1938 Krieghoff Rig

1938 Krieghoff Rig PENDING

This is a very good 1938 dated Krieghoff manufactured Luger in a final shipment of the contract of 10,000 for the German Air Force in begun in 1935 and delivered in 1936, 1937& 1938. This is serial number 9995 only five Parabellums from the 10,000 contract number. This variation represents only 50 known Lugers produced in 1938 and bears the brown grips of this one year production. This is a full rig with an all matching Luger, including the matching magazine, a proofed Krieghoff holster and proofed loading tool with a second matching magazine. (1502)

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.


There was a short fall in the deliveries caused by the serialized weapons in the 1 to 10,000 range that failed the proof test (becoming the "P" Codes), and other special guns (Turkish Air Force and Heinrich Krieghoff #1,000 [presentation gun]) being sold or given away prior to the Luftwaffe delivery. Note the fine checkered brown grips utilized just in 1938.

Military Krieghoff Lugers bear serial numbers of one through five digits without any suffix. They began military production in 1935 with the "G" Code at serial number 1 and continued consecutively upward until approximately 13000 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.


This is an "1938" with the following characteristics: Krieghoff trademark logo with the sword/anchor and "HK Suhl". This is a 9mm has a 100mm barrel (4") barrel, a thumb safety lever with safe down marked Gesichert and the extractor is marked GELADEN (loaded). The Luger has a hold open and stock lug. Eagle 2 proofs Stage I and Stage II are found throughout the gun (illustrated below). It has been stated that only 50 Lugers were produced in 1938.

The serial number range is from 9,500 to 10,100 with the 1938 dates sprinkled within this range. Although the original contract was for 10,000 Parabellums to the Luftwaffe and 1937 was supposed to be the year of completion some of the numbers actually ran in 1938 because of rejects and guns pulled for presentations.

Randall Gibson wrote in The Krieghoff Parabellum: " The LWaA 1st Acceptance Inspection - Stage I markings are a combination of Early, Mid and Late. These 1938 dated examples are the only ones to utilize the LWaA 1st Acceptance Inspection Stage II, Mid mark."

Study of the pictures of the chamber dates in *The Krieghoff Parabellum* and other 1938 dates we have examined shows the slight cant of the "8" in the date. This was undoubtedly created when the date stamp was engraved. This is an all matching gun including the magazine. There is a 'v' notch rear sight on the rear link and a full bladed inverted 'v' sight on the front.



The Krieghoff holsters rarely bear a makers cartouche (some have a Krieghoff Co. proof) and are marked on the inside with the Eagle 6 Krieghoff proof. There is a Luftwaffe Eagle stamped into the top flap of the holster. This holster is in excellent condition with all the stitching intact and pull strap function with the closures fully functional.


The tool pocket is in excellent condition and you can see the Krieghoff proof in the back of inside.

The loading tool has the Eagle 2 proof. The two matching magazines represent two extruded Haenel blued sleeve that were introduced in the 8000 range. Serial #9995 (matching) is the late matching marked Schmeisser Patent marked while the second is an extruded 122 Early found in the 10,000 - 12,000 range. Both rare magazines.


Here is the inside of the 1938 Luger and you can see it is clean and has been well cared for over the years. The trigger is serial numbered as well as the rear main axel pin. The action is tight and the barrel is excellent.

The Krieghoff magazine proof is unique to Krieghoff as they struck the early years of the production up-side-down from all the other Luger manufacturers methods of proofing. The Eagle 2 later is "standardized

Although military in reality these fine handguns were made with the same care and precision as commercial Lugers without the usual exposed numbering. Just a clean and beautiful Parabellum

The rear of the side plate has the last two digits of the serial number and the distinct Eagle 6 along with the proofed firing pin.

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. Most people believe the Lugers were issued to the pilots and air crews but the seats in most of the aircraft where much too small for the Luger. The bulk of the guns went to the Fallschirmjaeger or German paratroops and the Flak troops.


This is a fantastic rig of a very rare 1938 Krieghoff with a solid holster, Krieghoff proof holster and loading tool.
	Luftwaffe ME 262 - The worlds first operational jet fighter.
Note the hidden last two digits of the serial numbers and the Eagle 6 proofs on the toggles and links.

Located under the first toggle is the Eagle 6 proof and the last two digits of the serial number. On the second toggle link instead of being marked on the rear with the serial number it is placed on the bottom. Maintaining the clean custom look of the Krieghoff.

Production commenced in the Suhl plant in 1935 and by the end of 1937 the 10,000 contract was nearly completed. This completed the "Early" military contract of which this Luger is a member. While there are very few examples known of the "G" chamber marked date (less than 50 believed produced) they are believed to be the 1934-5 production. The "S" dated chambers were begun in 1935, followed by the "36" and then the full "1936". hereafter the full year dates were used.

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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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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