1945 Dated H. Krieghoff

This is the legendary 1945 Dated Krieghoff, one of two hundred believed made a the Suhl plant at the very end of the war. This was the last of the wartime Nazi Lugers and the fine quality of Krieghoff is still evident. This is a Chamber Dated 1945 Krieghoff, made for the German Luftwaffe from over run parts based on the 10,000 gun contract that was finished in 1938 with the shipment of the last 2500 guns. These were the very last of the war time Lugers before the plant was occupied by the American troops in Suhl. This is a 1908 Model, 9mm with a 4" (100mm) Barrel. (1365)

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In 1934 the Luftwaffe announced it was seeking bids for military pistols. It is assumed that Krieghoff had acquired the old Erfurt Luger tooling from Simpson to enable it to contract for only 10,000 Lugers in 9mm. The chamber date places the assembly as an example of the original military contract.

Reichmarshall Hermann Göering as Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) was directly involved in the contract with Heinrich Krieghoff as the corporate head of Reichwerke Hermann Göering which let Luftwaffe contracts.

Göering entered the army in 1914 as an Infantry Lieutenant, before being transferred to the air force as a combat pilot. The last Commander in 1918 of the Richthofen Fighter Squadron, Göering distinguished himself as an air ace, credited with shooting down twenty-two Allied aircraft. Awarded the Pour le Merite and the Iron Cross (First Class), he ended the war as a much decorated pilot and war hero.




Here we can see the last two digits of the serial number on all the toggle links and the E2 on the coupling link.

Here is the right side of the Krieghoff with the stage II proofs and the final Krieghoff Logo that had experienced slight changes over the year. Some collectors hold that these guns were produced in one lot in 1944 and delivered later, others link the proofs and inspector marks to two different production lots. In any case if you believe the date of production or the date of delivery dictated the head stamp date this gun clear is dated 1945 and within the stated serial number block for the 1945 Krieghoff Luger.

By the end of the war Krieghoff was adopting the H/S FXO or E122 magazines. The matching serial number on the frame and the stage II proof on the barrel. By this stage of the war the barrels were not serial numbered.


The inside of this Luger is in Very Good condition. Someone recognized the value of this gun and it has been well cared for over the last 63 years.

*FALLSCHIRMJÄGER* were the German paratroops who were a part of the Luftwaffe and (as we can see in the pictures above) who were armed with the Luger.

Above Left: The traditional space for the side plate marking is the inside of the side plate for Krieghoff and the 1945 HK is no exception. Above Right: the Luger toggles in full recoil.

Military Krieghoff Lugers bear serial numbers of one through five digits without any suffix. They began military production in 1935 with the "S" Code at serial number 1 and continued consecutively upward until approximately 13158 (known) in early 1945. The serial numbers overlapped "variations" as defined by collectors and require some study to be certain the exact variation one is looking at.




Serial number placement is in the military ("exposed") style. Gibson reported just 200 dated 1945 Lugers were finished before the factory was overrun by units of the American 11th Division. This is fine, well struck example. Since these guns are so rare, (we have only seen four in 35 years) we have included some more detail pictures for your enjoyment.

	The thumb safety is marked "Gesichert" and safe is in the down position. The extractor is marked "Geladen." This Luger has all matching numbers. The barrel is not numbered yet proofed as was standard for 1945. There are extensive LWaA 1st & 2nd acceptance proofs throughout the gun. Clean and finely struck.

This extremely rare 1945 dated Krieghoff is the crowning jewel in most Krieghoff collector's collection. If there are any questions regarding this end of the war issue email josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com. This Luger is offered over-the-counter for $35,000 and is subject to prior sale. Please check for availability.


This is one of the "known" 1945 Krieghoff's, its picture appears on page 188 of Gibson's *The Krieghoff Parabellum.* Although adopting the black plastic late war fxo E37 magazine the bottom is pinned and represents a higher quality than those found on the similar Mauser models. This Luger is in marvelous shape and can only be thought of as a presentation gun that late in the war.



Here you can see the highly defined late Krieghoff logo, the 1945 date but also the Krieghoff production proofing on the receiver and side rail.




Early Luftwaffe posters promoting the service.