Historical Document
The Pistols of Germany and Its Allies in Two World Wars, Vol. I
Reference volume covering German and allied service pistols, including the C96.
- mauser
- c96
- german pistols
- history
Historical Document
Reference volume covering German and allied service pistols, including the C96.
Military Pistols Of Imperial Germany And Her World War I Allies And Postwar Military, Paramilitary And Police Reworks R G 136* By 1914 the Central Powers nations, Ger many, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey were armed with a rich variety of semi automatic pistols that had reached a fairly ad vanced state of development. A pistol triggered the Great War and pistols were one of the principal weapons used in the ensuing murderous close range and hand to hand combat. This war and subsequent peace set the stage for the rise of Nazi Germany and the next World War. Many of the World War I German pistols were reissued to the Reichswehr and right wing or early Nazi paramilitary groups. Both the wartime and post war reissue pistols bear specific military markings. These markings often indicate a military branch and sometimes a specific unit. These marked pistols reflect the history of this period and this book describes the historic setting, military markings, unit designations, production, specifications, ballistics and current market value of these pistols. Some of these are the most intricately machined and finely finished military pistols ever produced. Over 60 pistol variations are described and over 70 photographs presented. Much previously un published information on Lugers, Mausers, Walthers, Sauers, Brownings, Steyrs, other pistols and on military or police unit designations is presented. The book is an indispensable reference for both the Imperial and Nazi collector or dealer. Frontispiece 1.a. 1908 and 1914 DWM Commercial Lugers were manufactured from 1908 to 1914 or 1915. A few were procured and marked by the Imperial German Army, Navy or Reichs Gendarmerie. Illustrated is a 1908 Commercial Army, s.n. 70756, that was manufactured in about 1913 with a hold open. It has military proofs unique to this variation, a matching magazine and a high grade commercial quality finish. See page 23. Frontispiece 1.b. 1908 Commercial Army as issued with holster, loading tool and extra magazine. It is not commercially proofed. The sear bar has been arsenal relieved and additional serial numbers placed in the military (exposed) style. A sear safety indicates police reissue after World War I. Frontispeice 2. The Mauser M1896/16 “Red 9’’ was manufactured from 1916-1918 for the Imperial German Army and shows a rougher fit and finish than earlier commercial “broomhandles.’’ A very few are found without a military stamp, such as the one illustrated. It, s.n. 140649, was manufactured late in the war yet has a high quality commercial grade fit and finish and may have been intended for arsenal sale to officers. See page 37 and 126. ©he nf (Sermang anb <3lf s JKlliee <3ln ©inn ¿®nrlb JHars 3Jcthuiu' 1 Military Pistols Of Imperial Germany And Her World War I Allies And Postwar Military, Paramilitary And Police Reworks by Jan C. Still Published By Jan C. Still, Box 188, Douglas, Alaska 99824 © 1982 by Jan C. Still All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright holder Jan C. Still Box 188 Douglas, Alaska 99824 Printed in the United States of America Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: ISBN: / Paperback 10 987654321 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The main source of information and assistance in preparing this book were the members of the National Association of Automatic Pistol Collectors and its publication AUTO MAG*. The following members made the most important contributions: Tom Knox, St. Louis, Missouri Reinhard Kornmayer, West Germany Edward Macauley, Soquel, California Bernie Lafferty, East Hartford, Connecticut Don Rousseau, Anchorage, Alaska Joe Wotka, Clayton, Missouri Pat Redmond, Westfield, Indiana A special thanks to: David Byron, Ruth Pratt and Franz Kraft, all of Florida, who did the typesetting,proofed the German and sought a printer, to Mike Affleck, Juneau, Alaska who did the photographic work and to Paul Marks, Juneau, Alaska who drafted the map. The following shared pistols to be photographed or photographs of pistols: R. Kornmayer, D. Byron, D. Rousseau, E. Macauley, E. Hildebrand, T. Brenner and K. Weir. The following contributed information: R.E. Benson, B. Best, J. Carlson, J. Coe, L. Coatney, W.O. Drollinger, W. Erickson, J.M. Gambro, J. Gillespie, A. Gordon, F.B. Hebitch, T. Heller, D. Hough, R. Jensen, D. Johnson, R.J. Koegh, R.E. Knight, R.D. Lechman, G. Medlin, S. Pearl, J. Rankin, B. Ratcliffe, J. Remling, B. Seigas, R. Taylor, H. Tokarsky, J. Walter, and C. Yow Also a number of members contributed information through AUTO MAG. Additional data, information or corrections should be addressed to: Jan C. Still Box 188 Douglas, Alaska 99824 *AUTO MAG, edited by T. Knox, is an informal publication on automatic pistols that contains a large variety of articles and comments from leading collectors the world over. Formore informa tion write: National Automatic Pistol Collectors Association Box 15738 Tower Grove Station St. Louis, Missouri, 63163 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1 GERMANY Military history German Military Pistols - German Manufacture Proofs and Inspection Stamps P 04 IMPERIAL NAVY P 08 IMPERIAL MILITARY DWM 1908 and 1914 DWM COMMERCIAL MILITARY P 08 IMPERIAL MILITARY ERFURT LANGE P 08 ERFURT AND DWM Trommel Magazine M1896/16 MAUSER M1896/12 MAUSER M6 WALTHER M4 WALTHER 1913 SAUER 07 DREYSE FL SELBSTLADER BEHOLLA MENTA 1914 MAUSER JÄGER German Military Pistols - Belgian Manufacture 1900 BROWNING 1903 BROWNING 1908 BAYARD AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN EMPIRE Military History Austro-Hungarian Military Pistols M7 ROTH STEYR 1912 STEYR HAHN 1912 STEYR HAHN ROMANIAN - Captured 1912 FROMMER STOP M1896/12 MAUSER AUSTRIAN 1908 STEYR BULGARIA Military History Bulgarian Military Pistols 1900 BULGARIAN LUGER 1906 BULGARIAN LUGER 1908 BULGARIAN LUGER 3 6 6 7 13 23 28 28 36 37 38 40 40 41 41 42 42 50 50 51 52 52 52 54 55 61 61 62 62 64 64 64 67 67 67 67 68 OTTOMAN EMPIRE - TURKEY Military History 73 // Turkish Military Pistols M1896 TURKISH MAUSER M1903 TURKISH BROWNING 75 75 75 POST WAR GERMAN MILITARY - PARAMILITARY AND POLICE REISSUE OR REWORK OF WORLD WAR I MILITARY PISTOLS Introduction Reichswehr Pistols - 1920 Stamp P04, P08, LANGE P08 M1896/16 (Red 9) or M1896/12 MAUSER 1914 MAUSER, 1913 SAUER, 1900 BROWNING, 1908 BAYARD P08 Sneaks Other World War I Military Pistols Routed to the German Military, Paramilitary or Police P04, P08, LANGE P08 M1896/16 (Red 9) or M1896/12 MAUSER 07 DREYSE 1912 STEYR HAHN 1908/34 STEYR 76 77 77 78 78 79 86 86 86 86 86 86 GERMAN MILITARY AND POLICE UNIT MARKINGS Introduction German Naval Unit Markings 1904-1918 Imperial 1920-1933 Weimar German Army Unit Markings 1908-1918 R.G. Unit Markings Deaths Head (Totenkopf) Luger - World War I Reichswehr Unit Markings Prussian State Police Unit Markings Other Weimar Police Marked Pistols Hamburg Police Berlin Police Munich Police Reich Finance Administration Other Police Unit Markings 91 91 91 92 92 101 105 109 112 118 119 119 119 120 120 FINAL NOTE 121 APPENDICES A. PISTOLS NOT LISTED IN TEXT GERMANY M1879 AND M1883 REICH REVOLVERS M1896 MAUSER M1912/14 MAUSER 1902 COMMERCIAL TEST LUGER 1906 COMMERCIAL TEST LUGER 1910 BROWNING BERGMANN-BAYARD 1912 FROMMER STOP DREYSE Cal. 9mmP. 122 122 122 122 122 124 124 124 124 124 124 III WARTIME COMMERCIAL PISTOLS AUSTRIA-HUNGARY M1896 RAST & GASSER REVOLVER 1908 STEYR Cal. 6.35mm 1907 DREYSE FINLAND M1896/12 MAUSER B. DETAILED CHARACTERISTICS OF WORLD WAR I PISTOL MODELS AND AMMUNITION BALLISTICS C. PISTOL VALUES D. REICHSWEHR UNIT DESIGNATIONS BIBLIOGRAPHY 126 130 130 130 130 130 130 134 136 138 142 SUMMARY TABLE SUMMARY MAP 145 Inside Back Cover IV Illustrations Pistols illustrated from the authors collection unless otherwise noted. Photographs by M. Affleck, Juneau Alaska. Figure 1. Imperial Naval soldiers armed with the Navy Luger. Figure 2. Matrosen (sailor) infanterie armed with the Navy Luger. Figure 3a. P 04 Navy - 1914 variation dated 1917. Figure 3b. Left side P 04 Navy showing details of Naval stamps. Figure 3c. Naval Luger and holster with accessories. Figure 4. Infantry armed with the military (Army) Luger. Figure 5. Soldiers armed with the P 08. Figure 6a. Imperial military (Army) Lugers showing the 1908 and 1914 variations of Erfurt and DWM. Figure 6b. Toggle and chamber markings forthe Lugers in Figure 6a. Figure 6c. P 08 Imperial receiver military stamps. Figure 6d. P 08 - 1912 dated Erfurt bearing Bavarian unit markings. Figure 6e. Bohler steel hardness stamp. Figure 7 1908 Commercial Luger with R.G. 14b unit markings and double crown/B military stamps. Figure 8. Soldier of the Field Artillery armed with the Lange P 08. Figure 9a. Two types of stocked handgun: Lange P 08 and M1896/16 “Red 9.” Figure 9b. Right side of Figure 9a pistols. Figure 9c. Receiver proofs: M1896/16 and 1915 dated Lange P 08. Figure 9d. Lange P 08 and M1896/16 holster stock details. Figure 9e. Lange P 08 showing top view and details of rear sight. Figure 9f. Lange P 08 and Trommel magazine from a military manual. Figure 10. Walther Model 6 with Imperial military stamp. v Figure 11a. Imperial military issue7.65cal. pistols, 1913Sauer, 1914 Mauser, 07 Dreyse, FL Selbstlader, M4 Walther and Jäger. Figure 11b. Imperial military issue Menta and Beholla. Figure 11c. 1914 Mauser Imperial variations. Figure 11d. Trigger guard eagles (military proofs) on Imperial 7.65 cal. pistols, 1913 Sauer, Beholla and 1914 Mauser. Figure 11e. Imperial military stamps: 07 Dreyse, Jäger, 1914 Mauser, FL Selbstlader. Figure 11 f. Imperial military stamps: Walther M4, Menta, 1913 Sauer. Figure 11g. Imperial issue holsters for 07 Dreyse, M4 Walther and 1900 Browning. Figure 12. Pistols captured or manufactured in Belgium for the Imperial German military, 1900and 1903 Browning, 1908 Bayard. Figure 13a. Imperial Austro-Hungarian military pistols, 1912 Steyr Hahn and M7 Roth Steyr. Figure 13b. M7 Roth Steyr - Austrian and Hungarian manufacture. Figure 13c. Austro-Hungarian military stamps. Figure 13d. Steyr Hahn with issue holster and FN ammunition. Figure 14. Austro-Hungarian military pistols: 1908 Steyr, 1912 Frommer Stop. Figure 15. Austro-Hungarian M1896/12 Mauser with stock and accessories. Figure 16a. Bulgarian Luger and Turkish M1903 Browning. Figure 16b. Crests on Bulgarian Luger and Turkish M1903 Browning. Figure 16c. Crestsand inscriptions on Bulgarian Luger and Turkish M1903 Browning. Figure 16d. Holster for 1903 Browning Turkish contract. Figure 17. German adviser to the Turkish military armed with the Lange P 08. VI Figure 18. Pistols with the 1920 Reichswehr stamp: P 08, M1896/16, 1900 Browning, and 1913 Sauer. Figure 19. Sneak Luger shown with SA and SS daggers and NSDAP gorget. Figure 20a. P 08 sneaks with Prussian State Police grip strap markings. Figure 20b. Toggle and chamber markings for Figure 20a sneak Lugers. Figure 20c. Rework stamps, Figure 20a, sneak Lugers. Figure 20d. Prussian State Police grip strap markings, Figure 20a, Lugers. Figure 21a. Pistols with indications of postwar military or police reissue: Steyr Hahn, 1914 Erfurt, 07 Dreyse, and 1908/34 Steyr. Figure 21b. Steyr Hahn Nazi police acceptance stamp and Steyr (E/623) barrel on a 1914 Erfurt. Figure 22. 1913 Sauer with eagle/N Nazi commercial proof. Figure 23. Navy soldiers armed with Navy Lugers. Figure 24. Chevauleger Regiment unit markings on a P 08 and holster. Figure 25a. 1914 DWM commercial with R.G. 136b, Gendarmerie Brigade Alsace Lorraine unit markings. Figure 25b. Style and details of R.G. 136b engraving. Figure 26a. Death head 1918 dated Erfurt. Figure 26b. Death head or totenkopf. Figure 27. Luger with Reichswher unit markings. Figure 28. Identification of Prussian State Police unit markings on Lugers and a Bayonet. Figure 29. M1879 and 1883 Reich revolvers. Figure 30. Bergmann Bayard 1910- VII Figure 31. M1896/16 “Red 9” commercial with matching stock. Figure 32. Model 1896 Rast and Gasser revolver. Figure 33. 1908 Steyr caliber 6.35mm. Figure 34. M1896/12 wartime commercial with Finnish military stamp. VIII TABLES Table 1. DWM and Erfurt military Luger serial ranges and production. Table 2. Serial ranges and information on 1908 and 1914 DWM Commercial Lugers with military stamps or police unit markings and some standard commercial Lugers of interest. After AUTO MAG Vol. XII p. 209, and information from Pat Redmond, 1982. Table3. Imperial German Fleet marking designations (found on Navy Lugers). Table 4. German Army unit marked pistols. Table 5. Reichswehr marked pistols. Table 6. Prussian State Police marked pistols. Table 7. Weimar Police marked pistols. Table A-1. Ordance and commercial pistols offered for sale by the Prussian Army to officers on 8 August 1917. Table B-1. Detailed characteristics of World War I military pistol models. Table B-2. World War I Central Powers pistol ammunition ballistics. Table C-1. Values of World War I Military Pistols with military stamps or other indications of official procurment. Table D-1. Reichswehr unit designations. /X 1 PISTOLS OF GERMANY INTRODUCTION By 1914 Europe was on the brink of war: bellicose nationalism, economic and territorial rivalries, and entangling alliances were the underlying causes. The June 28, 1914 assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (heir apparent to the Austrian throne) by a Serbian nationalist provided the trigger and within a year all Europe was a grim battlefield. Armies were fighting in France, Russia, Poland, Italy, the Balkans and Turkey along fronts over 500 miles wide. It was war waged on the land, sea and in the air with a scale, violence and industrial intensity the world had never seen. Barbed wire and machine guns dominated the defensive positions on the constricted Western Front while the vast spaces of the Eastern Front allowed expansive battles of sweeping maneuver. While poison gas and the machine gun extracted heavy casualties, fast firing artillary was the predominant killer most often blowing its victims to bits. Infouryears 13 million would die and another 30 million would be wounded. The harsh peace terms and German battle experience would set the stage for the next world war. By 1914 the armies of the Central Powers had largely replaced the revolver with a rich variety of semi-automatic pistols, which had reached a fairly advanced state of development. Arms manufacturers in Germany, Austria-Hungary and Belgium supplied over 2.6 million semi-automatic pistols for official procurement to the military of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey. Specific military markings1 were applied to the pistols procured by the armies of the Central Powers. In some cases a military branch or unit is indicated. These marked pistols reflect the history of the World War I era and this book describes these pistols. Although not capable of producing the casualties of artillary, machine guns or poison gas, the pistol as a personal defense weapon had a special significance to the officers and soldiers who carried them and they were one of the principal weapons used in the murderous close range and hand to hand combat that regularly occurred in the battles on every front. When his rifle or machine gun was jammed or empty and the enemy was charging at close range with blazing rifle and fixed bayonet, a soldier's life could well depend on a quick shot from his pistol. 1 Generally termed ordnance or arsenal stamps. PISTOLS OF GERMANY 2 This book will first briefly describe the historic wartime setting in which the pistols were used and then describe each pistol type and its military markings in detail. The last portion briefly describes the identification of unit markings and World War I military pistols reworked and reissued to the postwar German military or police. Appendix A covers wartime commercial pistols, issue revolvers and other pistols that may have been used or issued, while Appendix B contains pistol and ammunition specifications. Current prices for these collector pistols are in Appendix C. The map and table found in the back cover represent a summary of the more detailed information found in the text. 3 PISTOLS OF GERMANY GERMANY Military History Mobilized Forces 11 million Casualties 7.1 million Late in the 19th century a strong German nation dominated by militaristic Prussia was forged from disunited states. By 1914 it was the military and economic rival of France, Britain and Russia. During this time, known as the Second Reich2, 1871-1918, Germany was dominated by Bismark and then Kaiser Wilhelm. The German general staff, formed in the 19th century, through excellence, training and discipline forged the best led and manned army in Europe. Early in the 20th century the Schlieffen plan was developed by this general staff to meet the demands of a two front war (France in the west, Russia in the east). Its main concept was a holding action in the east and a powerful attack through neutral Belgium flanking the French fortifications and wheeling to take Paris and to hammer the bulk of the French army and fortifications from behind. At the onset of war (August 3,1914) Germany immediately put the Schlieffen plan into action. The imposing line of Belgium forts at Liege were literally crushed with huge (11.5-16.5 inch) howitzers; however, the ruthless drive through Belgium brought Great Britain directly into the war. By September the heavily fortified French forts had been flanked and German columns were within sight of Paris. With a last minute rally the French and British drove a wedge into a break in the German lines and stopped the German drive with savage hand to hand fighting at the First Battle of the Marne. A subsequent attempt to reach the Channel ports was stopped at Ypres (where Germany used poison gas for the first time on the western front). For the next four years this 350 mile front remained essentially static and great battles of attrition were fought with little gain. The bloody Somme and Verdun were such battles accounting for over % of a million casualties. At sea both Britain and Germany were armed with a new class of battleship. These powerful 1/s mile long steel ships (termed dread nought) bristling with long barrelled cannon (whose shells ripped 2The period 800-1800 is known as the First Reich of the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation. PISTOLS OF GERMANY 4 through the air like freight trains) epitomized this new era of mechanized warfare. The British fleet greatly outnumbered its German rival and it was Germany’s strategy to avoid major fleet actions. The battle of Jutland in 1916 was the only major engagement and although Germany got the better of it materially it was strategi cally indecisive. Germany’s use of unrestricted submarine warfare in 1917 against Britain was effective but indecisive, while the British economic and naval blockade starved and weakened the German civilian population. The vast Eastern Front provided the maneuvering room for Germany to use its tactical superiority to inflict grevious defeats on the massive Russian armies. Russia’s ill-equipped and led army suffered over 9 million casualties during three years of war, its greatest losses at the battles of Tannenberg (1914), Winter Battle (1915) and Gorlice-Tarnow (1915). By 1917 Russian losses on the battlefield and the Bolshevick Revolution knocked her out of the war. The subsequent Treaty of Brest-Litovsk imposed by Germany was the greatest humiliation in Russian military history. Under its harsh terms Russia was cut off from the Baltic, landlocked to the south, lost 34 percent of her population and 89% of her coal reserves. With the east secured, German troops streamed westward for the final battles of the war (1918). In a series of 5 savage attacks (Kaiserschlacht), using special storm trooper infiltration tactics, the Germans made significant breakthroughs; however, with its loss of 800,000 men (mostly storm troopers) in four months the depleated and exhausted army was unable to capitalize on its gains. By this time the fresh Americans joined the battle in force. The turning point was the second battle of the Marne in which the British, for the first time, launched a massed tank attack (coordinated with air strikes) and, in what became known as the Black Day of the German army, she was decisively defeated. In November 1918 Germany surrendered. Throughout the war Germany maintained the best led and manned Army in Europe. It inflicted twice the casualties on opposing armies and though consistently outnumbered 272 to 1, it won the war on the Eastern Frontand twice (1914and 1918) came close to victory on the Western Front. The Treaty of Versailles imposed harsh territorial losses and an indemnity on Germany and severe restrictions on the military (restrictions were so detailed as to dictate the maximum caliber, 5 PISTOLS OF GERMANY 8mm, and barrel length, 3.94 inches, for pistols). It was a humiliation for Germany which only stimulated a revival of German nationalism and covert German rearmament in the early 1930s. Over 2.1 million handguns were manufactured for the World War I German military by plants in Sommerda, Zella, Suhl, Oberndorf, Erfurt, Berlin and Herstal in Belgium. PISTOLS OF GERMANY 6 GERMAN MILITARY PISTOLS German Manufacture Proofs and Inspection Stamps Pistols known to be officially procured by the Imperial German Army bear military inspection stamps and or proofs3. These take the form of stylized eagles and Germanic scriptic letters or symbols. On Lugers they are found on the receiver, barrel, breechblock, and other locations (World of Lugers Proof Marks by Costanzo contains a detailed listing). Military Lugers are not commercially proofed while some Commercial Military Lugers bear both commercial and military proofs. Other Army procured pistols (except the 1908 Bayard) bear crown/N or crown/U commercial proofs along with a military inspection stamp, usually at one location and some bear a military proof in the form of a stylized eagle. Pistols known to be officially procured by the Imperial German Navy bear military inspection stamps in the form of a crown/M. t 3Appendix A covers pistols without military stamps. 7 PISTOLS OF GERMANY P 04 IMPERIAL NAVY4 Fig. 1,2,3, Military Stamp: Cal 9mm P5 ~ ® ® MM Commercial Proof: None Distinguishing Characteristics: 6-inch barrel, DWM toggle, stock lug, two position rear sight and commercial (hidden) style serial number placement are characteristic of all Navies. Var. 1904: Thick barrel, blank chamber, long frame, toggle lock, grip safety-safe position with lever upward and originally no proofing or military stamps. Known serial range 35-1153. Est. Prod. 1200, very rare. Var. 1906: blank chamber, long frame, and grip safety-safe position with lever upward; —most later altered to down position. Those without the altered safety are termed first issue and those with the altered safety second issue. Known serial range 9-998b. Est. Prod. 21,000. Var. 1908: blank chamber, long frame and lack of grip safety distinguish this variation. Known serial range 1044b-9505b. Est. Prod. 8500. Var. 1914: chamber, front sight, and left side of frame dated 1916,1917 or 1918, short frame and sear bar and no grip safety. Known serial ranges: 1916,44-9433; 1917, 20-7741 a; 1918,1595309. Est. Prod. 32000. In 1904 the Navy became the first branch of the German military to adapt the Luger. Five variations of “Navy” Luger were produced from 1904-1918 by Deutsche Waffen u. Munitionsfabriken (DWM) in Berlin. Most of these were issued with holster, cleaning rod, tool and two extra magazines in a pouch complete with shoulder stock that fastened to the back of the holster and attached to the pistol stock lug by means of an iron. A few were issued without the stock. Some have 4The German designation is Marine Model 04, the widely used collectors designation has been retained. 5Parabellum Kornmayer) Figure 1. Imperial Naval soldiers armed with the Naval Luger. Probably taken in 1911-1913 after completion of initial training . The bayonets are the Naval model 1911, a boarding saber. The inscription on the middle soldier’s cap is MatrosenArtillerie while that on the others is Torpedo-Division. (Luger-archive Reinhard PISTOLS OF GERMANY 8 P IS T O LS O F G E R M A N Y Figure 2. World War I Matrosen (sailer)-lnfanterie armed with the Naval Luger. (Luger-archive Reinhard Kornmayer) P IS T O LS O F G E R M A N Y Figure 3a. P04 Navy-1914 variation dated 1917. The 6 inch barrel, two position rear sight, stock lug and lack of proofs on right receiver characterize all Imperial Naval Lugers. o P IS T O L S O F G E R M A N Y Figure 3b. Left side view of 3a showing Imperial Naval stamps on the left receiver and the 1917 date on the left frame. P IS T O L S O F G E R M A N Y Figure 3c. Naval Luger shown with holster stamped JON. HUBER SATTLEREI, MÜNCHEN and stamped with crown over .I. This holster has belt loops and was never intended for attaching a board stock. Some P 04s were never issued with stock (AUTO MAG VI, p 191, Knox) the other accessories are tool, two extra magazines and issue cleaning rod. PISTOLS OF GERMANY 13 unit markings on the grip strap. One of these markings has been identified as being issued to a Naval unit in China! (Seetable3forthe identification of Imperial Naval unit markings.) Only 62,000 Naval Lugers were procured, all are considered fairly rare and the 1904 variation is extremely rare. Navy proofed commercial and first issue military Lugers are discussed on pages 23 and 24. P 08 IMPERIAL MILITARY DWM Fig.4, 5, 6 Military Stamp: Cal 9mm P ^/scriptic sym. Commercial Proof: None Distinguishing Characteristics: 4-inch barrel, DWM toggle, short frame, military proofs on barrel, receiver and breechblock are all characteristic of the standard DWM military Luger. Var. 1908 First Issue: blank chamber, lack of hold open and stock lug, distinctive proofs on left side of receiver and commer cial style serial number placement characterize the first issue P 08. Most later had the hold open added and a few have military style serial numbers added. Est. Prod. 25,000, fairly rare. Var. 1908 Second Issue: chamber dated 1910-1913, no hold open or stock lug, proofs on right side of receiver and military style serial number placement by mid 1912. Est. Prod. 70,000. Var. 1914: chamber dated 1913 (few) and 1914-1918, with stock lug and hold open, proofs on right side of receiver and military style serial number placement, in 1916 the sear bar was shortened. This would be the basic configuration of military Luger until production ceased in 1942. Est. Prod. 570,000. The Luger was adapted by the German Army in 1908 and between 1908 and 1918 Deutsche Waffen u. Munitionsfabriken (DWM) pro duced about 665 thousand. Dates, serial ranges and production are given in Table 1. Figure 4. Photo marked France 26, Jan. 1918, showing German infantry soldiers armed with the military (Army) Luger. The second from right soldier is armed with a 7.65 caliber pistol. Each infantry company carried the light machine gun (08/15 shown) (Luger-archive Reinhard Korn may er) PISTOLS OF GERMANY 14 15 PISTOLS OF GERMANY ■o crs c <5 QC CD 00 O CL CD £ ■O CD E CO cn CD o CD PISTOLS OF GERMANY 16 Figure 6a. Variations of the Imperial military (Army) Luger, top to bottom: 1908 first issue DWM, blank chamber, s.n. 2108a; 1908 second issue DWM, 1913 chamber date, s.n. 1386b; 1914 DWM, 1917chamber date, s.n. 6302b; 1908 Erfurt, chamber date 1912, s.n. 5143; 1914 Erfurt, chamber date 1914, s.n. 1176; Note the lack of stock lug on the 1908 variations. 1917 DWM and 1914 Erfurt from the collection of E. Hildebrand, Douglas, Alaska. 17 PISTOLS OF GERMANY Figure 6b. Chamber and toggle markings for the Lugers in figure 6a. The hidden-commercial style serial placement on the 1908 first issue (blank chamber) DWM contrasts with the military style placement on the other variations. PISTOLS OF GERMANY 18 Figure 6c. P 08 Imperial receiver military stamps, top to bottom: 1908 DWM 1st issue, 1913 dated DWM, 1917 dated DWM, 1912 dated Erfurt and 1914 dated Erfurt. 19 PISTOLS OF GERMANY Figure 6d. P 08-1912 dated Erfurt bearing Bavarian unit markings: Bavarian 13th Infantry Regiment 9th Company Weapon No. 5. See section covering Army unit marking for details. From the collection of Dan Kattenhorn, Juneau, Alaska. PISTOLS OF GERMANY 20 Figure 6e. The Bo 25 stamp on this 1913 DWN indicates the barrel is made of Bohler steel. This stamp is found on a very few 1913 and 1914 DWM and Erfurt Lugers. It indicates hardness for an experimental hardness process. 21 PISTOLS OF GERMANY DWM and Erfurt military serial range and production. Indications are that in 1917 both the P 08 and the Lange P 08 occupy the same serial range because both fill the same letter blocks and because of production constraints. Based on the table by Lafferty (1975, p. 58) and conversation with Lafferty (1981). Table 1. Known Letter Blocks n.l. = no letter or first Luger Model & Date Known Serial Range Est. Production DWM M1908 1st Issue Blank Military n.l., a, b 34 - 2636b 25000 M1908 2nd Issue 1910 Military b, c, d 5095b - 5358d 20000 1911 Military d, e 7248d - 4825e 15000 1912 Military n.l. 599 - 9974 10000 1913 Military n.l., a, b 2617 - 3850b 25000 40000 M1914 1914 Military n.l., a, b, c 282-6212c 1914 Lange n.l., a 4147 - 539a 10000 1915 Military n.l., a, b, c, d, e, g, i 1398 - 2557Í 100000 1915 Lange n.l., a 2988 - 6166a 20000 1916 Military n.l., a, b, c, d, e, f, h, k, m, n, q 287 - 5438q 180000 1916 Lange n.l., a, b 1112- 2660b 25000 1917 Military n.l., b, c, d, e, f, m, n 587-3521 n 60000 1917 Lange n.l., a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, k, I, m 211 - 3085m 100000 1918 Military n.l., a, b, c, d, e, g, k, r 3690 - 9018r 190000 1918 Lange • n.l., a, b 320 - 6402b 25000 Total Production Military Model DWM 665000 Total Production Lange Model DWM 180000 PISTOLS OF GERMANY Table 1, Continued Known Letter Blocks n.l. = no letter or first 22 Known Serial Range Est. Production nJ. nJ., a, b nJ., a, b 575 - 9548 255 - 866b 575 - 2563b 10000 22000 25000 nJ., a, b nJ., a, b None Reported nJ., a, c, d, e, g nJ., e, g, h, i, k, r, v nJ., b, c, d, g, I, m, n, r, s, t 2137 - 539a 318 - 3791b — 13 - 5764g 844 - 2854v 304 - 5816s 25000 25000 — 80000 150000 180000 Luger Model & Date ERFURT M1908 1911 Military 1912 Military 1913 Military M1914 1914 Military 1914 Lange 1915 Military 1916 Military 1917 Military 1918 Military ‘Total Production Military Model Erfurt Total Production Lange Model Erfurt 492000 25000 ★Note: it is likely that Erfurt skipped some letter blocks and the estimated production reflects this 23 PISTOLS OF GERMANY Almost all P 08 Militarys6 were procured by the Army for issue to Army units. An exception is a very few low serial number Lugers with some of the characteristics of the P 08 First Issue (blank chamber and no hold open) that bear Navy crown/M stamps and no other military stamps. Reported serial numbers are 76,111 and 135.7 1908 and 1914 DWM COMMERCIAL MILITARY Fig. 7, Frontispiece , Fig. 25 Cal. 9mm P. Military Stamp: crown/scriptic symbol, military eagle proof, Naval crown/M or R.G. Commercial Proof: occasionally crown/N Distinguising Characteristics: 4-inch barrel, blank chamber, DWM toggle, long sear bar, short frapne, hold open may not be present, five digit serial number, commercial style serial placement;—oc casionally parts will be numbered in the military style, stock lug on the 1914 var. and absent on the 1908 var. Var. Commercial Army: military (Army) stamp or unit marking. Est. Prod. 900 Var. Commercial Navy: Navy stamps. Est. Prod, few hundred Var. Commercial Reichs Gendarmerie, R.G. unit markings en graved on the left frame panel. Est. Prod. 400 1908 and 1914 DWM Commercial Lugers were manufactured from 1908 to 1914 or 1915. They are of the highest quality and a few were procured and marked by the Imperial German Army, Navy, or Reichs 6 “P 08 military" has long been used to describe the Luger model issued to Army units. Perhaps P 08 Army would be more descriptive. For the sake of consistency with past usage the term military is used where in some cases the term Army would probably be more precise. 7 T. Knox reports that serial number 135 has Naval crown/M and or crown proofs on the left receiver, barrel and breech block, no commercial proofs and an added hold open. Unusual fora 1908 first issue, it has a stock lug. These may have been for a special Naval contract with its own serial range. PISTOLS OF GERMANY 24 Gendarmerie. Kenyon (1969 p. 158) used the term 1908 Commercial Military to refer to those specifically procured by the Army. Here this term is used generally and the Army, Navy and R.G. marked variations are designated as such. Table 2 lists the various types of 1908 and 1914 Commercial Military and some commercial Lugers of interest. The main serial range block for the 1908 Commercial Army is 69600-70907 Costanzo (p. 232). Commercial Army Lugers have military stamps on the right receiver that are unique to this varia tion, lack commercial proofs and were manufactured with a hold open. They were manufactured in about 1913 or 1914 and were apparently not test pistols but were routed to Army service. See frontispiece. Navy proofed 1908 Commercials are reported in the 69111-69576 serial range while some commercials in the 71420-72215 range are Navy proofed. Most of these have crown/N commercial proofs with added Naval crown/M Stamps. Two 1908 commercials with serials well below the above blocks, sn 60530 and 61477, have double crown/B military stamps on the right receiver. This stamp has not been observed or reported on any other commercial or military pistols but is almost certainly military. The former pistol, figure 7, has an R.G. 14b factory (?) engraved on its left frame panel. This marking has been documented (Kornmayer 1982) as designating the Reichs Gendarmerie, a special police force under the Imperial Reich. The presence of military stamps on this police pistol may indicate that the Reichs Gendarmerie was a militarized police unit with close ties to the Imperial military. I 1908 and 1914 Commercial Reichs Gendarmerie Lugers are found in the 60530-74707 serial range and were produced from about 1912 to 1914 or 1915.“ Thy are crown/N proofed, were manufactured with a hold open and are identified by an R.G. engraved in their left frame panel. See page 101 for additional information. 1908 and 1914 Commercial Military Lugers are rare and highly prized by collectors. ‘According to Kenyon (p. 122) the 1914 Commercial was actually manufactured in 1913. 25 PISTOLS OF GERMANY Figure? 1908 DWM commercial military (s.n. 60530) Luger with double Crown/B military stamps on the receiver, 8.83 military barrel land diameter on the barrel, R.G. 14b engraved on left side panel before blueing and 14b stamped on magazine. The R.G. is the designation for the Reichs Gendarmerie, a paramilitary police force that was active in the Alsace Lorrane and the colonies prior to 1918. It likely had close ties to the Imperial military. See figure 25. Pistol and photograph from the collection of D.J. Rousseau, Anchorage, Alaska. PISTOLS OF GERMANY 26 Table 2. Serial ranges and information on 1908 and 1914 DWM commercial Lugers with military stamps or Imperial police or military unit markings and some standard commercial Lugers of interest. After Jim Cate, AUTO MAG Vol. XII p. 109, and information from Pat Redmond, 1982. 1908 Commercial, s.n. 39142, without hold open, BUG proofed, Imperial crown stamped above chamber, H 141 unit marking on front grip strap. 1908 Commercial, s.n. 59953, naval stamp added. 1908 Commercial, s.n. 60530, double crown/B military stamp on right receiver, hold open, and long sear bar, barrel with 8.83 military land diameter, R.G. I4b engraved on left frame and the engraving is blued, 14bon magazine, holster manufacture F. BIERENBREIRERKEHL RH. and marked R.G. 14b on inside of holster and H.9 inside flap. Holster has take down tool compartment, with punch compart ment below it and cleaning rod compartment beside magazine compartment. See Figure 7. 1908 commercial, s.n. 61305, R.G. 27. 1908 Commercial, s.n. 61477, double crown/B military stamp on right receiver. 1908 Commercial, R.G. 41 (AUTO MAG XI p. 222.) R.G. 51 (AUTO MAG XI p. 222.) R.G. 109 with 109 marked magazine (AUTO MAG XI p. 222.) 1908 Commercial, s.n. 69111, Naval stamp added. 1908 Commercial, s.n. 69182, Naval stamp added. 1908 Commercial, s.n. 69548, Naval stamp added. 1908 Commercial, s.n. 69576, Naval stamp added. 1908 Commercial Army, s.n. range 69600-70907, no commercial proofs and Army stamps on right receiver, as reported by Costanzo 1977, p. 232. 1908 Commercial Army, sn. 69859 1908 Commercial Army, s.n. 70093. 1908 Commercial Army, s.n. 70756. See frontispiece 1908 Commercial, s.n. 71420, Naval stamp added. 27 PISTOLS OF GERMANY Table 2, Continued 1914 Commercial, Kenyon, p. 122 reports a 1914 Commercial with added military proofs on the right receiver. 1914 Commercial, Navy, s.n. 72215, Naval stamps on left receiver and barrel, crown/N proofs on left receiver, bottom of barrel and breechblock, partial military style parts numbering. 1914 Commercial, ,*Lange s.n. 73396, lazy crown/N proofs, long sear and commercial style parts numbering (Morris, 1980, p. 26.) 1914 Commercial, s.n. 74012, R.G. 238, complete with two matching numbered magazines and holster marked R.G. 16. 1914 Commercial, s.n. 74036, R.G. 252. 1914 Commercial, s.n. 74275, chamber dated 1915, lazy crown/N proofs, military style serial numbering of parts. This may contradict Kenyons (p. 122) estimate that 1914 commercials were manu factured in 1913. 1914 Commercial, s.n. 74596, lazy crown/N commercial proofs, R.G. 136b engraved on left receiver and engraving is blued, partial military style serial number placement, hold open and long sear bar. See Figure 25. 1914 Commercial, s.n. 74707, R.G. 272. 1923 Commercial, s.n. 74845, upright crown/N proofs. "Long or Artillary Model PISTOLS OF GERMANY 28 p 08 IMPERIAL MILITARY ERFURT Fig 4, 5, 6 Cal. 9mm P. Œ /scriptic sym. Military Stamp: Commercial Proof: None Distinguishing Characteristics: 4 inch barrel, crown Erfurt toggle, chamber date 1911-1918, except 1915, proofs on right side of receiver and military inspection stamps on all parts, military style serial number placement. In general, Erfurt produced Lugers have a rougher fit and finish than DWM produced Lugers. Var. 1908: Chamber dated 1911-1913, no stock lug or hold open, most later had the hold open added. Est. Prod. 57,000. Var. 1914: Chamber dated 1914,1916,1917, and 1918 with stock lug and hold open. Est. Prod. 435,000. The Erfurt military Luger was produced by Erfurt Gewehrfabrik (the Prussian Royal Arsenal at Erfurt) from 1911-1918 (except 1915). Dates, serial ranges, and production are given in Table 1. About 492,000 were procured for the Army. Some Lugers are stamped with military unit markings. Figure 6d. shows a Bavarian unit marking stamped on a 1912 Erfurt Luger. LANGE9 P 08 ERFURT and DWM Fig.8,9 Military Stamp: Erfurt /scriptic sym. DWM ^/scriptic sym. Cal. 9mm P. Commercial Proof: None Distinguishing Characteristics: 8-inch barrel with 9 position rear 9Long, termed Artillery by American collectors 29 PISTOLS OF GERMANY Figure 8. German soldier of the Field Artillery armed with the Lange P 08 with wooden stock. It is worn in the official style— note, the two pouches for the spare magazines fixed at the belt. His unit is “Gebirgs-Kan