Swiss Luger from Turkey

[evrenay]

I have the book: The Luger Pistol The Swiss Variations 1897 - 1947 from Fred A. Datig. Unfortunately I never had the time to read it.

So I have no idea what for a story has this Luger to tell.

It is all original except the extractor and the firing pin, which have different numbers other than "02" on them.

May be you can help.

[evrenay]

[Edward Tinker]

Looks like a very nice Swiss Luger to me. READ your book!

heh, heh

I have books I have not read too - welcome to the forum!

[evrenay]

Hello Edward,

did I miss something?

Isn't it a Swiss Luger (I mean I know that it was not manufactured by Waffenfabrik Bern, but it was produced for the Swiss, so thought even though it was manufactured by DWM it might still be considered as a Swiss Luger)?

If my thread is in the wrong location, please help me to carry it to the right place.

By the way I am in this forum since 06/2011.

[ithacaartist]

Ed, you mean welcome back? Evrenay is the guy who was finding Lugers in Turkey, where their owners are shy to show them. Gotta remember those photo essays on the Persian and others!

D.P.

p.s. Yup, read that book!

[evrenay]

Hello ithacaartist,

thank you for recognizing me.

Actually I don't remember I have ever seen a Persian myself.

What is wrong with that book? Or is there something wrong with my description about hte Luger I presented.

Look it is 02:36 AM here and I have to get some sleep before I go to work, so please be so nice and tell me (or at least give me link where I can read) what is wrong with my thread or the Luger book.

[ithacaartist]

I haven't read that particular book yet either, Ev. I presume it would contain the info needed to help generally identify yours. We are recommending that you read your copy.

I'm not so familiar with Swiss, but yours has the Swiss/1900 style pencil-taper barrel. Switzerland provided DWM with its very first military contract, so you may have a DWM built commercial (see * below) Swiss, if such a thing exists. The earliest Swiss made Lugers were, I think, assembled in Bern using some parts made by DWM, which might explain your toggle? *The Swiss stamp their pistols with a "P" if it is non-military/public. Formerly military or police pistols are stamped this way when released for private purchase/phased out and sold. Yours is also on a '06 style frame. Now, my well is empty; perhaps I'll read the book...

Your first or second post was concerning a gun I recalled as a Persian; my impression was / is that it was something unusual--thought it was a Persian. I'll go back and look.

David

[evrenay]

Dear ithacaartist,

thank you very much for you patient explanatory. Now I am really confused.

1900 type barrel on a 1906 frame and a DWM toggle which doesn't match the dates and all combined on a declassified pistol.

It is way too much for my little knowledge about Lugers.

Rest of the photos:

[ithacaartist]

Nice pistol! Same configuration as my '06 American Eagle.

[lugersrkewl]

welcome to the forum.
Looks like a 1906 commercial dwm. Catered to the swiss with the cross in shield, all matching with original finish would be worth a pretty penny. Ron Wood a forum member is very knowledgeable on swiss he should be along eventually.

[Ron Wood]

Your very nice Luger is a 1906 (also called 1900/06 by the Swiss) Swiss Military 2nd Variation. The Model 1906 Swiss Military was produced by DWM in two series. The first variation had the Cross in Sunburst chamber marking like the preceding Model 1900 and was produced in the serial number range from 5001 to 9050. In 1909 the chamber marking was changed to the Cross in Shield and this 2nd variation was produced in the serial number range of 9051 to 15215. The Swiss did not start producing their own Lugers at Waffenfabrik Bern until 1918 with the serial numbers continuing in the same sequence, picking up with the next number 15216, and without a chamber insignia.

The Cross in Shield variation like yours was for years mistakenly identified as “Swiss Police” but this was in error as the pistols were actually still military issue. Your particular Luger is interesting as it is one of a few noted in the serial number range of approximately 10000 to 12000 that do not bear the inspection stamp of Major Vogelsang. The large “P” on the receiver indicates that the pistol was released from military service into private ownership, possibly upon retirement of the individual issued the piece.

Even with the mis-matched parts, you have an attractive and collectable Swiss Luger. Congratulations!

[mrerick]

I have it's brother Swiss Luger made 1814 pistols later in the contract.

As Ron mentions these date from 1909, and are particularly well made. They have the long frame, should you want to replace the firing pin and extractor.

The Datig monograph you have is a very good reference to Swiss Variations.

There is also a more comprehensive book by Bobba "The Swiss Parabellum" which includes many color photographs. It's text is in English and Italian.

Marc

[mrerick]

Should you be looking for a magazine to match it, you'll want one with the base that includes the metal insert:

Marc

[Sergio Natali]

It's a beautiful DWM 1900/06 "New Model - Cross in Shield" and was surely used by the Swiss Army before being released as a "private" gun; these insignia markings were applied from serial number 9051 to about 15200 As far as I know pistols only with the Bern cross without both of the control punches of the chief inspector Vogelsang and of the successor Major Muhlemann are quite rare, and I've never been so lucky to see one yet. Congratulations, and thanks 4 sharing.