1900 Russian Luger

1906 Russian Luger

This is a 9mm Luger manufactured by DWM for Russian sale with the crossed Nagant rifles over the chamber. This is one of the most sought after and rarest of the Lugers that are collected. Reported to be not more than 1000 Lugers in this contract group, most of these Parabellums have been lost to war. (2153)

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. Before your purchase please read Legal for Conditions of Sale. Thank you for your cooperation.

In the early 1900's, DWM with it's recently contract for 1900 Luger to the Swiss began a world wide marketing campaign to sell this Parabellum to other companies. With the success and popularity achieved placing the countries coat of arms or national symbols over the chamber (i.e. the Swiss Cross & Sunburst) their salesman spread out world wide to sell the Luger. So came about the 1900 Russian, the 1900 Bulgarian, the the 1900 Serbian, The Portuguese with the King Carlos I, The 1900 US Military Contract, The Mexican Contract; everywhere their was sufficient demand including Japan the special models were introduced, some successfully, some not.

This is an early short frame with the wide grip safety, long sear, diced toggles, and flat top design with no stock lug making it the classic Luger design.

These are early model short frames with DWM scrolled on the first toggle link and the Russian word for Safe, ОГЪНЪ, thumb safety, with the area above the chamber marked with the crossed rifles of the Russian Luger. This was the same period that the 1900 Bulgarian was being marketed as around 1902 Georg Luger was enjoying a good market in the Balkans with the delivery of 1000 Parabellums with the Bulgarian Crest over the chamber.

There are four known representations of the 1900 variation Russian Luger in the US. In October 2008 a German auction house offered one for sale and it is believed another exists in the US. This is much like the American Eagle, King Carlos (Portuguese), Chilean, Bolivian, and other early 1900 crest marked Parabellums that Luger was promoting to foreign nations to accelerate sales.

This model has the new type toggle with the flat checkered toggle knobs. These were issued with the new 9mm barrel 4" (100mm) in length an mounted on the short type frame with a grip safety, wider trigger and narrow trigger guard. The Russian has the long sear, a hold open and no stock lug.

Around 1900 Georg Luger used to have good business relationships to the Balkans. This is proven by the delivery of approx. 1000 pistols Parabellum Mod. 1900 to the principality of Bulgaria presumably in 1902. Before this delivery it is certain that at least one sample and several test weapons had been sent there. These pistols carried the arms of Bulgaria on the receiver.

The Serbian Parabellum shows the strong probability of Luger not only being active in Bulgaria then, but trying at the same time to deliver pistols to Serbia. For that reason he took one sample from the running manufacture as otherwise his initials "GL" would be on the rear toggle link instead of the serial number. It may be assumed that the above weapon was either Luger's individual present to the Serbian court or a sample for the military to entice an order from Serbia.


This very rare variation was Manufactured by DWM (Deutsche Waffen und Munitions Fabriken), in 9mm with the standard 100mm barrel and designated by collectors as the 1906 Russian. The frame is a new model with the long sear and fixed rear sight and no stock lug. Two of the four elements that share this designate this variation from the "Bulgarian" is the extractor marked in old Cyrillic Russian "Пълнъ". The thumb safety is the old Russian "ОГЪНЪ" for safe which also appears on the Bulgarian model. The serial number is low, 833/1000. It appears to have the early rust blued original finish with the customary parts strawed.

The left picture portrays a close up of the crossed Nagant rifles. The '06 Russian is designated by the crossed Nagant Rifles, the Russian Cyrillic ЗАРЯДЬ extractor, the safety mark (Old Russian for Fire ОГЪНЪ, and the magazine is marked "Cal 9mm".

This very rare variation was Manufacture by DWM (Deutsche Waffen und Munitions Fabriken), in 9mm with the standard 100mm barrel and designated by collectors as the 1906 Russian. Two of the four elements that designate this variation from the "Bulgarian" is the extractor marked in Russian "ЗАРЯДЬ". The thumb safety is the old Russian "ОГЪНЪ" for safe which also appears on the Bulgarian model.

Upper Left: Under the barrel and on the front of the receiver is this low three digit serial number. There are no import marks which indicate this was not a commercial sale for DWM but probably a small military order. Above the serial number on the barrel appears the old DWM factory shield. Upper Right: The magazine is a silver sleeved, coiled spring type with the wood bottom and in this instance possesses the Cal. 9 m/m designation.


The inside of the gun shows a very clean and well cared for Luger. Serial numbers on the trigger and three digit serial on the grip safety. The grips are serial numbered to the gun with two (33) digits. This gun is immaculate under the grips, doesn't appear to have been fired just for demonstration. Above we can see the last two digits of the serial number on the trigger and three digits on the grip safety lever. The 1906 had the coiled main spring and the Russian Parabellum was equipped with the long sear. This was later shortened by Georg Luger in 1916 that permitted the safety to be applied when the toggle was pulled reward.

By the serial numbers this Luger was produced in 1906 as a commercial gun without proof marks. The two digit numbering on the small parts was frequently found in these early Parabellums.

The bottom is minty with very little wear. One can see the serial number on the bottom of the barrel, the bottom of the locking lever and on the bottom of the side plate. These "hidden" numbers were atypical of the commercial guns produced by DWM at that time with nice clean line and gun craftsmanship on full display.

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.

This is an extraordinary Russian Luger in a very rare category that represents one of the legendary examples of the 1906 "Contract" guns that were produced for commercial sales anywhere DWM could conduct a presentation. There are only five of this guns known and this is one of the best. This Parabellum is offered for $24,950 over the counter for the serious collector.

Any questions to josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com The gun is classified as a Curio and Relic and can be shipped directly to those licensees. We reserve the right to withdraw any firearm from an auction site that is sold over the counter. Prices are adjusted for cash transactions.

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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