1920 Freikorps Death head Luger

This is a completely matching, 1920 Dated, DWM (Deutsche Waffen und Munitions Fabriken) Post war (1920) civilian proofed police pistol with two matching magazines. This is chambered for 9mm and has a standard 4" barrel fixed sights and walnut grips. This 100mm barrel was sold to the police under a clause in the Treaty of Versailles which enabled the German police to maintain law and order. A very unique specimen in good condition with a lot of history in a 92 year old gun. (1515)

The meaning of the word "Freikorps" after 1918, the term was used for the paramilitary organizations that sprang up around Germany as soldiers returned in defeat from World War I. They were the key Weimar paramilitary groups active during that time. Many German veterans felt disconnected from civilian life, and joined a Freikorps in search of stability within a military structure. Others, angry at their sudden, apparently inexplicable defeat, joined up in an effort to put down Communist uprisings or exact some form of revenge (Dolchstoßlegende). They received considerable support from Minister of Defense Gustav Noske, a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, who used them to crush the German Revolution of 1918–1919 and the Marxist Spartacus League and arrest Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg, who were killed on 15 January 1919. They were also used to defeat the Bavarian Soviet Republic in May 1919.


The barrel length is 4" (100mm) and is chambered for 9mm. The serial number appears on the front of the frame, on the left side of the receiver, on the side plate sear and trigger. This Luger is all matching including the two magazines. This Luger bears a stock lug and a hold-open.

The extractor is marked "Geladen" on the left side and the safety is marked "Gesichert" with the safe position being downward. The proof marks are the amazing story of this guns. Telling us the gun served in Weimar Republic and then into the Police department in Dusseldorf during WWII.

Serial number placement is in the military ("exposed") style. The thumb safety is marked "Gesichert" and extractor "Geladen." This example has all matching numbers. The barrel is numbered and proofed and matches the frame. The first toggle link is marked with the DWM monogram, and there is the "V" rear sight on the last toggle link.

The Totenkopf applied to a 1920 marked guns challenges the common theories of when it was originally applied and by whom. Apparently its use succeeded the WWI Stormtruppen and was used by the Freikorps.


Comparison of the early 1917 and 1918 Totenkopf weapons shows that this was roll pressed into the head stamp along with the date stamping. In 38 years of collecting Lugers I have never seen one this late in dating or in this good of condition.


This rig if offered with the all matching Luger, two matching magazines, a proofed loading tool and a 1911 Holster with the Totenkopf stamp. The Parabellum is further marked with the Schutzpolizei Dusseldorf.


On the right side of the receiver are the production proofs of DWM and the DWM civilian (Crown N) acceptance stamp including the test proof on the barrel. On the left side the military numbers are stamped over the Crown N and the sear safety was installed. It appeared that the side was cut for the magazine safety but it was never installed. So the gun started as a post war civilian model with the 9mm barrel and civilian proofs and was purchased by the police who was either a Freikorps unit or the gun was obtained by the Freikorps and then matriculated in the Schutzpolizei in Dusseldorf, Prussian. Truly a journey for any Luger but fortunately it left us many clues to follow its history.


August von Mackensen; German field marshall. A type of irregular light horsemen were already well established by the 15th century in medieval Hungary. On the eve of World War I there were still Hussar regiments in the British (including Canadian), French, Spanish, German, Russian, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Romanian and Austro-Hungarian armies. In most respects, they had now become regular light cavalry, recruited solely from their own countries and trained and equipped along the same lines as other classes of cavalry. Hussars were however still notable for their colorful and elaborate parade uniforms. The German Imperial units had adopted the Deathhead (Skull-Totenkopf) as their symbol and this is probably the origin in German units. Below: German Hussars on the move.


The inside of the gun is clean and well cared for. The exterior shows honest wear on the muzzle, barrel and high points on the sides. The barrel is shiny and shows distinct lands and grooves.

The Luger has all matching numbers including the magazines. The magazines are aluminum based, numbered to the gun. and clean showing slight wear. This Luger shows characteristic holster wear on the side plate and front exposed edges of the rails and end of the barrel. The barrel and the receive are marked with the full serial number and suffix. Additionally there is 8.82 reflected on the barrel which was the proof marking of land diameter of the barrel. The grooves designed to be 9mm.


The grips match the gun and the markings on the butt of the gun "S.D.VI.1047" represents the Schutzpolizei Dusseldorf, 6th Division gun number 1047 which was a Prussian Police Unit.

Located on the flap of the holster is the WWI Totenkopf Death head that appeared with the Flamethrower Units with the lazy "S" above the head being the "hose". Some people attributed this to the early Sturmtruppen units. Others say the lazy S was the origin of the SS. We really don't know until a lot more material is available from the historical period.

This is a 1911 dated holster and the surface while still soft is showing the age of the leather. We have cleaned it with saddle soap and attempted to remove the old shoe polish someone applied over the years and then treated it with the lanolin based Black Rock preservative. It should last another 100 years with continued care.


This is a very clean gun and has been well maintained. The barrel is still strong and has definite lands and grooves. The grips are clean and show about 95% of the diamonds remaining.


The *Totenkopf* was used in Germany throughout the inter-war period, most prominently by the *Freikorps. In 1933, it was in use by the regimental staff and the 1st, 5th, and 11th squadrons of the Reichswehr*'s 5th Cavalry Regiment as a continuation of a tradition from the

Freikorps in the early '20s using WWI tanks and vehicles decorated with the Totenkopf (Deathhead) which was still evolving into the organized symbol of the WWII era Schutzstaffel, or SS.