1911 unit marked
 

Schutztruppen Dutch Ost Africa waffe 18. The protection troops of the German East African colony.

A super rare pistol!!!

A rare pistol and in relatively good shape too! Congrats! I read the headline expecting to see a Colt with a unit marking but am somehow even more satisfied with what I see here.

Quentin, glad you enjoyed the pics of this pistol . It is one of two reported to date. (Still/Noll). Seems the others have much more interest in the rare Jap mum luger...........History is doomed to repeat itself....... John

Compared to that gun, chicken molars are commonplace. Well done John!
Ron

Thanks Ron. I have located a D.O.A. tropenhelm (pith helmet) to go with it, the price brings a tear to my eye!
John

John, be careful there are more fakes than real ones.

Would you like a Mum on yours??? I am sure we can accommodate you! :D

John,
some of us saw it on the other forum and commented there.
A couple also didn't want to get into a bidding war, or it may have ended up here rather than there.:eek:

I share your frustration with posting nice or interesting or rare(real) stuff, and see no response- when a silly question or fake gets dozens of comments.:confused:

Some folks still believe in the tooth fairy; I have it on good authority(my own) that that is who marked the "Japanese" lugers.:evilgrin:

:cheers:

John, Fantastic find! Very interesting to see.

Well stated Don.
I did not win the auction either. I was in the company of the winner at Geo's and had to give up my really nice 1925 Simson to get this.
Jerry, keep me in mind should you see a D.O.A. marked holster come thru the shop.
Geo, thanks for the heads up.

John

John, You can bet I will..but how many more years have I got to look? Shoulda asked me when I was a young man! I got DOA on my mind....

JTD,
Lovely Luger!
Can you reveal the serial number?

8384d

Great! Not far away from my 199f (South West Africa)
Also 1911

Piet, may we see photos of your GSWA pistol?

Certainly George,

Piet,
What is the Wr 37370 on the left side?

That was the number allocated to the pistol when brought back from German South West Africa into the Union of South Africa. WR means "wapenregister" or weapon register used for the registration of all firearms in South Africa. (I could not verify in what year it was done but I suspect 1914 - 1915?

Hi Piet,
Is that what they call a Smuts number?
Regards, Norm

Piet, is your pistol "LP" marked on the rear grip strap?

Norm,
I wouldn't say it is a Smuts number, because the same register still applies in South Africa.
General Smuts was the man who commanded the Boers to make war against the Germans in South West Africa on behalf of England. This order marked the beginning of a Rebellion in South Africa because people where divided about loyalty towards the Queen. They just came out of a war against England where many lost their lives and women and children were killed in the so called concentration camps.
My history knowledge is a bit rusty so I hope I got this right!

Yes Landes Polizei (LP)

Hi Piet,
My history knowledge is not what it used to be either but I recall that General Smuts was the man who captured Winston Churchill at gun point during the Boer War. They became friends later on in life. Smuts was the man who introduced registration numbers on guns and I have heard these numbers referred to as Smuts numbers by English auction houses.
Norm

Norm,
I think you could be right. I will do some reading!
Thanks for your valuable contributions!

Short history of Genl Jan Smuts
See :https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/...ristiaan-smuts