1923 Commercial Luger

This is a post-WWI Parabellum built from the existing stock of parts when production stopped suddenly in November 1918 with the Armistice and abdication of the Kaiser. This is a 1923 designated by the manufacturer, DWM (Deutsche Waffen-und Munitionsfabriken AG), on the first toggle link and built for export. The barrel was designated by the Treaty of Versailles to no length 100mm or greater and a caliber less than 9mm. This was supposed to be a clever trick to deny the Germans the ability to use their in-place machinery to produce military weapons. Instead the Germans to 2 mm off the barrel and reached into the existing ammunition of 7.65mm which was very popular and plentiful to produce this interim Lugers. (1320)

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.

On June 28th, 1919, Germany signed the formal Peace Treaty sealing the previous armistice of November 11th - this was the well known Treaty of Versailles. According to the treaty Germany was allowed a standing armed forces of 100,000 men. This new and highly regulated force was to be known simply as the Reichswehr which was officially formed on January 1st, 1921. It consisted of the newly named Reichsmarine and Reichsheer. The Reichsheer consisted of 2 Group Commands, 7 Infantry Divisions and 3 Cavalry Divisions. The Reichswehr and Reichsmarine would exist until 1935 when the WWII-era Wehrmacht was formed.


The extractor is marked "GELADEN". The bore is good with distinctive lands and groove. The thumb safety is new style, and blued. The thumb safety is marked 'Gesichert' and safe is down. This example has all matching numbers.


This Parabellum is 7.65mm with a 98 mm barrel that is proofed and serial numbered to the gun. Serial number placement is in the commercial ("hidden") style. The bore is good with distinctive lands and groove.

The barrel is marked with a five digit serial number centered indicating that this was a commercial designated gun from inception; not an over-numbered military with a suffix that because known as the alphabet guns. The frame matches the barrel assembly and GERMANY, stamped under the barrel (Country of Origin required on all export guns). You can see the side plate also possessing the last two digits of the serial number under the side plate. The bottom of the magazine is showing some old marks from a military day, characteristic of the military gun numbering.

The period between the end of World War I in 1918 and the rise of the Third Reich in 1933 was a time of tremendous transition and great change for the German military. This period saw the end of the Imperial German armed forces, the fall the of the Kaiserreich, the establishment of the Weimar Republic, the rise of numerous ad-hoc, volunteer, paramilitary, counter-revolutionary Freikorps units, and the formation of 3 major versions of the official German armed forces culminating in the Reichswehr that would become the Wehrmacht in 1935.


The finish shows honest holster wear, this model has a hold open latch and stock lug and the first toggle link is marked with the DWM Logo. There is the "V" rear sight on the rear toggle link and the last two digits of the serial number appear. This is a basic shooter and collector gun.

The right side of the receiver is clean of military proof marks, emphasizing its origins as a commercial manufacture. The trigger and locking lever along with the magazine release show above the straw (nitrate) bluing that was done on these Lugers to bring out their distinctive design. The crown "N" proof was introduced in 1906 as a derivative of the 1893 Proof Law. For commercial gun intended for public sale it was upright and replaced a plethora of various proof house individual proofs.

While exported to the US between the wars these guns were sold through most of the sporting houses while the large sporting houses fought for export rights. A F Stoeger, Pacific Firearms, Abercrombie & Finch all sought distribution rights for the "Luger" that opposed our forces in WWI and everyone remember for its efficiency and beauty.


The extractor is (seen above the breach block) on the receiver with the extractor extended indicating a round in the chamber. This was both a visible check and at night one could feel the extrusion that the Luger was ready to fire. There is also a Crown N proof on the first toggle link.

On March 6th, 1919 a new German armed forces was formed through official German decree known as the Vorläufige Reichswehr, or Provisional German Defense Force. The Provisional German Defense Force consisted of the Vorläufige Reichsheer and the Vorläufige Reichsmarine. Many Freikorp units served partly or entirely as the basis of the Vorläufige Reichsheer which consisted of about 400,000 men in nearly 50 Brigade sized units.


This Luger has been cared for over 92 years now. It is looking for a good home. The late 1914 model short frame, short sear and basic Parabellum would serve any collectors slot for a solid Luger.

The most distinctive feature of these pistols is undoubtedly the toggle-lock mechanism, which holds the breech closed by locking in a manner not unlike the human knee, which can sustain a heavy weight when straight, but once bent is quite easy to continue to bend. The toggle joint in its straight position resists the rearward force of the detonating cartridge, then "buckles" after enough time has passed. When a round is fired the entire breech, barrel and toggle move straight rearward (on rails) until the toggle begins to ride up on a pair of cams that "breaks" the toggle (makes it bend at the joint). Once the toggle joint is no longer straight, it bends freely, allowing the bolt to come rearward, and the striker to be cocked. The spent cartridge is extracted by a combination extractor/loaded chamber indicator on the top of the toggle, is ejected as the toggle nears the end of its rearward free travel, returning, and a new round is stripped from the magazine and chambered as the toggle is driven back to the straight position by a spring.


Here you can see the many places where the serial number has been placed to identify all the machined parts of these Lugers. It is truly inspiring to find proofs and serial numbers wherever you look indicating the craftsmanship these guns possess.

This 1923 Commercial is a solid 7.65mm Luger offered at a bargain price to the collector or shooter as a solid example of the Parabellum assembled and sold on the international market after WWI Any questions to josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com . We reserve the right to sell any internet offering to a direct sale and no not warrant the availability of any firearm. Call for availability. Offered for $1,295.00 over the counter with the reservation that the gun may be sold before being posted as such on the internet. This gun may be withdrawn without notice for in-store sale. We reserve the right to sell any internet offering to a direct sale and do not warrant the availability of any firearms that do not have a cash deposit.

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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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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