1920 Commercial American Eagle Luger

This is a post-war (WWI) produced, very early American Eagle with the "Safe" safety and a "Loaded" extractor. This Parabellum is 9mm with a 4" (100mm) barrel that is proofed and serial numbered to the gun. Serial number placement is in the commercial ("hidden") style. The barrel is marked Crown N the commercial proof and serial numbered to the gun. This example has all matching numbers. (1730)

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.


This is a very unusual gun with a four inch barrel, the short sear, stock attachment, the thumb down "SAFE" safety and straw blued (nitrate) blued parts. Featuring the early vertical Crown N commercial proof this gun was made before mid-1921 when the caliber and barrel length restrictions was imposed on German gun manufacturers and the orders established for export (Stoeger) guns.

The four digit serial number with suffix place this in 1921 for production. The serial number under the side plate, locking lever and the absence of proofs indicates a commercial production.

This is the classic Luger with the fine diamond grips, wood bottom, strawed parts, stock attachment, 100mm (4" barrel) with all the original lines of the Luger. This Parabellum has the short frame and short sear with the finely cut diamond walnut grips. The magazine is DWM with a "Germany" bottom customarily found on the export commercial Lugers.

Serial number placement was in the "commercial manner" indicating this gun was made for commercial sales and stamped "Germany" in accordance with international law directing the company of origin be marked on the guns.

This is an unusual gun from this series in that after the war there was a limitation on the barrel lengths that DWM was allowed to produced and no 9mm (a offensive weapon). Note serial numbers on the bottom of the barrel, locking lever and extractor but no exposed numbers from the top on the extractor, breach block and 1st toggle link.

At the end of WWI DWM (Deutsches Waffen Und Munitionsfabriken ) had lost their best customer, the German Military. Loaded down with orders that wouldn't be accepted and Lugers and parts from a full operation they immediately re-entered the world market to sell guns, which was their trade. Before the Treaty of Versailles was implemented after Germany ratification in July 1919. The treaty restricted weapons manufacture to less than 100mm barrels (4") and less than 9mm.

The Germans during the period after the war were using Navy 6" (150mm) barrels, 9mm and all the military parts that were in their production system. America was a reluctant partner in WWI and a likely candidate for the re-introduction of the Luger. Through Stoeger and Pacific Firearms these variations appeared and began the between the wars export of the Luger.




On the matching barrel is a Crown N test proof and no gauge marking found on the military guns. This might indicate this was a "new" barrel that had not been submitted to military testing. The frame has the matching serial number and the GERMANY evenly stamped (not after production) providing evidence this was a commercial gun from the start. The magazine has the GERMANY stamp on the bottom
	The American Eagle was obviously meant for the American export market; here you can see the "Loaded" printed on the extractor which could tell a shooter by sight or feel that the gun was loaded. "SAFE" predicts this among the very first of the 1920's most coveted 'SAFE' & 'LOADED' variation.

The evolution of the "Safe & Loaded" Stoeger contract was yet to come in the 1920's commercial guns. At this time DWM was using everything it had in the production line to build commercial Lugers for sale. The Crown N in the vertical position was a post-WWI change in commercial proofing.

After WWI there was a myriad of production models that come from the factory. The 100mm barrels in 9mm were produced for the police and Reichswehr along with the unused barrels from WWI stocks until mid-1921 when the terms of the Treaty of Versailles was imposed. The production of some 40-50,000 military suffixed (alphabet guns) in the 1920 and 1921 dated pistol coincided with the similar production rate of 2,000-3,000 Parabellums per month through the run out of the five-digit commercial numbers from approximately 76,000 to 92,000, from mid to late 1921 and 1922.


The American Eagle was an off-spring of the Swiss Cross and Sunburst. When the Germans first introduced the Swiss the first versions of the gun they had engraved over the chamber the Swiss Cross and Sunburst. This was such a hit with the Swiss that DWM immediately began to roll press the Swiss Cross on all the Lugers shipped to Switzerland and from then on the Crest of the nation that was being marketed by DWM was present on the chamber. Thus the collector can search for the Bulgarian, Serbian, Bolivian, Paraguay, Portuguese and many other contract or attempted contract Lugers.

The inside of the gun is clean with all the parts in a good and functional order. The parts are all numbered to the gun and the straw blue is strong as are most of the commercial guns that have not been exposed to battlefield wear. This is an all matching serial numbered gun in the commercial manner as proofed and numbered configuration reveal.

The removal of the side plate exposes the last two digits of the serial number on the trigger and we can see that the straw blue remains on this rather minty 9mm American Eagle. Above Right: With the toggle in full recoil we can see there are no proof marks on the toggle links and the space between the sear is clearly visible to enable the thumb safety to engage with the toggle open. This enables the shooter to load the gun while "safe"; a final variation applied by Georg Luger in 1916.

Commercial Parabellums were not issued with numbered magazines as were the military versions and the export marked magazines are prized by collectors.

Rare and very rare are frequently over-worked words to describe some Lugers. Especially during the 1920's when wartime production of guns stopped, parts were abundant and the export guns in many variations ordered by Stoeger and Pacific Firearms were being explored, the official agents of DWM importing into the US. A 1920 DWM 9mm may not be super rare but it is a very seldom found variation in this configuration and warrants a selected place in anyone's complete DWM collection.

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. Questions to josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com

This is a rare variation of the late 1920's American Eagle 1908 Model 4" 9mm Luger in minty condition. If any gun is conceived as the classic Luger this is the one, Beautifully finished with the "Safe" safety, and "Loaded" marked extractor it is a beauty. Commercial proof markings, a stock lug and just the beautiful lines of this magnificent Parabellum. The serial number places its production in post WWI before the 1921 restrictions from the Treaty of Versailles. We reserve the right to sell any internet offering to a direct sale and no not warrant the availability of any firearm that do not have a cash deposit. Call for availability. Any questions to josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com

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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