1940 Dutch Mauser Luger Contract

1940 Mauser Banner Dutch Contract

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The is one of the 1940 contract Dutch Lugers made by Mauser 'Commercial Banners' for delivery to Holland which contract was overcome by events with the German Invasion of Holland on May 10, 1940. Unlike other Banner Mauser's this variation bears the Crown U (Oberndorf) proof but not the late German Army Test proof on the right receiver. Characterized by the "Rust" with Arrow on the thumb safety and small strawed parts. These are highly coveted Parabellums by the collectors as the "gun that never was". (1735)

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.

On May 10, 1940, German troops invaded the Netherlands bringing war to ended five days later as Dutch forces surrendered and German occupation of the Netherlands officially began. Despite its policy of neutrality, the Netherlands was invaded on the morning of 10 May 1940, without a formal declaration of war, by German forces moving simultaneously into Belgium and Luxembourg. The attackers meant to draw Allied forces away from the Ardennes and to lure British and French forces deeper into Belgium but also to pre-empt a possible British invasion in North Holland. The Luftwaffe also needed the Dutch airfields on the Dutch coast to launch air raids against the United Kingdom.

There are a circle of waters around the Dutch capital and the only crossings were the bridges which must be captured by the German forces to permit their mechanized units to pass before the bridges were destroyed. So began one of the first Airborne Operations of the German Fallschirmjäger (Paratroops).


These early commercial 9mm Banners have the short sear, strawed parts (discontinued from production models in 1937) stock lug, and are reported in the 2551v-3254v for an approximate production of only 600 pieces.



German Army Inspection Proofs Eagle 655 are found on the right side of the receiver and the late Army (straight winged eagle with the swastika) is missing on the receiver. There appears to be a proof mark on the barrel which one could assign the E655 but it also could be a Crown U. The Crown U was the Oberndorf proof of Mauser for commercial firearms. As this gun was intended for the Dutch it did not receiver the final customary Waffenamt proof although it was ultimately issued to the German Heer.


The extractor bears the German Geladen (Loaded). The serial number and Crown U appear on the left of the receiver with the last two digits of the serial number on the locking lever, side plate, sear and 1st toggle link. Additionally one can see the Crown U on the left of the breech block.

Above: One of the characteristics of the Dutch contract guns was the Dutch insistance of having GELADEN [Loaded] appearing on both sides of the extractor. The above pictures depict this unusual identification of true Dutch contract Parabellum. Below: The appearance of the last two digits of the serial number identify the authenticity of this 1940 undelivered Dutch Contract piece.

In the beginning, the Netherlands was one of the first countries to adopt the Luger officially, their initial order having been placed before 1908. They reordered at least once before the outbreak of the First World War and possibly twice. Despite the fact that they are one of the world's smallest nations, the Netherlands were good customers of DWM. Not only did the Army use the Luger but also the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Royal Netherlands Indies Army (K.N.I.L.). It is reported that, for some unknown reason, the Netherlands placed an order for approximately 10,000 Luger Pistols sometime during the course of the First World War. Why the order was placed with Vickers, Ltd. of England is unknown. It is a known fact that Lugers had been received from DWM in 1916, or at least examples so dated have been encountered.

The Netherlands Indies Army and Air Force had been ordering Mauser Lugers from 1930 to 1940 in their fight against the Japanese. Those procured during 1937, 1938, 1939 and 1940 all bore the four digit chamber dates. The early 1937 order did not bear a suffix while from 1938-1940 were in the "v" series of their own range. All the Dutch Lugers had the "Rust" thumb safety. It has been estimated that these were in the assembly process at Mauser-Werke when the 1940 Blitzkrieg rolled across Holland from the air and ground attacks. These guns were then routed to the German Army.


This is a very clean and well cared for variation of the undelivered Dutch Contract, one of six hundred. Wood grips inspector marked with all the internal parts proofed and serial numbered. This Luger is super-clean for a battle field pickup and hard to find variation for the Mauser Banner collector.

Above the serial numbers of the gun along with the gauge markings on the bottom of the barrel. Note the "v" series as identified by records of these Dutch Lugers. The magazine is the blued sleeve with the aluminum bottom single pinned in the sleeve. The matching magazine also displays the "+" indicating it is the second magazine issued with the Parabellum

This is a Mauser frame with the short sear and all the small parts nitrate blued. The Mauser manufactured "hump" at the rear of the frame this is the classic Model 1934 as manufactured for German Commercial market as witnessed by the various Crown U proofs. Here you can see all the parts marked with the last two digits of the serial number. In November 1942 formal production of the Luger stopped but there were still orders to fill and so up until 1942 Mauser Lugers were being assembled from existing stocks of parts.


The last two digits of the serial number appear on the top of the thumb safety, 1st and 2nd toggle links and back of the receiver which displays the Netherlands "Rust" (safe). At the end of the barrel on the muzzle band is the Crown U; not often seen on the Parabellum

German Fallschirmjäger (Paratroops) were members of the Luftwaffe and jumped into Holland to secure the bridges and vital crossroads. This was all part of the Blitzkrieg or lighting war invented by the Prussian Generals to strike with massive force in highly mobile formations.


This is a very clean gun with an excellent barrel and all matching including the magazine.

Note the last two digits of the serial number on the rear main axel pin. In 1932 the Reichswehrministerium issued an order that the rear connecting pin be serial numbered to the gun which was required by order in 1933. Above right; with the side plate removed you can see the number "53" of the matching trigger.

The inside of the Luger has a 'hold open' which is spring loaded and pops up to stop the slide from going into battery when the last round is fire. This small part is also serial numbered to the gun and this picture gives you an excellent insight into how clean this Parabellum has been maintained over the years.

Here is a close up to show all the small parts numbering and proofed on this Dutch intended Parabellum. It is always fascinating to imagine if this gun could talk to us and tell us where it has been. Finely detailed and a wonderful example of Mauser's commercial craftsmen.

The Mauser Banner or 'Barrel' representing a gun powder barrel) as referred to by some collectors slowly evolved over the years. The Mauser brothers began in 1871 and the number of 'staves' (35) in the barrel suggests when the gun was produced. Fred Datig in his book the Luger Pistol started using the term Banner in 1955 and it 'sort of' took over in English.

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.