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1908 COMMERCIAL ARMY, SERIAL NUMBER 69911, AND IT'S 1914 DATED UNIT STAMPED HOLSTER
I recently purchased a Luger from a man that inherited it from his father-in-law. The father (who cherished the gun) obtained this Luger while serving with the Second Armored Division during World War II. The Luger is a 1908 Commercial Army complete with matching magazine, an extra magazine(early Erfurt), and a 1914 dated holster. The holster has unit stamps and an interesting hand written inscription.
This Luger is in excellent+ condition in and out, except for some rust/patima on the raised part the side plate and spots on the right receiver and frame from long term storage in its holster.
1908 DWM, COMMERCIAL ARMY, SERIAL NUMBER 69911.
During late 1913 and 1914 some 1908 and 1914 Commercial Lugers were routed to military service. These do not bear commercial proofs and instead bear the Army Test Proof (DWM) and C/X C/X C/X Army acceptance stamps on the right receiver.
These C/X C/X C/X Army acceptance stamps are found almost exclusively on the 1908 and 1914 DWM Commercial Army (and a few 1914 dated DWM Army Lugers which lack a stock lug, in the 8000a-9400a serial range).
1908 DWM, COMMERCIAL ARMY :17 reported in the 69163-70840 serial range. Estimated production: 450.
1914 DWM, COMMERCIAL ARMY : 8 reported in the 70319-72059 serial range. Estimated production:100
(A more detailed discussion of the 1908 Commercial Army Luger is found below in the threads "A 1908 DWM, COMM. ARMY, R.I.R.72 M.G.11." and in "A real commercia 1908 triple C/X Army"
Download Attachment:
1908COMMA1.jpg
31.43 KB
Figure 1. 1908 Commercial Army Luger, serial number 69911. This Luger was manufactured with a long sear bar. The serial number placement is hidden (commercial style). The grips are not serial numbered.
Download Attachment: 1908COMMA2.jpg
33.55KB
Figure 2. Right slant view of 1908 Commercial Army, serial number 69911. It bears C/X C/X C/X Army acceptance stamps and an Army test proof on the right receiver. This Luger was manufactured with a hold open.
Download Attachment: 1908COMMA3.jpg
38.41KB
Figure 3. Right receiver and barrel of 1908 Commercial Army, serial number 69911, showing details of its C/X C/X C/X Army acceptance stamps and Army test proof.
Download Attachment: 1908COMMA4.jpg
37.47KB
Figure 4. Front of frame and bottom of barrel of 1908 Commercial Army, serial number 69911. The serial number of the take down lever and side plate are in the commercial style (hidden). Note: the halo around the digits of the barrel serial number and lack of halo on the frame serial number. The barrel serial number is through the blue.
Download Attachment: 1908COMMA5.jpg
27.72 KB
Figure 5. 1908 Commercial Army Luger, serial number 69911, showing it's matching magazine with a + in the Army style to indicate the extra or reserve magazine.
Download Attachment: 1908COMMA6.jpg
49.13KB
Figure 6. 1908 Commercial Army Luger, serial number 69911, complete with holster, extra magazine (Erfurt) and tool.
Download Attachment: 1908COMMA7.jpg
56.57KB
Figure 7. Holster back.
Download Attachment: 1908COMMA8a.jpg
57.6KB
Figure 8. Details of open holster showing tool and magazine pouch.
Download Attachment: 1908COMMA9a.jpg
63.67KB
Figure 9. Manufacturing inscription inside of holster flap: A. WUNDERLICH NACHF. /BERLIN/1914.
The K R 6 signifies Kürassier-Regiment 6. Berlin, where the holster was made, is in the III Army Corps district; as is Brandenburg; which, is the home base of the Kürassier-Regiment 6.
The Kürassier-Regiment 6 battled on the Western and Eastern Fronts during World War I.
Download Attachment: 1908COMMARMY10.jpg
117.18KB
Figure 10. Lance armed Kurassier's ambush a Russian supply column on the Eastern Front.
Download Attachment: 1908COMMA11.jpg
69.69 KB
Figure 11. Ink inscription on inside of holster flap. Klaus Schad deciphered the words and unit:
Feldwebel Brunkow = Staff Sargent Brunkow
E K K 56 = Etappen Kraftfahrkolonne 56 = Base Motor Vehicle Column no. 56
Kaiserliche Deutsche Sudarmee (Umlaut over u) = Royal German Southern Army
The Sudarmee (South Army) battled on the southern part of the Eastern Front during World War I. During 1916 under Bothmer it was part of the force that stalled, stopped and finally threw back in disarray the Great Russian attack of 1916 (Brusilov Offensive). During 1917 the Sudarmee consisted of four German, three Austrian, and one Turkish Division. It participated in the final battlefield defeat of the Russian Army.
Download Attachment: 1908COMMA12.jpg
60.56KB
Figure 12. German Lances guard a heavy transport column on the Eastern Front.
This holster/Luger must have found its way into the possession of Feldwebel Brunkow, of the Base Motor Vehicle Column no. 56 (Sudarmee), when the 6th Kurassier Regiment was battling on the Eastern Front.
Download Attachment: 1908COMMA13.jpg
97.01 KB
Figure 13. German motor vehicle column transporting troops during World War I.
I recently purchased a Luger from a man that inherited it from his father-in-law. The father (who cherished the gun) obtained this Luger while serving with the Second Armored Division during World War II. The Luger is a 1908 Commercial Army complete with matching magazine, an extra magazine(early Erfurt), and a 1914 dated holster. The holster has unit stamps and an interesting hand written inscription.
This Luger is in excellent+ condition in and out, except for some rust/patima on the raised part the side plate and spots on the right receiver and frame from long term storage in its holster.
1908 DWM, COMMERCIAL ARMY, SERIAL NUMBER 69911.
During late 1913 and 1914 some 1908 and 1914 Commercial Lugers were routed to military service. These do not bear commercial proofs and instead bear the Army Test Proof (DWM) and C/X C/X C/X Army acceptance stamps on the right receiver.
These C/X C/X C/X Army acceptance stamps are found almost exclusively on the 1908 and 1914 DWM Commercial Army (and a few 1914 dated DWM Army Lugers which lack a stock lug, in the 8000a-9400a serial range).
1908 DWM, COMMERCIAL ARMY :17 reported in the 69163-70840 serial range. Estimated production: 450.
1914 DWM, COMMERCIAL ARMY : 8 reported in the 70319-72059 serial range. Estimated production:100
(A more detailed discussion of the 1908 Commercial Army Luger is found below in the threads "A 1908 DWM, COMM. ARMY, R.I.R.72 M.G.11." and in "A real commercia 1908 triple C/X Army"
Download Attachment:
1908COMMA1.jpg31.43 KB
Figure 1. 1908 Commercial Army Luger, serial number 69911. This Luger was manufactured with a long sear bar. The serial number placement is hidden (commercial style). The grips are not serial numbered.
Download Attachment:
1908COMMA2.jpg33.55KB
Figure 2. Right slant view of 1908 Commercial Army, serial number 69911. It bears C/X C/X C/X Army acceptance stamps and an Army test proof on the right receiver. This Luger was manufactured with a hold open.
Download Attachment:
1908COMMA3.jpg38.41KB
Figure 3. Right receiver and barrel of 1908 Commercial Army, serial number 69911, showing details of its C/X C/X C/X Army acceptance stamps and Army test proof.
Download Attachment:
1908COMMA4.jpg37.47KB
Figure 4. Front of frame and bottom of barrel of 1908 Commercial Army, serial number 69911. The serial number of the take down lever and side plate are in the commercial style (hidden). Note: the halo around the digits of the barrel serial number and lack of halo on the frame serial number. The barrel serial number is through the blue.
Download Attachment:
1908COMMA5.jpg27.72 KB
Figure 5. 1908 Commercial Army Luger, serial number 69911, showing it's matching magazine with a + in the Army style to indicate the extra or reserve magazine.
Download Attachment:
1908COMMA6.jpg49.13KB
Figure 6. 1908 Commercial Army Luger, serial number 69911, complete with holster, extra magazine (Erfurt) and tool.
Download Attachment:
1908COMMA7.jpg56.57KB
Figure 7. Holster back.
Download Attachment:
1908COMMA8a.jpg57.6KB
Figure 8. Details of open holster showing tool and magazine pouch.
Download Attachment:
1908COMMA9a.jpg63.67KB
Figure 9. Manufacturing inscription inside of holster flap: A. WUNDERLICH NACHF. /BERLIN/1914.
The K R 6 signifies Kürassier-Regiment 6. Berlin, where the holster was made, is in the III Army Corps district; as is Brandenburg; which, is the home base of the Kürassier-Regiment 6.
The Kürassier-Regiment 6 battled on the Western and Eastern Fronts during World War I.
Download Attachment:
1908COMMARMY10.jpg117.18KB
Figure 10. Lance armed Kurassier's ambush a Russian supply column on the Eastern Front.
Download Attachment:
1908COMMA11.jpg69.69 KB
Figure 11. Ink inscription on inside of holster flap. Klaus Schad deciphered the words and unit:
Feldwebel Brunkow = Staff Sargent Brunkow
E K K 56 = Etappen Kraftfahrkolonne 56 = Base Motor Vehicle Column no. 56
Kaiserliche Deutsche Sudarmee (Umlaut over u) = Royal German Southern Army
The Sudarmee (South Army) battled on the southern part of the Eastern Front during World War I. During 1916 under Bothmer it was part of the force that stalled, stopped and finally threw back in disarray the Great Russian attack of 1916 (Brusilov Offensive). During 1917 the Sudarmee consisted of four German, three Austrian, and one Turkish Division. It participated in the final battlefield defeat of the Russian Army.
Download Attachment:
1908COMMA12.jpg60.56KB
Figure 12. German Lances guard a heavy transport column on the Eastern Front.
This holster/Luger must have found its way into the possession of Feldwebel Brunkow, of the Base Motor Vehicle Column no. 56 (Sudarmee), when the 6th Kurassier Regiment was battling on the Eastern Front.
Download Attachment:
1908COMMA13.jpg97.01 KB
Figure 13. German motor vehicle column transporting troops during World War I.
