This is a 1908 Model DWM (Deutsche Waffen und Munitions Fabriken) Commercial Navy.  This Parabellum is a 6 inch (150mm) barreled 7.65mm Parabellum with the Navy adjustable rear sight and Navy ringed blank magazine marked "Germany. The DWM monogram markings appear on the 1st toggle link and the extractor is marked 'Geladen' (Loaded).   This example has all matching serial numbers. The thumb safety is marked "Gesichert" and when exposed (safety down) means safe.  (1302)

NOTE: Photographs taken today with the high mega-pixel camera show more than we sometimes can see with the human eye. Magnified close-ups show us tool marks and natural surface conditions that one normally doesn't see in the ordinary handling of the weapon.  Photographs are copyrighted, all rights reserved, any extraction, reproduction or display of gun pictures without the express consent of the Phoenix Investment Arms is strictly prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation.

In August 1904 the German Navy underwent testing of 5, 9mm Selbstladepistolem Model 1904 from DWM. The trial was successful and in September 1904 the Navy asked the Kriegsministerium to order 2,000 Model 1904 navy pistols as soon as possible.  Thus began to first acceptance of the 'Luger' by the German military.  The 1904 Navy incorporated the new coil mainspring, the new extractor with the loaded-chamber markings.  These "improvements" were underway during the testing an acceptance of the navy model.

Serial number placement is in the civilian ("hidden") style.   The serial number appears on the front of the frame, on the bottom of the locking bolt, on the trigger, on the bottom of the barrel, the side plate,  the left side of the receiver, and under the first toggle. This Commercial Navy would be considered an "Altered" because the safety is up to fire.

This is a very difficult gun to find in a commercial variation. After WWI DWM began using up all the extra parts to make commercial versions of  the war time issued. Since the number of Navy models were not large the commercial versions are a premium find.   The Navy Parabellum were initially issued with the safety down but then with the 1908 conversion to safety up the Navy recalled all the Luger's and had the thumb safety modified. See Kenyon Lugers at Random Page 152.

This Navy is the classic; complete with ringed magazine. The first toggle link is marked with the DWM logo.  There is the two-position (100-200m) sight on the rear toggle link and the last two digits of the serial number appear on the rear toggle.

This Parabellum has no Navy (Marinen) Imperial proofs and but does have the Crown over N commercial proof.  This Luger is identified as a curio and relic and can be send directly to C&R licensees and above.  Questions to: josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com 

Beginning in the Spring of 1906 delivery was begun for the true 'Pistole 1904'. By that time all the changes had been made to the toggle lock (eliminating) and changing the 60° dicing on the toggle-grip. There was the retention of the grip safety but the controversy over the direction of the thumb safety had begun. 

The inside of the Luger has been well cared for and there is no signs of rust under the grips from salt water exposure. The Luger is shown in full recoil and one can where the order to number the rear main axel pin.

This Luger has all matching numbers. The magazine is the "ringed" Navy type with the Germany stamp (a real collectors find in itself). Here you can see the matching serial number of the barrel, the front of the frame, the locking lever and the bottom of the side plate plus the grips are numbered to the gun in the commercial hidden manner.

There is the two-position (100-200m) sight on the rear toggle link and the last two digits of the serial number appear on the rear toggle. The few (comparably) Lugers issued to the German Navy, plus the losses suffered by the sinking of ships and submarines makes the Navy very hard to find.

This is the short framed 1908 receiver that was not a military rework but one of the pieces that had not been proofed by the military inspectors. The right side correctly shows the GERMANY export stamp and the left side has no serial numbers showing as the civilian and the lazy "Crown N" proof.

It is entirely subjective to give any Luger a rating of excellent or fine, just as it is to declare it xx% blued or strawed. Few Lugers are out of the box new and these are premium priced. Bluing percentages is like Beauty, in the eye of the beholder.  We strive to provide pictures so you can judge for yourself if the gun meets your criteria.

This is a marvelous example of the post-war conversion of civilian parts that had been made into a "Navy" 150mm Parabellum in the European popular 7.65mm and proofed for fulfillment of a Weimar order with all the Commercial proofs (Crown N) and the "Germany" export.