This is a very unusual gun that has an amazing forensic history that can take you in many directions.  A DWM Frame, a Crown N proofed barrel gauge but not serial numbered to the gun on a 1937 Mauser receiver putting the assembly date at least after 1937 and more than likely assembled at the end of the war for the Volkssturm. (1859)

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.

The Volkssturm  lit. "folk storm", "people's assault"; "People's" or "National Militia") was a German national militia of the last months of World War II. It was founded on Adolf Hitler's orders on October 18, 1944 and conscripted males between the ages of 16 to 60 years who were not already serving in some military unit as part of a German Home Guard. This was the last stand by the Nazi Government to stop the invading armies and used whatever training and weapons that could be found.

This Parabellum is 9mm with a 4" (100mm) barrel that is Crown N proofed and gauge marked indicating an early DWM Barrel. Serial number placement is in the military ("exposed") style. The thumb safety is marked "Gesichert" and extractor "Geladen." This example has matching numbers; the magazine is East German (DDR) and exceptionally clean. The frame has a stock lug.

The stamping E.C.C.S.A. appears to be the import stamp of the Cross Roads Gun Shop in Pennsauken N.J. The right side of most Russian or VoPo imports were usually "X" marked and dipped.  This gun doesn't show either activity.  The early Imperial proofs, full five digit commercial serial number utilizing the same font suggest that the gun as assembled and issued at the end of the war, probably to the Volkssturm or "People's Force" and captured by the Soviets and issued to East German Police.

The top of the Parabellum shows the clean barrel, the Mauser 1937 receiver and the toggle train of DWM manufacturer.  This gun was clearly a parts gun that was re-built around a new serial number that is center spaced on the frame and other parts.

In reality at the end of the war children were drafted into the Volkssturm and provided with whatever weapons could be found and with minimal training were send to the front in an ill-fated attempt at stopping the Soviets, especially around Berlin.  Pictured above is one of the last picture of Adolph Hitler appearing above ground with "his troops"

There are no import marks other than the ECCSA on the receiver.  The barrel is Crown N proofed (used from 1912 until 1939) and the frame is marked with the five digit commercial number on the front.  The magazine is the pot metal bottom with the matching serial number on an East German Tube marked with the 2/1001 proofing.

After World War II, defeated Germany was divided into Soviet, American, British and French zones of occupation. The city of Berlin, though technically part of the Soviet zone, was also split, with the Soviets taking the eastern part of the city. After a massive Allied airlift in June 1948 foiled a Soviet attempt to blockade West Berlin, the eastern section was drawn even more tightly into the Soviet fold. Over the next 12 years, cut off from its western counterpart and basically reduced to a Soviet satellite, East Germany saw between 2.5 million and 3 million of its citizens head to West Germany in search of better opportunities. By 1961, some 1,000 East Germans--including many skilled laborers, professionals and intellectuals--were leaving every day. Shortly after midnight on August 13th 1961, East German soldiers begin laying down barbed wire and bricks as a barrier between Soviet-controlled East Berlin and the democratic western section of the city. So began the Berlin wall which was to last until 1990

This Parabellum has not been dipped as the standard VoPo import Lugers have been found. Rather it has the bluing throughout as a Mauser would be expected to have.  The VoPo grips are plastic and in excellent condition.

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.

Above Left:  The magazine is an East German manufacture with the 2/1001 proof.  It is an extruded model just like the Haenel magazines made by Haenel Schmeisser. The magazine is serial numbered to the gun.   Above Right: With the toggle in full recoil we can see the frame is straight at the back with the thickness of the milling and no "2mm Mauser bump" to help us classify the frame as DWM manufacture.  The rear main axel pin is serial numbered to the gun in 1932 the Reichswehrministerium issued an order that the rear main axel pin be serial numbered to the gun. So we know this rebuild was 1933 or after. Plus the 1937 Mauser receiver and we are in the '30's.

Ordinarily one can assume that  four digit numbers will be found on military and five digit numbers were on commercial guns.  This exhibit of five digits doesn't appear to be a four digit military Parabellum with an extra digit added due to the spacing of the letters and their centering on the space.  Instead it appears as a five digit number, way beyond what is generally accepted as the range of five digit commercials but numbered as a commercial gun would be.  Clearly not a military gun with military proofs but a civilian numbered Luger.

A close up of the all-revealing proofs show us that the use of the re-numbered DWM toggle and the early Oberndorf proof indicates that this re-work was probably done in 1944 or 1945 when the official lines of production have been shut down at Mauser and old proofs one of which appears to be Imperial were used to assemble the gun. The dented side plate indicates that the proper bench brace was not behind the side plate when the number was struck; again indicating that this gun probably was assembled at the very end of the war for the Volksstrum.

Our Theory: We have examined a lot of Lugers over the past 40 years and some remain an enigma to experienced investigation.  Our believe is that this was a Parabellum assembled late in the war at a sub-plant of Mauser, with Mauser and old Imperial proofs from early and late proofs from across the spectrum. It was numbered as a commercial gun in a serial number beyond the standard blocks of number and all of the parts were numbered. IOHO we believe the gun was captured by the Soviets and issued early to the VoPo before the "X"'s, slashes and stars were stamped on the captured weapons. It is certain this gun wasn't dipped in VoPo fashion.  The only VoPo proof is the bullet plastic grips which are in very good condition.  The gun may not have been issued but kept in war stock and released after 1990 upon the re-unification of German; then imported into New Jersey and here it is half way around the world.