1906 Commercial Navy...
 

Had a chance to see a collector's 1906 Navy Commercial luger today :

1. Had the "Geischert" in the lower position.
2. Had an absolute mint Navy wooden magazine with the concentric circles and "9m/m Cal" stamped on the magazine bottom and pristine wooden grips
3. Had the lazy Crown/N proof along the left side of the receiver.
4. Had a 6" barrel (non fat barrel type), 9mm, with stock lug and grip safety.
5. Serial number was 61x17 and small parts were numbered in the commercial style.
6. Gun looked little-fired and was a strong (original, I think...) 98-99% finish and most surfaces were extremely well machined and finished. There was a very slight finish-blemish at the left side of the blank chamber and a little ding along the left side of the barrel near the front sight base...

How exciting to see and hold such a beautiful Navy !!! <img border="0" alt="[jumper]" title="" src="graemlins/jumper.gif" /> This collector has had this gun for over 30 years and found it for the obscene price of over $ 800.00... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

Sounds like a lovely piece, but 30 years ago, $800 was a month's salary for an Army Captain on flight status. It was an EXPENSIVE piece even then.

Tom A.

"Navy/Commercial" is strange. Which is it. If it is Navy, it can't be commercial. If it is commercial, it's not Navy.....

"1906 Navy Commercial" is the collector designation. It is configured exactly like a 1906 military Navy Luger but was produced for sale on the commercial market, bears only commercial proof marks, and is serial numbered in the commercial range. It is a scarce gun.

Hello Ron and Tom A.,

This 1906 Navy Commercial is a little out-of-the ranges Jan Still reported in his book, Imperial Lugers, on page 11. His reported numbers/tables were done back in 1991, so I assume this # 61x17 might have other serial number "mates" that have been subsequently reported...(?)...

Another question : The Blue Book Of Gun Value folks indicate that some 1906 Navy Commercial pistols were in 7.65 cal with quite a price premium...Have these been seen/reported ?

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

I can't recall ever encountering a Commercial Navy in 7.65; having said that, in the 1920s, one could buy just about any configuration in either 9MM or 7.65 through the likes of Pacific Arms, Von Lengerke and Detmold, Stoeger, etc, so I have no doubt they are out there somewhere.

Tom A.