1925 Simson Luger

1925 Simson SOLD SOLD

This is a very rare (1/600) 1925 Dated Simson & Co., Suhl Luger that was produced for the German Weimar Republic. Simson was the only company approved by the Allied Commission established by the Treaty of Versailles to produce the German Parabellum after WWI. It is a 9mm military model with a 100mm barrel and all matching. It has a stock lug and hold open, magnificently proofed with the Eagle 6 of Simson. (2057)

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 read "Legal" for all the terms of the sale.

Following the treaty of Versailles, the Inter-Allied Disarmament Commission banned the manufacture of military weapons in Germany, except for export, and between 1919 and 1924 supervised the destruction of millions of small arms in Germany. In the early 1920s the German military and police requested permission from the Commission to obtain parts for the repair of Parabellum 08 (Luger) handguns, and to manufacture new guns. While agreeing to the request for parts as well as for new pistols, the Disarmament Commission insisted that the old arsenal at Erfurt (where military Lugers had previously been made) remain closed, and ordered that Erfurt’s Parabellum manufacturing equipment and spare parts be shipped to the Simson factory in Suhl. In 1925, after lengthy negotiations, Simson was given a government contract to manufacture 10,000 Parabellum pistols.


This is a 1925 dated Simson. It is Eagle 6 Simson 1st & 2nd proofs plus acceptance marks. The Eagle proof indicates that new manufacture. The first toggle link is marked with the Simson monogram, and there is the "V" rear sight on the last toggle link. The extractor is marked "Geladen" on the left side and the safety is marked "Gesichert" with the safe position being downward.


1925 & 1926 were the only two years that Simson issued dated Parabellum. It also coincides with the first contract years of the Allied Commission for Weimar Lugers. The original records were lost during the war so most of the data is surmised by those who have studied the guns and flushed out with antidotal oral history.

Simson & Co., were the designated sole producers of the Parabellum after WWI. Simson began producing Lugers for the Weimar Republic from April 1, 1924 until March 31, 1934. Hence the 1925-1926 chamber dates. Some people write that dated Simsons are all re-works; others indicate that after the initial supply of parts from Erfurt were expended Simson built their own. No Simson worker has survived to document all the antidotal history so we have to surmise most of our information from collective inspections of various guns attributed to Simson and their multitude of identifying proofs.


Matching magazine, matching grips, this Luger is complete. This is a very desirable gun for the Simson collector and does not usually appear in this fine condition. Serial number placement is in the military ("exposed") style; displayed on the left side of the receiver, the side plate, the locking bolt, the sear bar safety, the extractor, the forward toggle link, the front of the frame, under the barrel, and on the side of the trigger. This example has all matching numbers.

The serial number appears on the front of the frame, on the left side of the receiver, under the barrel and the last two digits on most small parts. All serials match including a matching magazine. The finish on the gun is a function of polishing. Some parts of the gun have a very polished finish, others do not. This in part is the result of "parts" being incorporated from Erfurt stocks and newly manufactured Simson parts.

Almost indefinable, there are proof marks on the grip screws. Jan Sill in his book Weimar and Early Nazi Lugers pictures on page 69 and 71 shows the dated Simson. See also Kenyon, Page 222-223, *Lugers at Random*

There are inspector marks all over the weapon in a variety of eagle stamps. Most prominent is the Eagle 6 Simpson Military First Inspection proof. The sequence of proofs usually represents (from left to right) E/6, Receiver Hardened, E/6 Ready for the Power Proof, E/6 After Shooting in and finally, the Weimar acceptance proof (Eagle) on the receiver and barrel after power proofing. Proof marks are well struck and clearly visible. Above Right: The extractor is up in the breach block showing "GELADEN" (Loaded) telling the shooter both visually and tactilely the gun is loaded.

The most distinctive feature of these pistols is undoubtedly the toggle-lock mechanism, which holds the breech closed by locking in a manner not unlike the human knee, which can sustain a heavy weight when straight, but once bent is quite easy to continue to bend. The toggle joint in its straight position resists the rearward force of the detonating cartridge, then "buckles" after enough time has passed. When a round is fired the entire breech, barrel and toggle move straight rearward (on rails) until the toggle begins to ride up on a pair of cams that "breaks" the toggle (makes it bend at the joint). Once the toggle joint is no longer straight, it bends freely, allowing the bolt to come rearward, and the striker to be cocked. The spent cartridge is extracted by a combination extractor/loaded chamber indicator on the top of the toggle, is ejected as the toggle nears the end of its rearward free travel, returning, and a new round is stripped from the magazine and chambered as the toggle is driven back to the straight position by a spring.

During World War I, Simson produced Mauser Gewehr 98 rifles for the German Army. In the aftermath of the war and the Treaty of Versailles, the reorganized Reichswehr was allowed to buy new handguns from only one company, so as to limit the ability of the German arms industry to recover. Larger manufacturers such as DWM were passed over in favor of Simson precisely because of its lower production capacity, and as such Simson was the sole producer of military-contract Luger pistols from 1925 to 1934. Simson made about 12,000 Lugers in this period. Simson also was responsible for repairing and refurbishing existing firearms of the Reichswehr, though DWM was employed in the capacity as well, in contravention of the Treaty of Versailles. In addition to Lugers, Simson also repaired and refurbished Gewehr 98 and Karabiner 98b rifles, MG08 machine guns and MP18 submachine guns.


It is difficult to determine, because Simson re-worked so many guns during the 1920's whether they began to manufacture the contracted Lugers' for the Weimar Republic first and then re-worked other Parabellum for the police and army in the late 1920's. Some parts from DWM & Erfurt distinctive to their manufacturing techniques show up on Simson marked Lugers throughout their run. For instance there are varied theories on what the "S" toggle Simon represents.

The inside of the gun is clean and in excellent condition. This Luger needs a good home to extend its care.

Above Left: The tiny Eagle 6 (E6) marking the Simson proofs are found on the smallest of parts in strict adherence to the early German proof code. Utilized by the Royal Arsenal at Erfurt and Spandau it is believed that the Erfurt factory only 40 miles from Suhl that the craftsman of Erfurt took this practice to Simson. Above Right: The rear toggle has the 'v' cut rear sight and under the serial numbered toggle are two silver impact marks from firing this Parabellum. This is one of tell-tale signs that the gun has been used.

One of the many distinctive proofs on the Simson models is the Eagle 6 on the spline of the magazine. Right Up: Here the matching magazine is distinctly proofed.

The fine level of fitting and proofing make the Simson early production Parabellums among the most desirable of these variations. Just a beauty to behold in craftsmanship and gun making.

It is believed that the estimated production of 1925 Dated Simson Lugers was approximately 600 guns. This gun appears to have been built with the majority of newly made Simson parts and so proofed We know that not only did Simson get the machines and technicians from Erfurt they also received all the excess parts so it should not be unusual that these parts of found in early Simson Parabellums.

Simson’s success as the sole producer of the Luger aroused the ire of other gun makers in Germany. In March of 1933, after Hitler became Chancellor, the Association of Zella-Mehlis Gun Manufacturers, led by Fritz Walther, sent Hitler a letter complaining that Simson held a monopoly that was forcing them out of business. Arthur Simson (the grandson of the company founder, Moses Simson) and several of his employees were eventually jailed by the Nazis in 1935 for tax evasion. After seven months in prison, Simson was forced to admit evading income taxes and to sign the rights to his company over to Nazi Gauleiter Fritz Sauckel. A few months after his release on bail, Simson fled to Switzerland and eventually to the United States of America.


1925 & 1926 were the only two years that Simson issued numbered Parabellums'. The original records were lost during the war so most of the data is surmised by those who have studied the guns and flushed out with antidotal oral history. In all our attempts to add empirical precision to dates, styles, proofs, or other observed variations creates a plethora of variations.


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.

The details of this Parabellum are stunning with proofs are throughout on all the parts. Not since the early Erfurt when all the small part were proofed or numbered do you see such detail. Above Right you can see the proofs on the back of the trigger and magazine release button. Also noted is the after-production insertion of the hold open (under the rail) which says this was an older 1908 frame upon which Simson was building to meet the 1925 order.

This is a excellent variation of the Very Rare 1925 Dated Simson, with a multitude of proofs & matching magazine is offered for $19,950.00 over the counter. We reserve the right to sell any internet offering to a direct sale and no not warrant the availability of any firearm. Any questions to josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com.

We reserve the right to sell any internet offering to a direct sale and do not warrant the availability of any firearm that do not have a cash deposit. This gun may be withdrawn without notice for in-store sale. Call 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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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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