A Collection of High-Condition Lugers

By Clifford Chappell

We are proud to announce the inclusion of some particularly desirable Lugers in our upcoming Arms & Armor Auction #6099, taking place in Dallas on June 9, 2013.

 The best of a gentleman's collection includes a very early 1900 DWM pistol/carbine ensemble accompanied by a holster, shoulder stock, and wood-based magazines.

Described as 99% blue finish and 80-90% straw colors, this excellent example of a Luger carbine combines condition and rarity.

Another DWM pistol in this collection is a rare, made for the French market pistol. It is marked: Manufacture Francaise d'Armes & Cycles de St. Etienne. Very few Lugers with this retailer's mark have been documented. This one is likely the best of that rare group because it is retaining approximately 98-99% finish.

During the 1930s, The Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I, included restrictions on weapons manufactured for Germany. The German Mauser K Date Model P08 S-42 Luger Semi-Automatic Pistol we are offering is a rare collectible known as the "K-dated Mauser." The K was a secret wartime code used by the Mauser factory to conceal Germany's re-armament in the late 1930s. This example produced circa 1936 is rated as "Fine" with 94-96% finish with only light wear. Most of these early guns saw extensive use during World War II and rarely appear in this extraordinary condition.

The final lot I want to bring to your attention is an example of a gun purchased by the Swiss in 1900. One interesting characteristic of the Model 1900 is a grip safety. Later models lack this feature. The Swiss Army was the very first military contract for Luger pistols. The German Army did not make their first purchases until 1908. This Swiss example is 113 years old and looks pretty much as it did the day it was shipped from the factory. With 97-99% finish this early gun likely saw very little use.

Without any apparent holster wear, it could be assumed it sat in an officer's drawer for many decades. Collectors rarely get an opportunity to bid on one like this.

All of these Lugers come from a long time collector who recognized the rarest and the best when he saw them. Heritage is proud to be able to offer them. The April 18th in-house consignment deadline for this auction is fast approaching. If you have quality material that you want sold alongside these important weapons, please contact me (1-800-872-6467 ext. 1887) or my colleague David Carde (1-800-872-6467 ext. 1881). Do it today.