Gesichert" with the safe position being downward.

There are inspector marks all over the weapon in a variety of eagle stamps. Most prominent is the Eagle 6 Simpson Military First Inspection proof. The sequence of proofs usually represents (from left to right) E/6, Receiver Hardened, E/33 Ready for the Power Proof, E/6 After Shooting in and finally, the Weimar acceptance proof (Eagle) on the receiver and barrel after power proofing. Proof marks are well struck and clearly visible.



The serial number appears on the front of the frame, on the left side of the receiver, under the barrel and the last two digits on most small parts. All serials match including a matching magazine. The finish on the gun is a function of polishing. Some parts of the gun have a very polished finish, others do not. This in part is the result of "parts" being incorporated from Erfurt stocks and newly manufactured Simson parts.

1925 & 1926 were the only two years that Simson issued numbered Parabellums. The original records were lost during the war so most of the data is surmised by those who have studied the guns and flushed out with antidotal oral history. In all our attempts to add empirical precision to dates, styles, proofs, or other observed variations it is sometimes important to remember the old adage; "if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck eventually we must assume it is a duck. This looks like a 1926 Simson to us.

The inside of the gun is clean and in excellent condition. This Luger needs a good home to extend its care.

Almost indefinable, there are proof marks on the grip screws. (Right Photo)

Jan Sill in his book Weimar and Early Nazi Lugers pictures on page 69 and 71 shows the 1926 dated Simson.

See also Kenyon, Page 222-223, Lugers at Random

The tale of this Luger begins with the obvious. On the front strap is a Crown Letter telling us that the frame at least was an Erfurt.

Above right we see a drooped eagle wing "H" which was an very early Mauser re-work proof.

On the trigger is what appears to be another crown letter which would make this an Erfurt proofed trigger which was then inspected by a Simson inspector.

Below Left is the Eagle 33 which is a Simson military proof for hardness and tolerances



	Matching magazine, matching grips, this Luger is complete. This is a very desirable gun for the Simson collector and does not usually appear in this fine condition.
	The side plate tells us that the Drooped Wing Eagle RC means that at the very least this gun was re-worked for the side plate. 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.

The estimated production of 1926 Dated Simson Lugers was approximately 100 guns. This gun appears to have been built with the majority of newly made Simson parts and so proofed along with other parts the have Erfurt proofs. We know that not only did Simson get the machines and technicians from Erfurt they also received all the excess parts so it should not be unusual that these parts of found in early Simson Parabellums.

While no one can know for sure we can surmise that this Luger was initially assembled by Simson using an Erfurt frame and trigger with a new top manufactured by Simson. Then sometime in it's life it came back to Simson for some re-work, perhaps a damaged side plate (note inside side plate Crown R/C proof), was proofed and went out again. Then later in its life it came into the Mauser plant and was reworked again in the 1933-34 period. This is one of the enjoyments of Luger collecting, learning and following the trail of the proofs.