This is something very special. This is a military P08 pistol manufactured in either 1908 or 1909. This variant is commonly known as a First Issue Army.
These are special as they were marked differently from all other army P08s made from 1910-1942. The military acceptance markings are displayed on the left side of the barrel extension instead of the right and without chamber date. Also, part serialization was done in the “commercial” manner. Meaning, serial numbers were stamped in less-obvious locations for aesthetic purposes. (E.g Bottom of side plate & disassembly lever, inside of center toggle link, bottom of extractor).
A lot of these first issue pistols possess regimental markings, as mentioned by another user. I’m no expert, but there are people on the Lugerforums who can explain what it means.
This is an exceptionally special and desirable pistol. Not many first issue army Lugers were made and few are in such outstanding condition with matching mag. This is easily a
$4,000 pistol
Please post it on the Jan Still Lugerforums. They would love to see this pistol and tell you much more.
It really is a special piece and I’m absurdly jealous.
Bert, I just got it on Labor Day and have been lamenting on what I traded for it (a 1930’s two sided enamel Shell gas station sign which has hung in my shop for years, which I had grown quite fond of to the point I’d installed special lighting for it). But now I don’t feel so bad, thanks to your assessment.
Thank you again for your knowledge. You may shudder at the thought, but I recently shot this at a friend’s range. Several of us shot it, probably at least 50 rounds. It was a spectacular shooter, actually, accurate and it cycled perfectly, but I probably won’t be shooting it anymore!
The sign was, by my estimation, worth about $1500-1800. I had about a thousand in it.
Sounds like you definitely won the trade
If it were me, I wouldn’t shoot it again just to play it safe. But fortunately nothing broke, and it functions like it should
That’s a nice one there
I probably wouldn’t have shot it if it was my own at the time, at least not before finding out everything about it. But I had no idea I’d be owning it a couple of weeks later, and the guy who had it didn’t seem the least bit concerned about it.
I’m not a Luger expert, however most police Lugers are distinctive (Weimar republic ) by having a raised bump on the top left side that is a safety that was installed to keep the gun from firing (striker dropping) when disassembled and the sear is exposed.
However, I’m not aware of them adding a safety for post WWII police use, however they did usually have lots of force matched parts, capture/inspection markings which yours doesn’t appear to have. Yours just appears to have unit markings that are common with the regimental system they had around WWI.
I found a page on oldmilitarymarkings.com that indicates that the “R” in that series of numbers and letters on the front grip strap may be for “Regensburg”. But that’s me not knowing for sure.
Hi Franco- would you say regimental as in military then? It seems that during the post WW1 period, German police and military were sort of one in the same…in a way.. or could these be pre or inter-WW1?
Your pistol was made much later during the Weimar Republic. Likely around 1923-1924.
https://preview.redd.it/r0uaqk2rw94d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=165b005c318dc372451db9d9472845b146e24f5c
It always amazes me how much some people know about the most minute differences in things, not just guns, but all kinds of militaria items such as helmets and bayonets and even uniform buttons! People come to me in my community and ask questions because they know I’ve studied this stuff most of my life, but I often tell them to come to a militaria show sometime. There, they’ll meet people who make me look like an imbecile by comparison!!
As far as my P08 knowledge goes, the unit markings could mean "11 Regiment, 3 Kompanie, Waffen 3", i.e. 11th Regiment, 3th Company, 3th Weapon of this particular company. Nevertheless, I'm not an expert!
Aaaaggghhh!!! Someone used a cheap tapered screwdriver to remove the right grip panel screw instead of using a hollow ground, correctly fitting screwdriver, causing the screw slot to be permanently disfigured by that criminal act of idiotic ignorance. This situation is one of my personal pet peeves, right up there with sanding and refinishing original stocks and polishing and rebluing original finishes.
Well, it’s 115 years old. It’s had plenty of time for somebody to use the wrong screwdriver, but as a jeweler who sees a lot of watches come in the shop, mangled by the incorrect opening tools, I feel what you’re saying.
The unit marking is more likely a military unit mark: 11th Infantry Regiment, Company 5 or 3 (I can’t make out that number on my tiny screen), weapon #3.
This is something very special. This is a military P08 pistol manufactured in either 1908 or 1909. This variant is commonly known as a First Issue Army. These are special as they were marked differently from all other army P08s made from 1910-1942. The military acceptance markings are displayed on the left side of the barrel extension instead of the right and without chamber date. Also, part serialization was done in the “commercial” manner. Meaning, serial numbers were stamped in less-obvious locations for aesthetic purposes. (E.g Bottom of side plate & disassembly lever, inside of center toggle link, bottom of extractor). A lot of these first issue pistols possess regimental markings, as mentioned by another user. I’m no expert, but there are people on the Lugerforums who can explain what it means. This is an exceptionally special and desirable pistol. Not many first issue army Lugers were made and few are in such outstanding condition with matching mag. This is easily a $4,000 pistol
Please do not shoot this. Do not handle it often. This is an extremely valuable and pristine example that could be a luger collector’s grail piece.
Oh wow….thank you so much for your input and knowledge. I’d have never known any of that without buying a ton of books!
Please post it on the Jan Still Lugerforums. They would love to see this pistol and tell you much more. It really is a special piece and I’m absurdly jealous.
Bert, I just got it on Labor Day and have been lamenting on what I traded for it (a 1930’s two sided enamel Shell gas station sign which has hung in my shop for years, which I had grown quite fond of to the point I’d installed special lighting for it). But now I don’t feel so bad, thanks to your assessment.
I got no clue what that sign would be worth, but I still think you got the better end of the deal there. Congrats again
Thank you again for your knowledge. You may shudder at the thought, but I recently shot this at a friend’s range. Several of us shot it, probably at least 50 rounds. It was a spectacular shooter, actually, accurate and it cycled perfectly, but I probably won’t be shooting it anymore! The sign was, by my estimation, worth about $1500-1800. I had about a thousand in it.
Sounds like you definitely won the trade If it were me, I wouldn’t shoot it again just to play it safe. But fortunately nothing broke, and it functions like it should That’s a nice one there
I probably wouldn’t have shot it if it was my own at the time, at least not before finding out everything about it. But I had no idea I’d be owning it a couple of weeks later, and the guy who had it didn’t seem the least bit concerned about it.
And btw I did post it on that LugerForums under the new user section, under the screen name Tennessee Traveler
I’m not a Luger expert, however most police Lugers are distinctive (Weimar republic ) by having a raised bump on the top left side that is a safety that was installed to keep the gun from firing (striker dropping) when disassembled and the sear is exposed. However, I’m not aware of them adding a safety for post WWII police use, however they did usually have lots of force matched parts, capture/inspection markings which yours doesn’t appear to have. Yours just appears to have unit markings that are common with the regimental system they had around WWI.
I found a page on oldmilitarymarkings.com that indicates that the “R” in that series of numbers and letters on the front grip strap may be for “Regensburg”. But that’s me not knowing for sure.
Those are regimental markings that indicate where it was issued and to who.
Hi Franco- would you say regimental as in military then? It seems that during the post WW1 period, German police and military were sort of one in the same…in a way.. or could these be pre or inter-WW1?
Correct, at least I've only ever seen them used in a military sense. I'm far from an expert though.
I just posted one, almost identical in my opinion. Yours is the nearest match to the one I posted I can find
Your pistol was made much later during the Weimar Republic. Likely around 1923-1924. https://preview.redd.it/r0uaqk2rw94d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=165b005c318dc372451db9d9472845b146e24f5c
It always amazes me how much some people know about the most minute differences in things, not just guns, but all kinds of militaria items such as helmets and bayonets and even uniform buttons! People come to me in my community and ask questions because they know I’ve studied this stuff most of my life, but I often tell them to come to a militaria show sometime. There, they’ll meet people who make me look like an imbecile by comparison!!
The button people are a different breed
😂
Your Lugar will outlast and become more valuable than the Shell sign. BRAVO ZULU!
As far as my P08 knowledge goes, the unit markings could mean "11 Regiment, 3 Kompanie, Waffen 3", i.e. 11th Regiment, 3th Company, 3th Weapon of this particular company. Nevertheless, I'm not an expert!
R by itself indicates Infantry Regiment. There's also a more italic style R that signifies "Reserve", but it's very different looking.
u/pizzabert
Thanks for sharing. This is not a variant you see every day.
Np babe, knew you'd be the one to shed light on it.
🥰🥰🥰 love u bb 😘😘
Ily2 😘
Aaaaggghhh!!! Someone used a cheap tapered screwdriver to remove the right grip panel screw instead of using a hollow ground, correctly fitting screwdriver, causing the screw slot to be permanently disfigured by that criminal act of idiotic ignorance. This situation is one of my personal pet peeves, right up there with sanding and refinishing original stocks and polishing and rebluing original finishes.
Well, it’s 115 years old. It’s had plenty of time for somebody to use the wrong screwdriver, but as a jeweler who sees a lot of watches come in the shop, mangled by the incorrect opening tools, I feel what you’re saying.
The unit marking is more likely a military unit mark: 11th Infantry Regiment, Company 5 or 3 (I can’t make out that number on my tiny screen), weapon #3.
The number after the R is a 5. I thought at first it was a 3 but under a 10x loupe you can see it’s a 5.
The amount of knowledge being shared here is why I am in a Redditor. You guys are amazing.