1906 American Eagle German Luger

1906 So African Cased Commercial Archived

This is the classic early 1906 Commercial Luger. From the 120mm barrel chambered for the 7.65mm cartridge this is a 'must have' for the early DWM Collectors. These were among the first commercially produced in 1905 (See Jesse L. Murray, DWM Pistole Parabellum 1897 to 1907). As DWM began to expand their business the guns were made for the merchants that carried firearms throughout the world. This boxed set, in the original case was sold in Cape Town South Africa. (1666)

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.

Cape Town (Afrikaans: Kaapstad) is the second-most populated city in South Africa after Johannesburg. and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. The city is famous for its harbor as well as its natural setting in the Cape floral kingdom as well as for such well-known landmarks as Table Mountain and Cape Point. Located on the shore of Table Bay, Cape Town was originally developed by the Dutch East India Company as a supply station for Dutch ships sailing to the Far East. Jan van Riebeeck's arrival on 6 April 1652 established the first permanent European settlement in South Africa. Cape Town quickly outgrew its original purpose as the first European outpost at the Castle of Good Hope, becoming the economic and cultural hub of the Cape Colony


This is a 1906 Model, 7.65mm (.30 Cal Luger) with the "new model" transitional frame with a Type III thumb safety and a grip squeeze safety. There is an export Parabellum made by DWM (Deutsche Waffen-und Munitionsfabriken AG) which has its logo on the first toggle link. All matching numbers this gun.


The barrel is very good with clear lands and grooves. The gun has matching grips serial numbered to the gun. This is the classic 4 3/4" Luger, the basic collectors must have in any serious collection. While these models are not 'rare' they are difficult to obtain in excellent condition and cased as a representative of the British rule of south Afrika as this one represents. See Kenyon "*Lugers at Random*" Page 104

The plaque inside the box acknowledges the manufacturer as DWM from Berlin and acknowledges the importer of Morgan & Scott, Ltd, a British firm who was a "Gentleman's" supplier of firearms. This is a very rare, well preserved example of both an early 1906 model production Luger and further boxed in a historical case from the turn of the century.

Britain captured Cape Town in 1795, but the Cape was returned to the Netherlands by treaty in 1803. British forces occupied the Cape again in 1806 following the battle of Bloubergstrand. In the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814, Cape Town was permanently ceded to Britain. It became the capital of the newly formed Cape Colony, whose territory expanded very substantially through the 1800s. With expansion, came calls for greater independence from Britain, with the Cape attaining its own parliament in 1854, and a locally accountable Prime Minister in 1872.


One of the things "known" about Lugers is that international law required guns made for commercial sales must show the country of origin. Usually this was done on the early Lugers by placing "Germany" on the front of the frame under the serial number. This gun does exhibit this 'commercial' designation as it was shipped from Berlin to South Afrika.

The serial numbers match throughout the gun and here you can see the frame and the receiver with the five digit code representative of the commercial Parabellum. On the right is the blank bottom magazine which is characteristic of the commercial Lugers.

Serial number placement is in the commercial ("hidden") style. The frame is the short "new" model with a long sear and hold open. The thumb safety is not marked but polished and extractor is marked "Loaded" in English. This is an unusual characteristic as the "Loaded" extractor was introduced in 1901. This Luger has all matching numbers. The barrel is strong in lands and grooves, numbered and matches the frame.

The oiler is similar in construction to the oiler furnished with the Borchardt only it is gold washed.


The extractor is marked "Loaded" in English to tell you when there is a round in the chamber. Note the bevel in the 1st toggle link which is characteristic of the DWM produced guns. While every Luger was interchangeable each manufacturer has some small distinctions in their process that set them apart. The safety is the polished metal with a just a slight indentation felt with the fingernail. This is the older thumb up safety changed in 1908.

This Parabellum is clean both inside and out. The barrel is shiny with strong evidence of the lands and grooves. Someone has taken care of this Luger the past 100 years. The Luger comes with a hold-open device. The front site is dovetailed fixed with the standard site blade while the rear sight is "V" cut with the wide grip safety. Note the original straw bluing on the trigger, thumb safety and locking lever. This is an all matching gun. Pins and springs are all original nitrate blued.

Conflicts between the Boer republics in the interior and the British colonial government resulted in the Second Boer War of 1899–1902, which Britain won. In 1910, Britain established the Union of South Africa, which unified the Cape Colony with the two defeated Boer Republics and the British colony of Natal. Cape Town became the legislative capital of the Union, and later of the Republic of South Africa.


This Luger is minty inside with the serial number on the grip safety and on the rear toggle. The top of the Parabellum is devoid of any serial numbers or proofs with only the DWM Logo roll stamped on the first toggle.


This model is a hold open variation. The first toggle link is marked with the DWM monogram. The safety is the squeeze grip with the thumb safety "safe" in the up position. Note the rebated trigger guard. The Serial Number is 5 digits with no small letter suffix characteristic of the commercial models which were numbered consecutively until 1923. No Stock Lug present.


We strive to provide pictures so you can judge for yourself if the gun meets your criteria. If you are a serious buyer we will supply you with additional photos 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.

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.

Holding an early Luger, a timeless representation of a personal level of quality and pride of craftsmanship, brings you back a hundred years to another century of weapons development. This Luger represents a piece of history and a turning point in our nations weapons procurement.

This beautiful example of the very hard to find 7.65mm Commercial South African 1906 squeeze grip Luger is collector grade and asset to any collection.