Simson Double Date 1917 1920

This is a excellent example of the Model 1908 DWM (Deutsches Waffen Und Munitionsfabriken Co) Manufactured Pistole-08. The chamber marking represent the military contract year of production and this example is a 1917 dated Luger. The circle "S" is believed to be an early mark of the Simson & Co., the only one authorized to build Lugers after the great war by the Treaty of Versailles. The is a 9mm, all matching police Luger. 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. (943)

German Luger with Lanyard attached

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DOUBLE DATES:

The new (Weimar) German Government after WWI found itself with an armed citizenry with all the soldiers bringing their weapons home from the war.

On August 1st, 1920 the German authorities issued an order from Berlin that cited the impending disarming of the people required that all weapons of the armed forces were to be marked with the date to prevent people from stealing military supplies and selling them back to the government.

On August 7th, 1920 rewards were begun for the turn-in of weapons to the government paying 100 Marks (then about $23.50) for a small arm until October 10th after which the reward was to be reduced to 50 Marks. Thus began the disarming of the citizenry; a lesson that should not be lost on free people.

Here we can see the Imperial Proofs on the barrel from DWM and next to the 1920 is a punch mark which was a hardness test applied to the guns to insure that the chambers were safe. Below right we can see the matching numbers and the circle (S) which was believed to be an early Simson & Co., stamp.


There appears to be a weapons number stamped into the rear of the receiver. Below: You can see the last two digits of the serial number on the thumb safety.	Below: In the German Heeres-Verordnungsblatt Published by the Reichswehrministerium in Berlin on March 17, 1932 the rear connecting pin was ordered to be marked with the last two numbers of the serial number.


Lanyards were not a standard issue item and a great variety of methods were used to attached the Parabellum to the soldier. From the homemade to the ornate versions made for dress uniforms and parades there was not a standardized version. Mounted Police and Calvary units in particular found the lanyard a useful tool to prevent the loss of their weapon. Likewise the Wehrmacht Fallschirmjager (paratrooper) units relied on the lanyard to secure their side arms.

Although it has a 1920 Date there are no Weimar Proofs, again indicating a very early conversion probably done by Simson from guns brought back from the field and before the Weimar government had established orders for marking and proofing military weapons.

The Luger has both the sear safety and a magazine safety as were installed on the police guns in 1929-34. The magazine safety was soon abandoned and removed and to find one complete on the gun is difficult.

Here in a close-up you can see both the operation of the sear safety and the magazine safety along with the tell-tale drilling required for the installation of the ill-fated magazine safety. Also note all the matching serial numbers of this well preserved Luger.

Magazine Safety: The magazine safety consists of a "U" shaped leaf spring with two extensions, fitted into the left side of the frame under the grip. (Seen to the left with the hole drilled in the frame.)

One of the extensions fits into the front and lodges behind the trigger while the other end fits through the frame into the magazine well. With the magazine in place the extension is pushed left and out of the path of the trigger. Removing the magazine allows the safety to move to the right so the bar moved behind the trigger and prevents it from being pulled. This was patented by Carl Walther in October 1932.

SEAR SAFETY: During the 1920's it was determined German authorities that one could remove the side plate with the gun loaded, thereby exposing the sear, and by then pressing on the sear discharge the gun. In this case you can see the sear safety probably fully installed at the original time of the first re-work.

This was the invention of Ludwig Schiwy, a gunsmith and the owner of F.W. Vandry & Company, Berlin. It consisted of a spring-steel bar on the top of the trigger plate which springs down into a recess in the sear bar, locking the mechanism, if the trigger plate was removed.

This is a magnificent example of a very early 1920 police conversion by Simson & Co, Suhl; utilizing a WWI DWM frame, adding the sear safety and magazine safety, all matching. It also shows the 1920 date when the guns were bought back from returning veterans by the German Weimar Republic. This Luger is offered for $2,695.00 over-the-counter to include the lanyard. We reserve the right to withdrawn any offering for sale at shows or on the premises. Any questions concerning this gun or requests for additional pictures direct to josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com

Double Date 1917/1920 Luger Police Gun with Lanyard

LAYAWAYS: Sometimes our "significant other" doesn't understand the beauty, craftsmanship and investment potential of one of these investor grade weapons. In these circumstances where discretion becomes the better part of valor we will accept layaways of up to one year with at least 20% down and some activity occurring monthly to insure that after one year the sale is completed. Cancellations of layaways forfeit 33% if done within two months, otherwise 100%. You can transfer a layaway to a consignment sale at any time. See "Legal" for exact terms.

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3 Day Return Policy

We honor a three day return policy. We will answer any questions, send you any pictures, as detailed as you want, to insure that what we are showing you is what you want to see, before you buy it. See Legal.

FIRING ANY WEAPON NEGATES ANY CHANCE OF RETURN!

WARNING: We do not represent these guns as safe to fire. They are not test fired before sale; they are sold as collectibles only. Prior to firing you should have it inspected by a qualified individual and abide by all safety requirements.

Genuine Lugers Sales - Luger History - Luger Accessories - Luger Holsters - Parabellum


This is a Weimar period 1920 dated DWM military police Luger that is a 9mm Parabellum re-work of a 1917 frame for the German Police units. This Parabellum has a 100mm barrel length with all matching serial numbers to include matching, original grips. Serial number placement is in the military ("exposed") style The barrel is numbered and proofed and matches the frame. This is a very unusual Luger with a collection of variations.



The Right Side shows us the Imperial markings of the WWI service of this gun. Serial number placement is in the military ("exposed") style; displayed on the left side of the receiver, the side plate, the locking bolt, the sear bar safety, the extractor, the forward toggle link, the front of the frame, under the barrel, and on the side of the trigger. Original grips are finely cut diamond shaped checkering made from walnut or in some cases beech wood See Kenyon, Lugers At Random, Page 162