A Dutch Mauser Banner a Rare Find
 

It is rather interesting, I think, that such a seldom encountered Luger would be offered for sale at a small neighborhood gun shop. This Luger sat in the display case of such a gun shop in Lafayette, Louisiana for the better part of a week. A good friend was fortunate to have seen this Luger and purchased it. He put it in his collection before it got away to some strange home where it may never have been shared with fellow collectors and members of the forum. I have been a forum member for only a short time, but I have been collecting Lugers for a very long time and I donâ??t recall seeing one of this variation before. All numbers match exc. the magazine. Please, any comments are welcome. I was promised more detailed pictures to come. Mike

http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload...uger_copy1.jpg http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/dutch_luger2.jpg http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/dutch_luger3.jpg http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/dutch_luger4.jpg http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/dutch_luger5.jpg

Mike, you are a lucky guy! One of these beauties graces the dust cover of Martens and de Vries The Dutch Luger book.

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Pat,
That is very interesting. I wonder if anyone can shed any light on the serial number sequence of this variation? Oh and by the way, I wish I were the lucky guy. The luger belongs to a friend. I am putting the pictures on for him. He and I do share our interest quite closely. He does have a 1900 Eagle for sale if anyone is intested.
Mike

Very interesting indeed. The Mauser Dutch luger on the dust cover of Martens and de Vries is numbered 2522 "v". Also, on page 96, it is stated that: "When the German Army invaded the Netherlands in May, 1940, 600 pistols of this contract had been completed in the Dutch (Mauser Contract 'v' suffix) serial range. These, numbered 2655v to 3254v inclusive, were diverted for issue to German troops, and therefore, received German proof and acceptance marks." Your examples fall just ahead of this serial range and were probably in a prior Mauser contract that went to the Netherlands before the invasion. On the same page of the book, it is stated: "From 1928 on, the Navy regularly ordered quantities of pistols: 1,007 in 1929, 702 in 1930, 100 in 1931, 193 in 1932, 50 in 1936, 200 in 1937, 100 in 1938 and 225 in 1939." The dates on the chamber of your pistols should give you an idea how many were made. Hope all this helps.