This is a 1930 Stoeger contract long (150mm) 6" barrel 7.65mm Luger produced by DWM for the A.F. Stoeger Co., of New York. There is an American Eagle over the chamber and the barrel is serial numbered to the gun indicating it was installed by DWM and not in the US.  The extractor is marked "LOADED". The bore is good with distinctive lands and groove.  The thumb safety is new style, marked "SAFE" and straw blued.         (1017)

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 American Eagle Lugers were originated in the 1901 trials when the test guns sent to the US had the Great Seal of the United States over the chamber.  This proved so effective as a marketing tool that DWM began to employ it on all it's foreign orders.

Hans Tauscher was the original agent for DWM in the United States.  He managed the Army Test Trials and during WWI was accused of being a German spy and his assets were seized.  BKIW the successor to DWM appointed A.F. Stoeger in 1922 to represent it. Thus began the association of the Luger with the Stoeger company of New York.

DWM Commercial numbers were usually found in the five digits and no suffix.  Traditionally under the serial number on the frame was the "Germany" export stamp. These are not "parts guns" but assembled from the components of the military models and then commercially finished.

The magazine bottom is blank as common on the commercial models.  The serial numbers on the barrel indicate it was installed by DWM and not Stoeger, the fact it is a 7.65mm means DWM was still under the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles. There are no export stamps on this gun; usually GERMANY appears on all the commercial guns brought into the US.  However, when the 1929 depression struck Stoeger cancelled the balance of the order and DWM shelved the guns only to be sold to whomever could buy them.

The early Stoeger Logo is referred to in the collecting community as the two line Stoeger as opposed to the 1933 Mauser order for Stoeger which represented a three-line logo to include the Genuine Luger registration which Stoeger undertook in 1929 to protect the term "Luger" by which we know the Parabellum today.

Serial number placement is in the civilian ("hidden") style.   This is fine, well struck example.  This Luger has all matching numbers and a blank magazine which makes it 100% correct.  The thumb safety is marked "SAFE" and safe is in the down position.    The extractor is marked "Loaded."  The barrel is numbered and proofed and matches the frame.  DWM Commercial numbers were usually found in the five digits and no suffix.  Traditionally under the serial number on the frame was the "Germany" export stamp.

As with most commercial guns these were well cared for by their owners and preserved in this pristine condition for today's collector.  All numbers match and this is the classic Safe & Loaded everyone is seeking.

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.

At the end of WWI DWM (Deutsche Waffen-und Munitionsfabriken, AG found itself without it's greatest customer, the German Government. Awash in Parabellum parts and surplus military parts and not recognized as a legitimate producer of new handguns in 9mm the company took extraordinary efforts to convert it's best seller to the civilian market. Many variations occurred and the Stoeger contract represents one of these efforts.