1906 French

This is a very rare example of the 1906 French Commercial Contract made by DWM for the French firm "Arms & Cycle Works" of Saint-Etienne, France in the unheard of caliber of 9mm. This weapon has a serial number 8650 numbers earlier than the known French marked commercials that is shown in Kenyon's Lugers at Random Page 106.

The manufacturer is Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken Co., (DWM) and it is a 9mm Luger with a 100mm Barrel (commonly called 4") on a designated 1906 frame with the squeeze grip safety.

The front site is dovetailed fixed with the standard sight blade. The frame is the short "new" model with the no markings over the chamber. The thumb safety is buffed "white" and it has the grip safety serial numbered to the gun..

Serial number placement is in the commercial ("concealed") style. The series for this variation is 5 digits and no letters. This Luger has all matching numbers. The barrel is numbered and scored and matches the frame. The serial number places production in approximately 1909.

The above photo shows the three Crown B,U,G, proofs (DWM Commercial Proofs) and the Shield Barrel Proof found on only some commercial contract guns.

The first toggle link is marked with the DWM monogram, and there is the "V" rear sight on the last toggle link. The weapon has no stock lug and the thumb safety is up to secure it. This Luger has a hold open variation the keeps the toggle up after the last round is fired.

The grips are walnut, fine checkered and are in excellent condition. 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.

This is a very difficult to find variation, unknown in 9mm. This gun marked Manufacture Française-d'Armes & Cycles de Saint-Etienne has an earlier serial number than the 7.65mm French Commercials most commonly known and above the 25000-25050 range of the 1903 known as the French test guns.

This Luger has a retaining pin in the coupler link in the rear toggle. The rear toggle link is not flush with the top of the receiver. Another characteristic that places it at-odds with known French contract guns.
	The magazine is marked Cal 9mm. Contract magazines were usually sold unnumbered. The Cal 9mm magazines were employed when the transition to 9mm was made to identify those guns and prevent the then more current 7.65mm from being jammed in the chamber. The magazine is very clean.

This is a very difficult to find variation to find. French marked Manufacture Française-d'Armes & Cycles de Saint-Etienne are extremely rare in 7.65mm and unknown in 9mm. This is for the advanced collector that specializes in the rarer pieces.

This is one for the serious collector of the "contract Luger" variation.