This is a sub-variation among the Swiss contract Lugers of 1900 era..  This is the original classic Luger with the dished toggles and toggle lock.  The gun is a 7.65mm (.30 cal Luger) with a 120mm barrel and the long old model frame without a stock lug.  (776)

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Serial number placement is in the commercial ("hidden") style. The thumb safety is polished and extractor "Geladen" on both sides. This example has all matching numbers. The barrel is numbered 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.

It was the usual practice of the Swiss to factory refinish any of their service guns before selling them for private service.  The magazine is the early style DWM with the wooden base and coil spring.  This one is in extraordinarily good condition for its age and service.

This is the new model frame without a stock lug and displays the wider trigger guard and the wide trigger along with the flat breech block and self-retaining extractor.

In 1897 Georg Luger personally demonstrated the Borchardt automatic pistol.  The conclusion of the Swiss Kriegamaterialverwaltung was that the Borchardt was too big, had poor balance and too complex.  However the 7.65mm cartridge was an overwhelming success.

In 1898 Georg Luger returned with the first of the Borchardt Lugers (two were thought to be submitted). The Swiss were truly impressed by the rapid fire of the Luger with hardly a misfire. Another trial was held in 1899.  Again the Swiss were impressed and ordered 20 of these pistols for extensive field testing asking Georg Luger to lighten the pistol. 

The four digit serial number places this gun in the 5th variation of the series of 1900's delivered between 1905 and 1906.

The Swiss were the first to adopt the Parabellum for its military service on May 4th, 1900 and so began the production of the worlds most recognized handgun.  The original order had hand engraved Federal Crosses and approximately the first 900 are believed to be delivered with the un-relieved magazine.

The serial number places this within the known range of the wide-trigger variation.

RIGHT:  Note the wide grip safety characteristic of these models.

One can also see the 3 digits of the serial number on the back of the rear toggle.  This was not a practice of DWM and supports the conclusion that these guns were shipped in the white and finished by the Swiss Bern factory.

The inside of this gun is a clean and pretty as the outside. Early models were rust blued, a very time consuming process. Once the gun was assembled and inspected it was then disassembled, polished and the bluing process begun.  These guns have the deep rich color of the blue.

 To meet the demands of the delivery dates beginning in 1903 it is believed that the guns were shipped "in the white" to the factory at Bern and they were assembled, stamped and blued by the Swiss. 

This is a excellent example of a very rare variation (wide trigger) of a published 1444 Swiss contract gun with the Swiss Cross on the barrel. 

If you love Lugers, or just want to look at some rare Lugers from private collections of the world's most renowned collectors then check this out.

Over 35 Legendary Lugers, in multiple high-resolution shots depicting details you can study, over 90 pictures, close to 30 minutes of viewing time.  Click below to see more.