In this second post with the theme ‘HANDGUNS OF WWI’ we shall be looking at a nice example of a military issue 1915-dated DWM Luger P08 pistol. What makes this Luger rather special is that we know which unit was using it, thanks to its unit stamps. Read on for another LSB journey in firearms history…

In an earlier post we discussed the genesis of the Luger pistol, starting with Hugo Borchardt’s locked breech self-loading pistol ‘Construktion 93’, or ‘C93’. It was produced at the Ludwig Loewe arms factory in Berlin (later DWM) and various attempts were made to market it as a service pistol. However, it was an employee of DWM, the Austrian Georg Luger, who in 1898 perfected the design and created the elegant Parabellum design which is so iconic.

The Swiss military was the first to adopt the Parabellum pistol in 1900. This model is referred to as the ‘Old Model’ or the ‘1900 model’. It used the bottlenecked 7.65mm cartridge and had a slender 120mm barrel. However, the pistol became synonymous with the designer’s name and it is best known as the ‘Luger pistol’.

In 1904, the Imperial German Navy adopted the 1900 model chambered in 9mm Para and configured to the Navy’s requirements, having a 6” barrel, a grip safety, and a rear sight that was adjustable to 100m or 200m. Four years later, in 1908, the Imperial German Army adopted the 9mm Para 1908 model, which had a 4” barrel, a shorter frame and no grip safety. The pistol was designated ‘Pistole 08’ or ‘P 08’.

DWM was awarded the contract to produce the P 08 for the army and production started in 1909. The state-owned Königlich Preußische Gewehrfabrik Erfurt began producing the Luger P 08 in 1911. Production of the Luger at both factories increased with the start of WWI in 1914 and continued going strong until the end of the war in 1918.  The total number of P 08 pistols produced between 1909 and 1918 was 1,084,000. DWM accounted for 54% of that figure.

The number of P 08 pistols produced by DWM in 1915 was 105,000. However, only around 2,000 of these pistols are estimated to have been unit marked. The DWM 1915 Luger P 08 that we are presenting today is one of these rare examples. The front grip strap is stamped ‘JNF.R.60.8.K.419.1’. This interesting mark tells us that the pistol was issued to 8. Kompanie, Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 60 ‘Markgraf Carl’ (7. Brandenburgisches). This would be followed by the weapon number assigned to this pistol. However, the number ‘419. 1’, which is engraved rather than stamped, is considerably higher than what these weapon numbers usually run up to. This subject is worthy of further research.

The pistol has matching serial numbers throughout, except for the magazine, which is from the same serial number block. The original rust-blue finish is practically intact. Overall, this is a very desirable unit-stamped example of a WWI Luger by DWM.

While our photos are as detailed as possible and do not hide any flaws, you have the option of examining the firearm physically, by appointment. Do not take any risks with overseas online auctions when you have the chance of knowing what you are buying. LSB’s knowledge and experience in historical firearms assures you of a good investment. We offer a lifetime guarantee on the genuineness of the pieces in our vast inventory so that you may buy in full confidence.

If you wish to own this rare and interesting firearm, please send us a private message or phone us on 99471091. It will be reserved for the first client who pays a deposit by Mobile or Online bank transfer. Police applications will be filled in after we receive the deposit and a scan/photo of the client's 2020 Collector Licence A or Target Shooter Licence A, or the Special grade of these licences.

You may wish to follow Ian McCollum discussing the development of the Luger pistol in this Forgotten Weapons YouTube video. This article is also featured on our Facebook Page.

We take great pleasure in bringing you these daily snippets of firearms history and we hope that you enjoy reading them.