1906 Imperial Navy Full Rig

This is a 1906 DWM (Deutsche Waffen und Munitions Fabriken) Imperial Navy in a full rig. This piece is a 6 inch (150mm) barreled 9mm Parabellum with the Navy adjustable rear sight and matching Navy magazine. This is a complete rig with matching pistol, matching stock, matching unit marking on the stock and grip strap, Imperial Navy cleaning road and proofed loading tool with a Navy holster, all the straps and an extra magazine pouch with two unmarked Navy magazines. This is as good as it gets. (927)


This Navy is the classic; complete with matching magazine. This model has a hold open latch and stock lug. There is the two-position (100-200m) sight on the rear toggle link and the last two digits of the serial number appear. This is a collector grade gun. This model Navy was believed to be produced in less than 8,000 quantity. There are no letter suffix versions of the 1906 model.

This Luger variation is considered a 1st Issue "Altered" version because of the milling out of the original thumb safety and changing from safe up to safe down. This was because when the original Navy contract was let the 1904 versions with one curled knob and one toggle with the lock was the weapon tested. The contract was slow being delivered and by the time more weapons were ordered the 1908 model had appeared with the thumb safety down. The German Navy, in an effort to prevent confusion in 1912 ordered that all their Lugers be "altered" to match the current issue. This produced the variations that Navy collectors covet today.


Serial number placement is in the civilian ("hidden") style. The serial number appears on the front of the frame, on the bottom of the locking bolt, on the trigger, on the bottom of the barrel, the side plate, the left side of the receiver, and under the first toggle. The magazine is matching with the *Marinen* Crown Proof & the matching serial number.

The DWM monogram markings appear on the 1st toggle link and the extractor is marked 'Geladen' (Loaded). This example has all matching serial numbers. The thumb safety is marked "Gesichert" and when exposed (safety down) means safe.
	This is an extraordinarily marked gun. There is evidence of the W.W. North Sea (Wilhelmshaven Werft) markings over which the II Torpedo Division marking has been applied and the disc on the matching stock is also marked with the II Torpedo Division and the same weapon number.

There is the small Crown M (Marinen) Proof inside the flap of the holster, the iron attaching the stock is serial numbered to the gun and the gun has matching serial number on the Nave ringed magazine with a Marinen Proof. This is an unbelievable find for the Navy Collector and definitely an Investment gun.

We strive to provide pictures so you can judge for yourself if the gun meets your criteria. If you are an earnest buyer and want some additional pictures from a different angle please email us and we will attempt to achieve what you want to see.

The Crown M proof on the barrel and other parts is the Marinen (Navy) proof of the Imperial Navy. Here you can see the matching serial number of the barrel, the front of the frame, the locking lever and the bottom of the side plate.

This rig comes with an original Imperial Navy cleaning road and a Marinen marked loading tool. Rare becomes an over used superlative describing Lugers but to have an Imperial Navy with matching magazine is beyond rare. References: See Kenyon, Lugers at Random, Page 150: German Small Arms Markings, Gortz & Bryans Page 53

In August 1904 the German Navy underwent testing of 5, 9mm Selbstladepistolem Model 1904 from DWM. The trial was successful and in September 1904 the Navy asked the Kriegsministerium to order 2,000 Model 1904 navy pistols as soon as possible. Thus began to first acceptance of the 'Luger' by the German military. The 1904 Navy incorporated the new coil mainspring, the new extractor with the loaded-chamber markings. These "improvements" were underway during the testing an acceptance of the navy model.


The inside of the gun is clean with no evidence or pitting or rust. It has been cared for many years. This gun is an exceptional Luger being in such fine shape and bearing all the correct proofs and markings to make it a text book "Navy".
	Another identifying characteristic of the Navy variation is the rear two-position sight for 100-200 meters.

You can see the classic Navy concentric ring magazine base. There are many theories as to why the rings on the Navy magazines; 7.65 - vs. - 9mm, to separate the magazines for accountability. The P-04 as the German Navy called the Luger was the first military contract with the German military and the 9mm round was just emerging. Early Parabellums manufactured with 9mm barrels had the bottom of the magazines marked Cal 9mm. This might have been the Navy's way to identify the 9nn round by feel. No one to ask today to clarify that issue.

On February 2nd, 1910 the Reichs-Marine-Amt instructed the naval units that accountability would move from serial numbers to weapon numbers and issued the order for the application of the disc on the stocks to contain the weapon number. All Pistolen 1904 received prior to this order were to be returned to the wharf from which they were issued for the installation of the Gewehr 98 style disc that we have come to identify with the Navy Luger stock.

If you don't have a "Navy" or you want to have just one that is a "top dog'; this is the Navy to consider adding to your collection. This Luger is identified as a curio and can be send directly to C&R licensees and above.

This is a very rare example of a complete 1906 DWM Imperial Navy Luger with everything matching. To find a rig is an accomplishment from the Imperial Navy; to have a matching stock with both serial number and unit markings match plus the cleaning rod, loading tool and a proofed holster with an extra magazine pouch and two original Navy Magazines is as good as it gets. josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com