German Luger Collectibles

1906 Portuguese Royal Navy

This is a 1906 Model Manufactured by DWM (Deutsche Waffen und Munitions Fabriken) in Berlin in 9mm for the Portuguese navy. The original contract was for the Crown over anchor and 80% of that order was delivered before the abdication of Manuel II and DWM to change the head stamp to the R.P. for the Republic of Portugal. This is a very difficult Luger for the collector to obtain, almost are as rare as the Russian. (3008)

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.

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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, wide trigger and narrow trigger guard. The Royal Navy has the long sear, a hold open and no stock lug.

Serial number placement is in the commercial ("concealed") style. The series for this variation is 3 digits and no letters. There are no import marks on this Parabellum. The grips are walnut, fine checkered and are in excellent condition. This is an seldom seen variation, found in most texts.

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.

There are a lot of differences between the writers concerning the serial numbers of the two variations of the Portuguese Navy. Walker in The Luger Book states the highest known 'Royal' is 769 and the 'Republic' is 993. This serial number represents the DWM contract gun serial numbers beginning with 1 through the number of Parabellums ordered in that contract series.Some writings indicate that the original Royal guns were modified placing the serial number series into the R.P. variations. Others find the placement of the crest stamp to be different. In any case, we have a solid three digit Royal Portuguese Navy that be a proud addition to anyone's collection. Above Right: To separate the 1906 squeezed grip 7.65 mm from the newer model 9 mm the bottom of the commercial grips was stamped initially with Cal 9 mm. A very unique find.
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This is a very well preserved and superclean gun. Charles Kenyon, a devoted Luger collector and author of the book "Luger's at Random", found these Portuguese Luger's while doing research. Apparently being prepared for disposal, Charlie immediately recognized the value of these to the collectors and took action to bring these to the US.

King Carlos 1st was the first one introduced to the Parabellum with the test trials of the 1900 model. This test was considered a success and an initial order was placed for the Portuguese Navy under the crown of his reign.

Dom Carlos I was born September 23, 1863 and was assassinated on February 1, 1908. He was known as a diplomat, the martyr and was the first King of Portugal to die of a violent death since Sebastian in 1578.Carlos was born in Lisbon, Portugal and was a member of the House of Braganza.

He had an intense education and was prepared to rule as a constitutional monarch. In 1883, he traveled to Italy, United Kingdom, France and Germany, where he increased his knowledge of the modern civilization of his time. In 1883, 1886 and 1888, he ruled as regent as his father was traveling in Europe, as had become traditional. Among Portuguese constitutional kings


This Luger has the 100mm (4") barrel on the 1906 squeeze grip safety frame. The serial number appears on the front of the frame, on the bottom of the locking bolt, on the trigger, on the bottom of the barrel, the side plate, and under the first toggle. The safeties include both the grip safety and the thumb safety.

The extractor is marked "Carregada". This Luger has all matching numbers.

The above left picture is a close up of the Crown Anchor or "Royal Navy" as know by collectors. The MP stand for "Marinha Portuguesa" and may either have bee applied at the Berlin factory by Portuguese inspector prior to bluing; these were 2.5 mm high, and later when the second batch, "R. P." the MP was 3 mm high, suggesting a second inspector was used.

The purchase of ‘Army’ Parabellums encouraged the Portuguese navy to follow suit. However, like the German Navy they ordered the 9mm caliber and 100mm barrels. A contract for only 1,000 Lugers was placed with DWM late in 1909. Portugal was not a naval power.

/Manuel II received the traditional education of a royal family; he studied history and languages, and by the age of six, spoke and wrote French. He was a great lover of music, and in 1902 he was taught Latin and German. In 1903 he traveled with his mother and brother to Egypt on board the Royal yacht to expand his understanding of ancient civilizations and in 1907 he entered the Portuguese Naval Academy.

This all changed on February 1, 1908 when the royal family was returning to Lisbon to carriage containing King Carlos and his family was attacked by at least two Portuguese revolutionaries. The King was killed, Prince Luis Filipe was mortally wounded and never regained consciousness, and Manuel was hit in the arm. The assassins were immediately killed by the Royal bodyguards any young manual was declared the king.


The inside of the gun is minty clean with no signs of deterioration for its age and exhibits that craftsmanship of the early Mauser production. Showing minimal wear and super clean inside and out this captured piece was well cared for over the past 67 years. The barrel is still shiny and crisp making this a collector grade gun. 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. Above right shows us the "89" on the grip safety and the receiver in full recoil showing the long sear over the grip safety stop meaning the gun had to be in the safe off position to load and fire the Parabellum in this model.


Above Left: Here we see the "hidden" method of serial numbers with the last two digits appearing on the bottom of the side plate and locking lever vs. the military proofs on the outside of each.

Here, side by side are the two crests from the Portuguese Navy. The one on the left (sale Parabellum) is the Royal Navy Proof that was the original order for 1,000 Lugers. Only 800 of the "Royal" Navy's were delivered when the King abdicated and the remainder of the order was finished in the R.P. (Republica Portuguesa). It has been reported that a large quantity of the "Royal" Navy Crests were removed by the fledgling Republic and the R.P. installed.

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.

This is a collector grade Luger, in excellent condition and a wonderful example of the 1906 model squeeze grip contract guns produced by DWM. This is a jewel. 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. If you need another picture to making your buying decision email us your request.

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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