1242 RARE UNIT MARKED DWM P.08 POLICE "SNEAK" LUGER

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600.00USDby g**********n (50004)
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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2026 May 27 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 600.00 USD
Estimated at 1,200.00 - 2,000.00 USD
SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL. Cal. 9x19mm. S# 6150t. Bbl. 3 15/16". 1 of approx. 25,000 P.08 "Sneak" Luger semi-automatic pistols mfg. by DWM circa. the early 1930s for police use. The bbl. extension exhibits no date on the chamber, with just a Crown/N commercial nitro proof marked on the left (repeated on underside of bbl.) and an Eagle/WaA66 proof marked on the right. The latter marking having been applied by a military inspector, as police arsenals lacked official inspectors of their own during the time of procurement. Toggle is blank. Front grip strap is Weimar era Prussian police unit marked "L.Lg.208.", indicating issue to the Landjaegerei (Rural Constabulary) Lueneburg District. Metal components exhibit an apparent period reapplied rust blue finish (possibly done at a police arsenal) overall, save for on some small parts including the takedown lever, trigger, safety lever, and ejector, which are strawed. Frame is mounted with 2-piece checkered wood grips. Left side of the bbl. extension features a Schiwy safety, with the receiver being cut for and retaining a clipped Walther mag. safety. Standard dovetailed blade front sight and fixed V-notch rear sight. All serialized parts are matching in the "hidden" commercial fashion, and include the frame, takedown lever, sideplate, trigger, bbl., rear toggle link, as well as the rear toggle pin. MAGS: x1 Haenel mag. marked with the Haenel arrow logo, followed by "SCHMEISSER PATENT" and a police Eagle/L proof on the right side of the body. Aluminum plug is mismatched, has been renumbered in large numerals, and is marked "1/ 2350" above an Eagle/L police proof. CONDITION: metal components retain the majority of their apparent period reapplied blue finish, exhibiting some scattered spots of light to mild wear and thinning fading to gray patina, with scattered spots of light (dark coloration) oxidation present overall. Sideplate exhibits several scattered spots of patches of mild pitting. Strawed parts retain good amounts of their finish, showing areas of wear fading to gray patina and spotted age related discoloration. Bore is relatively bright, exhibiting consistent light to mild pitting, while retaining strong rifling throughout. Proper manual mechanics. Grips are very good, exhibiting some light smoothing and a few superficial handling marks, with the left panel exhibiting a chip in the usual area, at and to the right of the safety lever. As surmised on page 206 of "The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols" by Joachim Gortz & Dr. Geoffrey Sturgess, there has been much speculation over the years as to whether this variation was made at BKIW/DWM in Berlin or BKIW/Mauser in Oberndorf. Period records indicate that only 4,470 Lugers had been shipped from Mauser between May of 1930 and September of 1932, showing that Mauser would not have had the capacity to produce, let alone assemble approx. 25,000 Lugers for issuance to German police units. As stated by Gortz / Sturgess "it must be concluded that the blank toggle Landjagerei pistols were in fact the last P.08s made, assembled and delivered by DWM from Berlin". (25-6064/MLW). CURIO. $1,200-2,000.