Australian Marked Luger
 

I came across a 1916 DWM Artillery luger, with holster and stock, last week that had Australian Army stampings opposit the thumb safety. I talked to a couple of guys from the local Arms & Armourers Society. They said that the Australian army brought back quite a few arms from Europe after WWI. Also at the outbreak of WWII, fire arms were collected from the public to help arm the defence forces. There are records of the artillery crews in Darwin being issued with the Artillery Lugers. Which avenue this gun came into service I am unsure. An interesting piece of history.

Welcome to the Lugerforum Fazer... Please post photos of your find for all to see.

Fazer,
nice going. Does the stocks serial number match the serial number on the gun? Does it have matching mags? Lets get some pictures of your trophy. What is the date on your holster? Who is the manufacturer?
Big Norm

Just better clear things up, by came across, I ment there was a guy up at the range shooting it and I got to look it over. By the looks of it, it was all matching, I didn't pull it apart, but he said it was and he is fairly clued up. He was using repoduction mags, didn't find out if the original was matching. I've met the guy a couple times before, I'll see if I can get some photos and get a more detailed description. I did ask if he wanted to get rid of it, but didn't get much of an answer, but then again there were a few people around. More homework needed.

Fazer, I believe that your information is correct. I once owned a Mauser C96 that was "D broad arrow D" military accepted. Perhaps Murry from NZ can add to this thread. I hope that Australia is saving all their confiscated guns for the next time that they need to arm the home guard. TH

Great resource. I have a 1914 Erfurt Art luger with D/i\ on the receiver. I have not been able to confirm that these were issued to Australian defence force members in WW2, however, there are requests for lugers in the unit diary of the 2/6th independent company (which became 6th commandos) where they requested lugers be issued to reduce the number of types of ammunition needed to be carried. The standard side arm was .38 revolver, Ownen SMG 9mm and of course rifle, LMG and HMG were .303.

Australia occupied German New Guinea November 1914, shortly after WWI started. Mainly to deny naval bases. The Luger could have been captured there.

Could have been captured early during Gallipoli campaign in Turkey or in later in France. The British Empire shipped a lot of captured German rifles and pistols to other member nations of the Commonwealth after the Great War. Have seen a few Lugers issued and marked to the Royal Irish Constabulary. Number of photos of the IRA in the late 20th Century teens and into the 20s carrying Lugers, which were obviously not freely given to them by the English government.