NAVY LUGERS?
 

As the proud owner of a Stoeger Naval Luger I enjoy the history as well as the function(ascribed history in my case). Were Naval Lugers used in World War 2? If so and by who? Or did they just adorn the dress uniforms of officers of the kriegsmarine(german navy)? Mine is such an accurate weapon id hate to think that only the 4 inch barrels saw action.

Re: NAVY LUGERS?
 

Hi Bob,


As a long time student and collector of Navy Lugers I can tell you one thing for certain: There aren't any absolutes or rules set in stone.


I have not owned or seen any 6" barreled Navy guns with III Reich markings, but that doesn't mean there are none out there. I have seen photographs of a Kreigsmarine Lieutenant Commander holding a 6" barreled Luger which certainly appeared to be a Navy gun. Should one with II Reich markings surface, it would be a rare bird indeed, and I would progbably suspect it was phony.


I have seen loads (And own several) of Mod 06 and 08 Navy pieces which have had their barrels bobbed and have Imperial, Weimar and, occasionally, III Reich markings-both proof and property markings.


Own a LP-08 Rig that has Imperial Army, Weimar Navy and III Reich Navy markings; a very interesting ensemble.


Tom

Re: NAVY LUGERS?
 

You never know what you will find, a gentleman I know has both a Navy stamped G-Date luger, as well as a Navy stamped Broomhandle, that his father as an U.S. officer got off a German destroyer in the North Sea after the surrender.

Re: NAVY LUGERS?
 

Hello Bob,


You asked â??Were Naval Lugers used in WWIIâ?¦..â?�. Iâ?? ll try to make this brief and then, conjecture on my part.


I have two Navy Lugers, a 1916 and a 1917. Both are 98% and totally matched including the magazines.


The 1916 I recently obtained from the estate of the man that gave me my first full-time job in 1957. For a number of years we were neighbors. He first showed this Luger to me in 1958 and over the years he would again show it to me. He was a colorful man and at 6â??4â?� a giant to me. I liked him very much. He would tell me about the battles he was in and how he removed this Luger from a dead German Lieutenant.. He received a battlefield commission in WWII and retired a LT. Colonel from the Army reserve years ago. He died two years ago. The provenance of this Luger for the last 57 years is well established. It is the center piece of my collection.


Conjecture about my 1916 Navy Luger finding its way to WWII


The age of a lieutenant is usually the middle 20â??s and he would not be a holdover from W.W.I.

In W.W.I, military personnel could purchase their own side arm. Usually done by officers because of the expense. My 1916 being a 98% gun could have been owned by a Naval Officer of Fleet rank and was subsequently given to a son, a German Army Lieutenant who carried it during WWII. After a battle, when my neighbor found the Lieutenant, he no longer needed the Luger that is now in my possession.


Perhaps only a story in my mind. In my opinion a reasonable one.