Death Head

This is a 1908 Model 9mm Parabellum believed originally manufactured by DWM (Deutsche Waffen und Munitions Fabriken) in Berlin. The "Deathhead" was part of a re-work by the factory and is believed to have been done in the very early part of the Nazi era. This gun has some unusual characteristics which are in conformity with practices at the time.

This Luger has a standard 4" (100mm) barrel with extractor marked "GELADEN" and the safety marked "GESCHERT" in the down position. It has the inverted dovetail "v" front sight and "V" rear sight on the rear toggle. This Luger does not match by serial number although with the re-worked parts be factory assembled and proofed.

According to current documentation the existence of the Totenkopf (Death head) Luger appears restricted to the mostly 1918 and some 1917 Imperial Lugers. Flame-thrower units of the Imperial Army were attached as Stosstrupps and were permanently attached to Sturmbattalions. One unit, the Garde-Reserve-Pionier-Regiment (G.R.P.R.), was awarded the Totenkopf sleeve patch (worn on the uniform), from Kaiser Wilhelm II in July 1916, and was under the command of the Kaiser's Headquarters. It is also believed possible that the G.R.P.R., their Stosstrupps or the Sturmbataillone that contained these Stosstrupps displayed the Totenkopf over their Lugers' chambers, and that the lazy "s" was a symbol for the flame-thrower and its hose spraying death to their foes. See Jan Still, Imperial Lugers, for more information.

Here are some detail shots of the Totenkopf showing the original design. May fakes have appeared over the years, engraved on gun but this one appears authentic giving this gun it's original rarity. One can also see the Erfurt acceptance proof on the barrel.

The condition of the gun is very good with walnut grips and all the parts finely fitted. While every collector strives for the all-matching serial numbers this variation is correct, as re-work, to have an Arsenal replaced barrel and replacement parts. In particular, the examination of the proofs indicates this model lends itself to the Schutzstaffel (SS) theory of ownership (below). *See Kenyon - Lugers at Random, Page 232*



Here we have the original DWM acceptance proof (3rd from left). Then the crown RC is visible on the barrel which indicates that gun was factory rebuilt prior to 1918 (probably with a new barrel since the barrel is also Erfurt proofed) and returned to the front.
The blank toggle, or what appears to be a ground toggle with no serial number on the third link is characteristic of the "Sneak" guns of the early 1930's that were assembled from DWM parts and not marked to keep the identity of the manufacturer secret. However on the third toggle is the early (1938) Mauser Eagle (no feet) 63 and the Mauser rework star. This is the clue the gun was finally assembled by Mauser making it a Nazi era gun.

The rework era presents many different variations on the gun and the transition from the Weimar to Nazi rearmament.

The proofs tell us the original frame is DWM and the barrel was factory replaced by Erfurt. The 1918 dated chamber and the "m" suffix tells us that the original production of this gun was at the end of war production. Reportedly the DWM production ended in the "s" suffix range with blocks f, h, l, o, p excluded.

So was the barrel replaced by Erfurt or was it assembled by DWM using an Erfurt proofed barrel late in the war? This is what makes Luger table-talk interesting.

Here we can study the 3rd toggle and see the Mauser proofs. Giving us the Nazi era final dating of the Luger.

After WWI politics took a free call and there developed semi-private right-wing postwar armies manned by ex-officers and soldiers of the German Army called Freikorps. They kept order in postwar Germany and fought the Bolsheviks in Latvia, Estonia, and Poland. It is well known that some units of the Freikorps used the Totenkopf insignia, proudly worn by the veteran awardees mentioned above, and some Freikorps tanks and trucks displayed the Totenkopf. While the insignia was used it is difficult to establish that the Lugers were modified for this unit with the inclusion of the Death Head. Our suspicion is that the unit may have used them but the factory didn't produce them.

We also know from history that the Totenkopf was adopted by Hitler's personal body guard known as Schutzstaffel (SS) during the 1920's. This unit was organized around the most fanatic of Hitler's followers and would most likely either seek out or have ordered the reworks with the Totenkopf symbol to adopt as their own. The original SS was later redesigned the Waffen (Armed) Schutzstaffel and attached as units to the German divisions.

The courage and bravery encouraged the formation of the SS Divisions which while known as being the fiercest and most effective of Nazi Germany were also the most infamous with the war time atrocities they were known to be connected with.

This is a much sought after Luger and whose value will only appreciate over the years. This particular example spans the decades of Germany's war time involvement from the 1st World War to the 2nd World War and marks this a historical piece for the selective collector.

This is a very unusual example of the Totenkopf Death Head Luger.