Make: DWM

Model: 1906 Naval Luger, 1st Issue Altered

Serial Number: 3639a

Year of Manufacture: 1908-1912

Caliber: 9mm Parabellum

Action Type: Toggle Action Semi-Automatic with Removable Magazine

Barrel Length: 6”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated, ramped blade dovetailed to a serrated, ramped base fixed to a boss at the muzzle. The rear sight is a two-position “V”-notch assembly at the back of the rear toggle link. There is a button on the right of the notch assembly which allows the sight to be moved forward or rear to the 100 or 200 yard position, respectively.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered wood. Each panel is marked "39" on the interior. The grips have minor handling wear with some discoloration from age and oil. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Fine-plus condition.

Type of Finish: Blue & Strawed

Finish Originality: Refinished, likely refurbished when altered. Serial marked parts are matching.

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 5-6/10.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 87% of its current metal finish. The balance is mostly in edge-thinning and muting of the strawed parts. There is scattered minor surface oxidation. There are some scattered light nicks and small scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good condition as refinished.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with one 8-round magazine with wood floorplate marked "GERMANY".

Our Assessment: The Luger (Pistole Parabellum or P-08) is perhaps the most aesthetically and ergonomically pleasing of all autoloading centerfire pistols. It is also one of the strongest, most accurate and most recognizable service pistols ever made. Georg Luger developed his famous pistol in 1898-1899 (starting with the Borchardt/Luger transitional pistol). The Luger is, essentially, a much improved Borchardt type pistol, which was itself based on the toggle action concept used by Sir Hiram Maxim in the world’s first practical machine gun.

This is an interesting variant, a DWM 1906 Naval Luger, 1st Issue Altered. The pistol was made between 1908 and 1912 with matching numbers and the correct proofs, though this pistol was altered, as many of the 1906 models were. The original configuration of the safety was engaged by pushing the lever forward, and when pulled to the rear the pistol was ready to fire. It was determined that this led to the safety being unintentionally disengaged and the mechanism was modified with the opposite arrangement. This was performed at dockyards or armories, and the quality of the re-marking varied. This example has a well-marked “GESICHERT” with the previous marking milled away in a neat, clean line. The backstrap has "W.W. / 3627" inventory marking, likely indicating it was altered at Werf Wilhelmshaven while it was inventory there.

The pistol has about 87% of its new metal finish remaining. The bore is consistent with a pistol which served not only when corrosive ammunition was common, but also near to salt water. There were about 19,000 of these pistols made between 1906 and 1912 for the German Navy with a couple thousand more produced with the new safety configuration straight from DWM. This is a somewhat rare pistol; many of the Naval models were lost in the wars that would come to Europe in the first half of the 20th Century. It is sure to gather the attention of the Luger collectors out there. Please see our photos and good luck!