1915 Imperial

This is a completely matching, 1916 Dated, DWM (Deutsche Waffen und Munitions Fabriken) WWI Imperial Luger with a matching magazine. This is chambered for 9mm and has a standard 4" barrel fixed sights and walnut grips. This WWI Luger manufactured for standard issue firearm to the German military. A very unique specimen in good condition with a lot of history in a 98 year old gun. (1071)

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.



On 28 June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, were shot dead in Sarajevo, by Gavrilo Princip, one of a group of six assassins (five Serbs and one Bosnian Muslim), The assassination set off a rapid chain of events, as Austria-Hungary immediately blamed the Serbian government for the attack. As large and powerful Russia supported Serbia, Austria asked for assurances that Germany would step in on its side against Russia and its allies, including France and possibly Great Britain. On July 28, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, and the fragile peace between Europe's great powers collapsed, beginning the devastating conflict now known as the First World War.


The barrel length is 4" (100mm) and is chambered for 9mm. The serial number appears on the front of the frame, on the left side of the receiver, on the side plate sear and trigger. This Luger is all matching including the magazine. This Luger bears a stock lug and a hold-open. The extractor is marked "Geladen" on the left side and the safety is marked "Gesichert" with the safe position being downward. The proof marks are the amazing story of this guns. Telling us the gun served in WWI and shows the honest wear from the Battlefield.


Serial number placement is in the military ("exposed") style. The thumb safety is marked "Gesichert" and extractor "Geladen." This example has all matching numbers. The barrel is numbered and proofed and matches the frame. The first toggle link is marked with the DWM monogram, and there is the "V" rear sight on the last toggle link.


Battlefield use of the Parabellum. This shows how the gun was carried and how they used their firearms.



Above the white stitching and smooth surface makes this brown holster a beautiful accessory. Lower left is the pebbled two prong belt buckle which was the uniform of the upper party leaders. Lower right is the 1916 date and the manufacturer's cartouche shown below. Unique.


Above Left: The manufacturer's cartouche shown above with the date. Above Right: is the loading took which is inverted so the extended tab is at the bottom and when placed over the follower knob of the magazine serves to depress the spring and load the magazine. It is proofed with a Imperial stamp and the screw driver end is for the grip screws and firing pin retainer.

Inside the receiver is the hold open which when the last round of the magazine is emptied it pushes up the hold open to where the rear angled portion holds back the slide until the magazine is released or reloaded and the toggles pulled back. Also noted is the last two digits of the serial number on top of the thumb safety.



Above Left: A brass Prussian dress belt buckle with the period belt and brass connector. These are beautiful buckles with strong imprints and fine details. The "Gott Mit Uns" was used throughout the buckles use until 1945 meaning God's With Us. Above Left you can see the serial numbers on the bottom of the barrel, the left receiver, side plate and locking lever.

The side of the breach block is serial numbered to the gun as is the original firing pin (Type 1) which shows the details of craftsmanship that was employed on these precision weapons. Much like a Swiss Watch everything fit perfectly.

Above is the side view of the Parabellum with all the Imperial proofs; the removed side plate from the above gun shows the last two digits of the serial number on the trigger, locking lever and side frame plus the fire blued internal parts. Really a remarkably preserved Luger for its age. Below we can see the "10"on the rear toggle, the 1st toggle with the DWM Logo and on the extractor, (above photo of the toggle train showed the serial number on the left of the breach).

The inside of the gun is clean and well cared for. The exterior shows honest wear on the muzzle, barrel and high points on the sides. The barrel is shiny and shows distinct lands and grooves.

By 1916 based on reports from the field that the gun could not be loaded to fire without taking it off "safe" George Luger invented and patented the "short sear" which when the sear stop was raised by pushing down the thumb safety the toggles could still be raised to load the gun. On the Above Right are the matching grips.

The very early proofs of the Germany military acceptance. 1910 was the first recognized year of military contract markings. Approximately 17,000 1910 dated Lugers were reported manufactured. There was no reported 1910 models manufactured by the Royal Arsenal at Erfurt.

DWM followed the policy of numbering 1-10000, 1a-10,000a then a production run of 17,000 would only reach into the "b's". However the 1908 1st Issue models began the numbering and ran through 4828b at which point the 1910 date was added to the chamber.

The Luger has all matching numbers including the magazine. The magazine is wood based, numbered to the gun. The magazine is clean. This Luger shows characteristic holster wear on the side plate and front exposed edges of the rails and end of the barrel.

The barrel and the receive are marked with the full serial number and suffix. Additionally there is 8.83 reflected on the barrel which was the proof marking of land diameter of the barrel. The grooves designed to be 9mm.

On the right side of the receiver are the production proofs of DWM and the DWM military acceptance stamp including the test proof on the barrel. While the quality of the guns finish was not to pre-war standards they were still expertly fitted and the finish was excellent. The Army Test proof was applied to the right receiver, the barrel and left breechblock.

The Close Up of the top of the Receiver with all the serial number matching.


While the Generals pondered and strategized the country was mobilizing to meet their treaty organization and Germany was faced with the War-On-Two-Fronts dilemma, the worst-case Scenario