1132 HIGHLY DESIRABLE BULGARIAN CONTRACT M1911 LUGER

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This item SOLD at 2025 May 08 @ 11:52UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 1,500.00 USD
Estimated at 3,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL WITH HOLSTER. Cal. 9x19mm. S# 1256C. Bbl. 4". 1 of only 10,000 P.08 (Bulgarian designation "M1911") Lugers mfg. by DWM under contract for Bulgaria, shortly after Bulgaria declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire. These Lugers were mfg. in 2 batches, with the first batch exhibiting S#s of 1-5,000 and the second batch exhibiting a matching S#, with a "C" suffix. This example, shipped within the second batch, is marked with the intertwined DWM monogram over the top of the chamber, with a Bulgarian Rampant Lion proof marked on the right. Toggle is marked with the Bulgarian coat of arms. Frame and extractor are both properly marked in Cyrillic. Right side of the frame is stamped with a boxed "3" and a boxed "20" proof. This example exhibits a professionally reapplied blue finish overall, with strawed parts exhibiting a reheated finish. Frame is mounted with 2-piece checkered wood grips. Dovetailed blade front sight, with fixed V-notch rear sight. Rear of the frame is fitted with the distinctive Bulgarian lanyard loop at the heel. Nearly all numbers are matching and include the frame, takedown lever, sideplate, trigger, safety lever & bar, hold-open latch, bbl., bbl. extension, trigger bar, breechblock, firing pin, and toggles, with some small parts appearing to have been renumbered at one time to match. MAGS: 2 8-rd. mags. with wood bottoms. 1 mag. has been renumbered to match. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Bulgarian brown leather holster. CONDITION: excellent, as professionally restored, with metal components retaining bountiful amounts of their reapplied blue finish overall, exhibiting some areas of light to mild pitting beneath the bluing. Straw parts are excellent, as reheated. Bore is bright, as refinished, exhibiting consistent dark pitting, while retaining strong rifling throughout. Grips show smoothing, as well as scattered marks and impressions from handling and storage, but otherwise remain sturdy and serviceable. Holster remains malleable, exhibiting wear and scattered superficial handling marks overall, with some areas of light to mild age related cracking and crazing. A wonderfully restored Bulgarian M1911 Luger. (25-518/MLW). CURIO. $3,000-4,000.