Abercrombie & Fitch Navy Luger

In 1920 DWM (Deutsche Waffen und Munitions Fabriken) began building contract guns for both Abercrombie & Fitch and Stoeger from WWI parts. This small block of Parabellums were the "i" suffix. This is 9mm with an 6" (150mm) barrel, Navy model with the 200 meter adjustable rear sight mounted on the rear toggle. This is a beautiful commercial Navy and represents the pinnacle for the Navy collector. (1018)

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.


This is a 1906 Model with the squeeze grip safety, the DWM (Deutsche Waffen-und Munitionsfabriken AG) logo on the first toggle link and the Swiss Cross over the Chamber. Serial number placement is in the commercial ("hidden") style; displayed on the left side of the receiver, the bottom of the side plate, the locking bolt, the front of the frame, under the barrel, and on the side of the trigger. This whole gun has matching serial numbers and represents the early Post WWI commercial guns made by DWM.

The front site is dovetailed and fire blued sight blade. The serial number under the barrel is parallel to the barrel length as customary for this model. This Luger barrel has an Imperial Navy Marinen proof above the Crown N Nitro proof. The barrel is numbered and scored and matches the frame.





Note the "Loaded" extractor and "buffed" thumb safety. The Swiss Cross in Sunburst was first struck on the 1900 models sold to Switzerland for military testing. It was a marketing success and Swiss Cross models were continued into the '30's for export to the Switzerland and the US.

Randall Gibson in the "The Krieghoff" identified the "i" block as 1920 Commercial guns some which were obtained by Krieghoff. Trying to date stamp the "i" block may never be achieved but this two-digit "i" block most likely was built in 1920. The contract for Abercrombie & Fitch was also filled using the "i" block suffix by DWM. This frame is an "artillery" model, the rear toggle does not have a 2nd rear sight from the use of a standard toggle and it bears all the characteristics attributed to the 1920 Commercial Lugers.

The Swiss magazine with the blank disc was first issued on the very early Lugers sent to Switzerland. They serve no purpose other than decorative and they lend a handsome enhancement to the Parabellums that have them.


Note: The Crown M (Marinen Proof) was the Imperial proof applied to the barrel upon acceptance by the German Imperial Navy. This gun must have been inspected but not finished before the end of WWI. The commercial guns designated 1920's are identified by the four digit serial number with the military suffix. In 1923 DWM resumed the five digit numbering of commercial gun beginning around 73,000.

This weapon has the no stock lug and clean grips. The grips are original and made of walnut. The magazine is a Swiss blank with no import markings. The extractor is marked "Loaded" on the left side and the safety is polished with the safe position being upward. The rear sight is a "V" cut fixed and the frame comes without the stock lug. See Kenyon, *Lugers at Random* Page 198, (identified as one of 100) or Jones, Luger Variations, Page 163


The Made in Switzerland has also had some doubters in the collecting community. Some say the barrels were Swiss made barrels and the guns assembled in Germany. In any case this is a highly coveted firearm by collectors. By the 1920's the Swiss had switched to the Shield and Cross due to a change in their heraldry recognition so this marking is a prior to 1906 version.

The toggles have the Crown N Commercial proof and there is no serial number on the rear toggle as military Lugers have. This is an excellent example of the Commercial Luger and the proofing they exhibited.

The inside of the gun shows very good care for a 89+ year old gun. The condition of the gun is very good and barrel is well defined with distinctive lands and grooves.

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. You can obtain this Luger with a C&R License or we can ship it to your neighborhood FFL Dealer.

This is a chance for the serious collector to have one of the most prestigious acquisitions, a 1920 Abercrombe & Fitch Swiss Navy in excellent condition to display or enjoy to it's fullest capabilities. T