U-boat Luger

[chris clark]

Happy new year everyone
Interesting find here
I'm not going to go by the story on this as a lot say ignore the story but stick to the item in question
My question is this a marine Luger
It's the first I have seen with the added safety device on the butt
It's not in great condition but after being hidden so many years I still feel it's a nice piece

Any information would be most helpful

[chris clark]

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[chris clark]

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[chris clark]

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[chris clark]

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[chris clark]

Last pic

[crowback]

I believe the grip safety was dropped around WWI. It was costly to install and a dirt catcher. I don't think the army ever adopted it. The navy used it for a short period of time.

[Johnny Peppers]

That is the Model 1906 variation, and there are three variations of it. Originally the safety was in the up position when on with the GESICHERT marking in the lower position, and is known as the "First Issue". This was altered to the safety being in the lower position when on, and the GESICHERT was removed from the lower position and re-engraved in the upper position, and this was the "First Issue Altered". The "Second Issue" was manufactured with the safety in the lower position when on.

Your Luger would have been a "First Issue", but would need to see the safety lever to see if it was altered.

The Model 1906 continued to be produced into 1914, but in 1908 a Marine model was brought out without the grip safety.

I can see that your pistol has markings on the back of the grip strap. Could you show a picture of those?

[chris clark]

Thank you to both of you

Johnny On the butt the other marking is engraved WW with number 1309 under the WW

I will try get more pictures for you
The GESICHERT is in the upper position

The date of the Luger and the history I know of the Luger matches
It was a u-boat commanders from both wars given to him by his first commander

In this condition what would a value be?

[Johnny Peppers]

The WW is for Wharf (Werft) Wilhelmshaven, which was the dockyard where the unit was based, and the 1309 was the weapon or property number.

[chris clark]

Great news as that fits again with where the u-boat guy was
Thank you very much for your help

I do know the u-boat captains name that this is attributed too , and he was a ace with knights cross

[james m]

Very nice find:
I'd recommend you get as much documentation as possible collected on this Luger and the owner.
Luger's with any kind of provenance are scarce.
Jim

[Johnny Peppers]

I will try get more pictures for you
The GESICHERT is in the upper position

Your Navy is a 1st Issue Altered. Not very many missed being altered.