[Jan C Still]

LUGERS OF THE DRAGOON REGIMENTS. PART 2/5

1910 DWM, SERIAL NUMBER 8474d, DETAILS AND ACCESSORIES


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Figure 18. Left slant view, 1910 DWM, serial number 8474. This 1910 DWM Luger entered the USA from the Ukraine completely covered with a low quality reblue. As it is extremely rare, I had Gale Morgan peel off the Ukraine reblue and restore the original rust blue finish and straw. He did an outstanding job.


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Figure 19. Top, 1910 DWM, serial number 8474.


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Figure 20. Right side, 1910 DWM, serial number 8474.


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Figure 21. Right receiver and barrel of 1910 DWM, serial number 8474d. According to a May 6,1913 directive all P08's in service without a hold open were to have the hold open retrofitted. This was accomplished by Erfurt. A small crown / P indicates a hold open was retrofitting to this Luger.


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Figure 22. Front of frame and bottom of barrel of 1910 DWM, serial number 8474d. The serial number of the take down lever is in the commercial style (hidden). Note: there is not a halo around the digits of the barrel serial number because this Luger has been restored.


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Figure 23. Front view of 1910 DWM, serial number 8474d. Showing 1.G.D.3.1. on its front strap; which, indicates issue to a Garde Dragoon Regiment.


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Figure 24. 1910 DWM, serial number 8474d, with 1910 dated holster.


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Figure 25. Open holster with magazine and tool.


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Figure 26. Holster back. Note: the splice to one side of the belt loop. It is made from Reichsrevolver holster parts and is termed a Reichsrevolver conversion.



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Figure 27. Stamps between the holster belt loops: D.13/1910/1910/1E which signifies Dragoon Regiment 13, 1910/1910/ first Eskadron. (Holsters were not under the same unit marking regulations as weapons. Their markings vary. Sometimes they are the same as weapons and sometimes they use the same abbreviations as found on dog tags or uniforms.)

 

[Jan C Still]

HISTORY OF THE 1ST GARDE DRAGOON REGIMENT, ESKADRON 3 AND 4.


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Figure 28. Above, front grip strap unit stamps on:
1910 DWM, serial number 8474c : 1.G.D.3.1. which signifies:1 Garde-Dragoner-Regiment , Eskadron 3, Waffe Nr. 1
1910 DWM, serial number 8494c : 1.G.D.4.1. which signifies:1 Garde-Dragoner-Regiment , Eskadron 4, Waffe Nr. 1.

The 1st Garde-Dragoner-Regiment’s full (honor) name:
1.Garde-Dragoner-Regiment Konig Victoria von Grossbritannien und Irland
Founded: 21-2-1815 Home base: Berlin


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Figure 29. Unit markings are a window to the past. Two Garde Dragoon marked Lugers frame a battle scene that is described in the History of the 1st Garde Dragoon Regiment 1914-1918. Both the Lugers were involved in the battle described.


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Figure 30. The World War I History of the 1st Garde Dragoon Regiment.

The First Garde Dragoon Regiment was an elite Berlin based cavalry regiment. The two Lugers shown above were issued to Lancers in the 3rd and 4th Eskadrons. Both the 3rd and 4th Squadrons of the First Garde Dragoon Regiment started World War I as part of the Garde Cavalry Division.

Early in World War I (August 4-September 9) the 1st Garde Dragoon Regiment scouted ahead of the German Armies during their drive through Luxembourg, Belgium and into France. Their task was to determine the position of the enemy and secure critical positions. They rode until they made contact with the enemy, everywhere there was hidden danger, often they rode into ambush.


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Figure 31. Honor Book of The Prussian Garde in Weltkrieg, 1914-1919. On page 74 is a detailed two page History of the 1st Garde Dragoon Regiment during September 7-9, 1914. The following is extracted from that history:

During the Battle of the Marne, the 1st Garde Dragoon Regiment had advanced to a location 30 miles East of Paris,. Cannons thundered behind the troops from the big battle North of Paris. A retreat could no longer be avoided. Patrols had detected strong enemy forces marching from Paris. English cavalry (armed with a lance in one hand and a revolver in the other) were spotted advancing on the Dragoons. The 2nd and 3rd Eskadrons dismounted and held a grove of trees. The 4th and 5th Eskadrons remained mounted.


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Figure 32. 1.G.D.3.1. Luger resting on its history during the battle of the Marne (from The Prussian Garde in Weltkrieg, 1914-1919. Page 74-76)


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Figure 33. Sketch of the 2nd and 3rd Eskadrons and holding a grove of trees near Fretoy (From the The Prussian Garde in Weltkrieg, 1914-1919, page 74, 1st Garde Dragoon Regiment, September 7-9, 1914).

To avoid being trapped behind the enemy lines, lancers of the 4th and 5th Eskadron galloped to attack a line of British troops that had taken cover in a ditch. The Eskadrons immediately came under fire. The ferocity of the attack with lance and sword surprised the British and the Dragons pierced and slashed through the line. (The Dragoons took causalities from machine gun and rifle fire.)


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Figure 34. Painting depicting the 4th and 5th Eskadron attacking the British line with lance and sword (From the The Prussian Garde in Weltkrieg, 1914-1919 page 74, 1st Garde Dragoon Regiment, September 7-9, 1914).

During 1914 the 3rd Squadron battled on the Western Front. In 1915 it became part of the 82nd Reserve Division. 1915-1917 it battled on the Eastern Front at Galicia-Russia, Pinsk, and Pinsk-Nobel Lake. In 1917 it transferred to the Western Front and battled at Cantigny and the Soome during 1918.

The 4th Squadron remained with the Garde Cavalry Division until 1917. During 1914 it battled on the Western Front. During 1915 the Division transferred to the Eastern Front. Where it battled on the Bug and the Pripet-Sumpfen. In 1917 the 4th Squadron became part of the 218th Division and it battled in Romania during 1917 and 1918.

 

[Heinz]

Very nice Jan.
I suggest that beginning collectors take a long hard look at the finish on this luger and bear in mind that this is a quality refinish from an honest workman, of which there are several out there. If you cannot tell this from an original fnish then be very careful about who you deal with. ( I can't, except for the halo and I am more careful about who I buy from than what I buy.) Also think what this might look like if Jan and Mr. Morgan were not so scrupulously honest.

 

[cpw]

I agree that the most important buying factors is from whom you make the purchase.