In the beginning, the Netherlands was one of the first countries to adopt the Luger officially, their initial order having been placed before 1908. They reordered at least once before the outbreak of the First World War and possibly twice. Despite the fact that they are one of the world's smallest nations, the Netherlands were good customers of DWM. Not only did the Army use the Luger but also the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Royal Netherlands Indies Army (K.N.I.L.).

British proof marks (London Proof House) in the form of a "V" surmounted by a crown  appear on various parts of the pistol. Originally manufactured by Vickers Ltd., in England for a military contract sale to the Netherlands approximately from 1915-1917.  It was speculated that the contract during WWI was placed with the English firm because of the then-current hostilities between Germany and Holland.

This 1923 Dated Vickers was inspected by the Dutch (Queen Wilhelmina), not German proofs. You can also see the distinctive British NP (Nitro Proof) and GP (London Proof House).

It is reported that, for some unknown reason, the Netherlands placed an order for approximately 10,000 Luger Pistols sometime during the course of the First World War. Why the order was placed with Vickers, Ltd. of England is unknown. It is a known fact that Lugers had been received from DWM in 1916, or at least examples so dated have been encountered.

It is, of course, possible that, although the order was placed some years earlier, delivery was not made until the middle '20's due to the heavy commitments placed upon Vickers by the British Government. It is also possible that the original order was for a smaller number of pistols, as those pieces dated "1924" have not been found to be numbered lower than the #2,000 series. Those dated from 1924 to 1926 all fall into the #2,000 to #10,000 series, however. This would indicate that at least 7,000 to 8,000 of the pieces took up to three years to deliver. Under the circumstances, this situation would not be con­sidered unusual. It is more than likely that those Vickers Lugers dated after 1926 were later re-barreled by the Netherlands.

Since the Vickers is not a commonly found Luger and those that are usually are in very poor condition;  this one is a very rare find.  Seen Kenyon, Lugers at Random, P 144) we have included some additional pictures of the proofs and markings for your enjoyment. Note the London proof house Crown V.

The first two contracts for Lugers (1-2141) had the Crown W struck on the right side and then 2142-4181 it was struck on the left.  All the Vickers guns 4182- had it on the left side.  The gun (4197) was one of the first assembled by Vickers.

When DWM began again in 1928 they used the German Proof Marks.

Most Dutch Vickers are encountered with  a brass plate, measuring approximately 1 1/2 inches in length by 3/8ths of an inch in height, will probably be found to be braised onto the left side of the frame between the wooden grip and the left toggle.  These plates were added to the pistol by the Netherlands Government and usually have various combinations of letters and numbers inscribed thereon. They acted as identification plates for the profusion of military units to whom Lugers were issued.

The Vickers, outside of the Swiss variations manufactured by Waffenfabrik Bern, is the only model of the Luger that has ever been produced outside of Germany.

The Vickers military guns, cited by Bas J. Martens in The Dutch Luger, recognizes 4182-10181 as the series for the East-Indies Army. This one has the fine diamond grips of the original contract and with the condition of the finish probably didn't go the East Indies.

This is an extra ordinary example of the Vickers produced Luger.  While most of the Vickers survived in extremely worn condition by virtue of their employment in the Dutch colonies this model is a collector grade gun for the most discriminating collector who simply wants the best.