Royal Portuguese Navy

This is a 1906 Model Manufactured by DWM (Deutsche Waffen und Munitions Fabriken) in Berlin in 9mm for the Portuguese navy. The original contract was for the Crown over anchor and 50% of that order was delivered before the abdication of Manuel II (Oct 1910) and DWM to change the head stamp to the R.P. for the Republic of Portugal. A very difficult Luger for the collector to obtain, almost are rare as the Russian. (1727)

The Portuguese were among the most important early supports of the Parabellum. Receiving some test pieces of the 1900 model and a very few Marked with the Crown Carlos 1^st the Portuguese conducted tests in 1903 and 1904. After the murder of King Carlos 1^st in 1908 Manuel II took the throne and in 1910 DWM Delivered the Portuguese Army know as the “Army” model.


This Luger has the 100mm (4") barrel on the 1906 squeeze grip safety frame. Walnut grips with no stock lug, the serial number placement is in the commercial ("hidden") style. The extractor is marked "Carregada". This Luger has all matching numbers.

The purchase of ‘Army’ Parabellums encouraged the Portuguese navy to follow suit. However, like the German Navy they ordered the 9mm caliber and 100mm barrels. While Portugal was not a naval power a contract for only 1,000 Lugers was placed with DWM late in 1909.


The Top of the Portuguese Navy Pistole show the R.P. over the anchor which began with serial number 351 to 650. No numbers on the extractor or the top of the first toggle. These are hard to find collector pieces as one of 299 pieces that might have survived.

The serial number puts the gun at the end of production run (650) and the magazine is marked with the Cal 9mm which again is unique to this variation.

The right side doesn't have any proof. There was a Portuguese inspection located in Berlin before the October 1910 revolution who marked the left side of the receiver with an MP (Marinha Portuguesa) with a 2.2mm high proof. For the 2nd batch that began in 1912 some were marked with a 3mm MP and for some reason are not found on all examples. It may have been that the inspector was not present for the early and late gun batches because evidence supports the first 100 models were unmarked. See Kenyon, Lugers at Random P136

The first 'Pistola Luger-Parabellum da Marinha Portuguêsa was delivered early in 1910 with only about 800 delivered by October 5th, 1910. On that date the revolution put the King to flight causing DWM to hastily change the style of the cartouche and they then delivered approximately 200 of the so-called 'Republican Model', in which R.P. (Republica Portuguesa), replaced the crown in the original crown-and-anchor chamber mark. This places the premium on the Republic of Portugal Models.


The Luger has the long sear and nitrate pins, the grip safety has the last two digits of the serial number. The grips are also numbered to the gun. it is a clean gun with minor pitting on front grip strap under the grips; a common occurrence when the grips are not periodically removed for cleaning and waxing under the wood.

Looking up you can see how all the small parts are matched to the gun with the last two digits of the serial number. Above Right: you can see the toggle fully extended with the Crown U shown on the breach block. On can also see the straight back of the frame by the rear main axel pin indicating it was a DWM made frame cut for the grip safety.

Michael Reese states in his book that 287 is a known gun in the Portuguese Royal Navy group. Walker in The Luger Book states the highest known 'Royal' is 769 and the 'Republic' is 993. This makes the 800/200 delivery theory plausible; except for this gun.

This is a remarkable complete, all matching example of the Republic of Portuguese Navy contract, one of the 650 guns shipped from a 1,000 gun contract. This Luger is an all matching P08 and of a remaining group of 299 Parabellums after the abdication of Manuel II. Just a fantastic find in excellent condition. Any questions to josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com.