Extremely Rare DWM Death's Head Luger & Holster Bring Back

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• Price: $9,495.00
• Maker: DWM
• Model: Luger
• Caliber: 9mm


• Description: Serial #8756a, 9mm Para., 4 barrel with a fine, bright bore that has traces of freckling within the grooves. This is a 1916 dated pistol that has all-matching numbers and retains 92-95% of the original blue finish that has some mild silvering and light freckling at the muzzle and sides of the barrel, along the high edges and projections, and on the bearing surfaces of the toggle. Strong original straw color remains on the small parts with the balance turned bright gray, especially on the sides of the trigger. The chamber has the lazy-S and Totenkopf stamped just above the date with the proper military and commercial stamps on the right side of the receiver (the pistol is dated and marked identically to the example illustrated on page 200 of Weimar and Early Lugers by Jan C. Still). The significance of the Totenkopf on these pistols is still a hotly debated matter, but Jan C. Still gives an overview in his book saying that the most likely use of the markings was probably the World War I G.R.P.R. flamethrower units or the late-war Sturmbataillons (although arguments can also be made for World War I tank crews, inter-war Freikorps units, or even the SS itself). The checkered wooden grips are also numbered to the gun and have light-moderate wear and handling marks with minor flattening of the points and a chip through the wood at the top of the left panel, just below the safety lever. The pistol comes with two non-matching magazines (one with wood base, the other with aluminum) and is housed in an original dark brown leather flap holster with partial embossed Totenkopf emblem on the cover next to the end of the tab. The leather is lightly crazed and worn, but is still supple and intact with a period replacement belt loop on the reverse. The holster has no other markings. The use of death's head holsters has long been a controversial subject amongst historians, but the subsequent discovery of a wartime photo in the Bundesarchiv showing a Totenkopf marked holster in use by the SS Feldgendarmerie proves that there were at least some in use during the war. This particular pistol was brought back by a G.I. who also had a pigskin shoulder holster made for him in occupied Germany, and it is also included with the pistol. The shoulder holster is patterned loosely after the U.S. issue version, is very well made, and is in excellent, fully serviceable condition. An enlarged copy of a photograph of the owner wearing the shoulder holster with the Luger plainly visible inside (and a silk top hat on his head) while clowning about on a balcony is also included. This is an incredible and supremely desirable Luger with some incredible original accessories and would make a fine cornerstone of any World War I/II, Luger, or German military collection. {Refs. Weimar and Early Lugers by Jan C. Still, 1993; The P.08 Luger Pistol Propaganda Photo Series Vol. III by G. de Vries & B.J. Martens, 2002} FFL or C&R