"S" Code Krieghoff

>1936 S-Date Krieghoff SOLD

The is an "S" Code early 1936 military Krieghoff. This Luger has all matching serial numbers, a 9mm Luger has a 100mm barrel and bears the Krieghoff Suhl logo on the front link. There is a 'v' notch rear sight on the rear link and a full bladed inverted 'v' sight on the front. There is a stock lug. The frame is the new short type with a stock lug and serial numbers on the front of the frame and the side of the receiver. This gun evidences the darker blue and high polish of the Krieghoff standard. (1788)

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.

Hermann Wilhelm Göring, (12 January 1893 – 15 October 1946) was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max". He was the last commander of Jagdgeschwader 1, the fighter wing once led by Manfred von Richthofen, "The Red Baron".

In 1935, Göring was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe (German: Air Force), a position he was to hold until the final days of World War II. By mid-1940, Göring was at the peak of his power and influence. Adolf Hitler had promoted him to the rank of Reichsmarschall, making Göring senior to all other Wehrmacht commanders, and in 1941 Hitler designated him as his successor and deputy in all his offices. By 1942, with the German war effort stumbling on both fronts, Göring's standing with Hitler was very greatly reduced. Göring largely withdrew from the military and political scene to enjoy the pleasures of life as a wealthy and powerful man.


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 4050 Lugers were produced in the "S" code series including the "Turkish" contract (delivered with aircraft).

This is a transition between the early "S" code with the numbering on the outside of the parts and the "Mid" series where all the parts are numbered on the "inside". Note the early numbering on the exterior of take down lever but the side plate is numbered on the inside and the outside. The rear toggle is marked externally and the grips are the fine checkering.

Krieghoff early style of numbering did not include the barrel but did have the barrel gauge and Eagle 2 proof. By the Late "S" series the gauge markings began regularly to appear horizontally to the barrel. This is an all matching gun including the magazine. The magazines were rolled silver sleeves and aluminum bottom. The Stage I proof was opposite the serial number, a characteristic carried up to approximately the 6,000 range. There is a 'v' notch rear sight on the rear link and a full bladed inverted 'v' sight on the front.


Note above where the extractor is raised so by sight and by feel the shooter knows that there is a round in the chamber and the gun is loaded.

Krieghoff early style of numbering did not include the barrel but did have the barrel gauge and Eagle 2 proof. 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 magazines on the "S" Code had the Stage I proof stamped opposite the horizontal line of the serial number.

Above: On the left rail are the Luftwaffe stamped Eagle 2 and the drooped wing test proof. The trigger, locking lever, trigger and ejector are straw blued while the magazine release is always darker straw.

On the left are the Krieghoff stamp Eagle 2 and the drooped wing test proof (Stage I). Right: Early gun numbering was exposed and later in the series the numbers became concealed on the locking lever and side plate. The early "S" code also shown thicker grips than the Mauser at that time; the Late Series saw the introduction of the fine diamond brown Bakelite significantly before Mauser switched from the walnut grip. The minute proofs are really marvelous and a sign of the craftsmanship of the Krieghoff. Here is the extractor marked GELADEN (Loaded), the German word for loaded.

Here is a full illustration of the "S" date and the early Krieghoff logo with the early exterior toggle markings. The bore is excellent, minty with a high shine and strong lands and grooves. Although Krieghoff "S" codes were clearly manufactured and accepted by the military in 1936 Krieghoff manufactured the early guns in late 1935; they began with the "S" Code, the two digit "36" and then the full 1936 with the two digit "36" being the rarest to obtain. If you are a Krieghoff collector this a jewel and the starter gun of any Krieghoff collection.


The inside of the gun is clean and reflects the effort for cleaning the past 40 years. Lugers that are stored for any period of time should have the wooden grips at least waxed on the inside to protect contact with the metal. The rear main axel pin does not show the last two numbers of the serial number; from the 1933 order to prevent their exchange between guns once worn. Krieghoff rarely abided by this order.

Above Left: Here is the toggles in full recoil and we can see that the frame does not fully protect the rear main axel pin. There was a 1932 order that required these pins to be numbered but from evidence Krieghoff only number some of the 1936 and 1937 guns.

The Krieghoff family were weapons makers going back to 1886 in the city of Suhl and their craftsman specialized in sporting rifles and weapons of great quality. When Adolph Hitler came to power the craftsman of Krieghoff were called upon to produce the machine guns for the aircraft of the Luftwaffe. Through their association with Air Marshall Hermann Göring who decided he wanted the best of the Pistole for his Luftwaffe Krieghoff was contracted to produce 10,000 Parabellums. When the US Army invaded Suhl, a sector negotiated as part of the Russian spoils of war they evacuated the bulk of the Krieghoff craftsman to the American sector saving a great treasure in gun makers.

The finish is the deep royal blue that is applied to a finely polished surface and it gives the gun the fine quality of a sporting arm that Krieghoff is famous for. The grips went from maroon to black after the initial contract and the magazines became the code 122 with the Eagle 37 proof.

This is the new style firing pin with the slot cut to vent some of the power generated by the powerful 9mm cartridge. The firing pin is proofed with the Eagle 2 as is the firing pin retainer. Imagine hand striking all this tiny parts. We strive to provide pictures so you can judge for yourself if the gun meets your criteria. If you want more pictures or a detailed shot just email your request.

Krieghoff proofing was part commercial and part military. Early in the series Krieghoff followed Where other military producers placed the last two digits of the serial number on the out side of the side plate and locking lever it was concealed on the Krieghoff. Likewise where you expect to see the serial number on the rear toggle it is under the toggle, (see below).

While we can see the Stage I proof under the 1st toggle the number 13 also appears, however on the top or exposed portion of the toggle is the "57" last two digits of the serial number. With the serial number 1357 and "357" appearing on the breach block above it may have been an experimental protocol to put the first two digits on the bottom and the last two digits on top. All this changed into the later series of this variation as only the last two digits were used and these were applied on the underside of the toggles.

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.


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 13200 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 "Early 1936 'S' Code" with the following characteristics: Krieghoff trademark logo with the sword/anchor and "HK Suhl". The Krieghoff early logo is characterized by the symmetrical blade, the city of Suhl is slanted to the right and the "U" in Suhl is flat bottomed. The handle of the dagger is ovoid shape and shows the clear lines. The logo changed over the years with the fabrication of new dies, these different cartouches give us a good idea if the toggle link is correct for the year of the gun.

The magazine is in excellent condition as is the interior of the gun. This was a well kept gun and a treasured part of an extensive Krieghoff collection. The magazine is the rolled nickel with the aluminum base and is very clean. The magazine is proofed with the correct Stage II proof, and matching serial number.

This is a very hard to find, collector grade "S" Coded Krieghoff identified as being identified with characteristics of both the early and mid series "S" Code Lugers. Of the 10,000 Krieghoff' in the military contract less than 1800 were produced and this survivor is one of the beauties. Any questions or requests for additional information to josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com This early four digit Krieghoff "S" dated Parabellum is offered for $8,895.00 over-the-counter. Items' offered on the internet are subject to in-store sale; call first for availability.

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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