[Edward Tinker]

This 1918 is in really nice shape, it has two matching magazines, both FXO, a matching tool and I believe matching holster. A good friend sold me this last year, and I am just now showing it.

The gun itself is a nice one, made in 1918, the last year made by DWM for WW1. After WW1 it was taken by the weimar and refurbished. It has the sear safety, which would have been added in approx., 1933 or later. It is very possible that the sear safety was added later, as some WW1 lugers were placed in storage, and later re-issued. (This was after the magazine safety was discontinued but the sear safety was still added.)


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It has two matching FXO magazines, added sometime in the late 1930's I would guess. This is the first time I have seen FXO magazines with a weimar gun, but everything appears original to the rework (and the gentleman I bought it from is well known as a collector and definately can be trusted).

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The holster is stamped on the inside Otto Schenell, Nordhausen 1918, there is a black stamp that I can't make out.

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On the rear is a stamp of LZA an eagle and J.Erfurt, then there are the written words of W. Janes and the unit he flew in, the 430th Fighter Sqd. I have attempted to research a bit of the units history and also him. I found nothing on him, but found this on his unit:

quote:<center>430th Fighter SQ., 474th Fighter Group, 9th AF
P-38 Lightnings, England.

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According to the Combat Units of WW2 The 474th Fighter Group was activated on Aug 1,1943 and trained for combat in P-38's. They moved to England in Feb-Mar 1944 and were assigned to the 9th Air Force. They flew their first combat missions in an area patrol along the coast of France in Apr 25,44. They attacked bridges and roads in France in preparation for the invasion of Normandy and also provided cover for the invasion force. The unit received a DUC for a mission in France on Aug. 23, 1944 participating in a combined air ground attack against retreating German Forces in the Falaise-Argentan area. The unit went on to see service in the Korean War.
<center>Squadrons of the 474th FG
428th FS- Black Square - F5 - Geyser
430th FS -Yellow Circle - K6 - Backdoor
429th FS - Red Triangle - 7Y – Retail

Combat Aircraft:
Lockheed Lightning P-38J-10-LO
Lockheed Lightning P-38J-15-LO
Lockheed Lightning P-38L-5-LO

Stations
RAF Warmwell March 13, 1944 to August 11th, 1944
A-11 Neuilly-la-Forte, France August 12, 1944 to Sept. 2, 1944
A-43 St Marceau, France Sept. 3, 1944 to Sept. 9, 1944
A-72 Peronne, France Sept. 10.1944 to Oct. 1, 1944
A-78 Florennes, Belgium Oct. 2, 1944 to March 3, 1945
Y-59 Strassfeld, Germany March 4, 1945 to April 22, 1945
R-2 Langensalza, Germany April 23. 1945 to VE Day
</center>

The tool is matching to the serial number and there is also a police unit number on it.

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[Heinz]

Very nice Ed. What lette suffix is on this pistol? I am wondering if it is an ealy or later 1918.

 

[Jan C Still]

Ed
Excellent photographs and presentation of a 1918 DWM reissued to the Nazi police. It was captured and then inscribed by a US pilot and the history of the pilots unit is presented.
Thanks
Jan

 

[Edward Tinker]

Heinz! Haven't talked to you in a while! My close up pictures came out blury and bad, so normally I let them tell the tale on their own. It is serial number 8247 d, so more early than a late one.

Thanks Jan, I found the additional information on the US pilot interesting.

A question; I have seen few of the cleaning rods pouches in a holster, how often have you or others seen this addition and are there certain years you see this?

Ed

 

[Jan C Still]

Ed
Most new manufactured military holsters (for the 4 inch barrel Luger) dated between 1925 and 1934 have a holder and a strap under the flap for a cleaning patch and a cleaning rod. Some Weimar Era reworked Imperial holsters also have this feature. (see Weimar Lugers page 160,164,169,171)
Jan

 

[Edward Tinker]

Thanks Jan, I should have looked in my books, but appreciate the page numbers!

Ed

 

[Ron Smith]

Jan and Ed, On pg 123 of Walter's Luger book. He shows a photo of a holster with the strap and rod. He states that this feature was added "8 Nov. 1934" and onward. Is this an inaccuracy,that has been proven otherwise? I have not seen a Third Reich era dated holster with this feature.
Ron

 

[Jan C Still]

Ron
"Walter's Luger book (pg 123) shows a photo of a holster with the strap and rod that he claims was added "8 Nov. 1934" and onward."

Ron
You are correct, Walter's statement is incorect. The strap and rod are found on Army holsters dated 1925*-1934 and on Weimar reworks of Imperial holster.
Jan
*I seem to recall seeing this modification on a 1924 dated holsters.

 

[Vlim]

Hi,

John walter was not very far off, though. The 1930-1939 Dutch contract Navy P08s came with (badly made) holsters that included a tool/rod pouch in the flap.

 

[Edward Tinker]

I received information from the US Gov't on Lt JANES. I requested information as a researcher and they verified his service number and told me the years he served in WW2, plus some misc info. Very interesting.

Ed