1925 Simson & Co, Suhl Luger

Simson & Co., were the designated sole producers of the Parabellum after WWI. Simson began producing Lugers for the Weimar Republic from April 1, 1924 until March 31, 1934. Hence the 1925-1926 chamber dates. Some people write that dated Simsons are all re-works; others indicate that after the initial supply of parts from Erfurt were expended Simson built their own. No Simson worker has survived to document all the antidotal history so we have to surmise most of our information from collective inspections of various guns attributed to Simson and their multitude of identifying proofs.

The recent book by Edward Tinker and Graham Johnson, The Simson Luger has attempted to document by profusely illustrating the development of the Simson Luger and provides extensive research into this most prized collector Parabellum. This is a marvelous gun to study for all the proofs it provides.


This is a 1925 dated Simson. It is Eagle 6 Simson 1st & 2nd proofs plus acceptance marks. The Eagle proof indicates that new manufacture. The first toggle link is marked with the Simson monogram, and there is the "V" rear sight on the last toggle link. The extractor is marked "Geladen" on the left side and the safety is marked "Gesichert" with the safe position being downward.

There are inspector marks all over the weapon in a variety of eagle stamps. Most prominent is the Eagle 6 Simpson Military First Inspection proof. The sequence of proofs usually represents (from left to right) E/6, Receiver Hardened, E/6 Ready for the Power Proof, E/6 After Shooting in and finally, the Weimar acceptance proof (Eagle) on the receiver and barrel after power proofing. Proof marks are well struck and clearly visible.

Simson & Co., manufactured Lugers for the German Military from 1922 to 1934 in Suhl Germany. The Simson Luger association was a by-product of the Treaty of Versailles. Then as the only producer of Lugers, Simson inherited (bought?) all the parts, dies and equipment of Erfurt after the First World War.




The serial number appears on the front of the frame, on the left side of the receiver, under the barrel and the last two digits on most small parts. All serials match including a matching magazine. The finish on the gun is a function of polishing. Some parts of the gun have a very polished finish, others do not. This in part is the result of "parts" being incorporated from Erfurt stocks and newly manufactured Simson parts.

1925 & 1926 were the only two years that Simson issued numbered Parabellums. The original records were lost during the war so most of the data is surmised by those who have studied the guns and flushed out with antidotal oral history. In all our attempts to add empirical precision to dates, styles, proofs, or other observed variations it is sometimes important to remember the old adage; "if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck eventually we must assume it is a duck. This looks like a 1925 Simson to us.


The inside of the gun is clean and in excellent condition. This Luger needs a good home to extend its care.

Almost indefinable, there are proof marks on the grip screws. (Left Photo). The grips reveal the serial numbered to the gun; this is an almost unbelievable find with all matching parts and second matching magazine. Jan Sill in his book Weimar and Early Nazi Lugers pictures on page 69 and 71 shows the dated Simson. See also Kenyon, Page 222-223, Lugers at Random. Matching magazines, matching grips, dated holster this Luger is complete. This is a very desirable gun for the Simson collector and does not usually appear in this fine condition.

This holster in in excellent condition with all the stitching "in the white", the pull strap full functional, a well stitched magazine pouch with the Eagle 6 Simson Proofed loading tool. Really a steadfast gun to any collector's collection.


The manufacturers cartouche is in he holster flap along with the 1925 date to match the gun with the holster. This is a minty holster in the original brown color that was not dyed during WWII.


	The Magazine are nickel plated and are crimped like the Erfurt magazine. Beginning in 1925 the order was given to replace all broken wooded magazine bottoms with aluminum and of course since these were newly constructed magazine they were given the aluminum base. On the spine of the sleeve is the Eagle 6 proof on both magazines which is the notation of the astute collector of the authenticity of the Simson magazine. 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.
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The estimated production of 1925 Dated Simson Lugers was approximately 600 guns. This gun appears to have been built with the majority of newly made Simson parts and so proofed We know that not only did Simson get the machines and technicians from Erfurt they also received all the excess parts so it should not be unusual that these parts of found in early Simson Parabellums.

1854 the brothers Löb und Moses Simson bought one third of a steel hammer factory in Suhl (Germany). There the production of charcoal steel began and the firm Simson & Co. was founded 1856. The following years they produced guns and gun barrels. The enterprise 1896 production of bicycles in 1896.

The Allied Commission formed by the Treaty of Versailles established Simson & Co., as the only "accepted" Luger producer after WWI, however when Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933 he forced the Jewish family Simson to flee the country. Within the framework of dispossession of Jewish industrialists a trustee undertook the firm, thereby arose a merger with other factories the "Berlin Suhler Waffen- und Fahrzeugwerke" (BSW). In 1946 the Soviet military disassembled the factory and took it to Russia as war booty.

This is a excellent variation of the Very Rare 1925 Dated Simson, with a multitude of proofs & matching magazine plus the 2nd matching magazine and a Simson proofed tool. Any questions or requests for additional pictures please email josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com. This gun may be withdrawn without notice for in-store sale. We reserve the right to sell any internet offering to a direct sale and do not warrant the availability of any firearm that do not have a cash deposit. Altogether with the 1925 dated holster this very rare Parabellum is offered for $7,895.00 over the counter. This historic