Odd Swiss 1906 Bern
 

Hi Guys,
I need some help with a very nice Swiss 1906 Waffenfabrik Bern I purchased in an auction here in New Zealand a few days ago.
The gun is really in excellent condition with 95% blue and straw all over and a lovely barrel. The privatization date is 1945.
(I am sorry the photo is a little dark)



http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/125_2596_1.jpg


The gun has been fitted with a 1906/29 rear toggle section which is not numbered. The gun number is 21588 and is all matching numbers except the rear toggle section which however, does have an inspection stamp inside, E25 and a Swiss cross. The front of the toggle and breech are numbered 88 to the gun.
The gun also is fitted with a 1906/29 W+F magazine.



http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/125_2597_1.jpg


What is strange is that the rear toggle section is very similar to the 1906/29 W/F but it is not the same and has slight knurling on the outer sides while the "rims" if one can call them that are smooth like the later Swiss guns.
(see below)



http://forum.lugerforum.com/lfupload/125_2595_1.jpg



There is some suggestion that it could be a transitional model but I do not think I could be that lucky. I think that it could be a rework.

I would be interested in any views you can share with me on this interesting gun.


Many thanks
Murray.

Murry, Your rear toggle link appears to be a replacement using one made for the Mauser Parabellum, on the Swiss machinery post 1970. TH

Murray,

Shattuck here in the USA has had several of these...claimed to be "presentation pieces"...some for sale. In a past email to me, Ralph also stated these were "salesman factory samples" when I asked about one that was for sale on Gun Borker. A couple of such of those are photo'd in some of the old luger books.

I think they are just "assembled" guns with various parts.

The prototypes (aka hybrids) from Switzerland from the old Bern factory and museum have a "V-x" serial number added. Shattuck's pieces do not if I recall correctly.

Doug Smith had one of the Swiss prototypes number V-12 at the last SOS show in KY. As he did a disassembly for me, Ron Wood, and others, we discovered the gun was actually a M1899 prototype No. 22 which had a M1929 toggle train added and the V-12 number assigned.

Thanks guys,
I thought it had to be something like you both suggest.
If you look closely at the second photo, you might notice a small chip in the second part of the toggle link, where it joins the third section.
I think that the gun has has a "woop'sy" at some time and the original knurled toggle section has been broken and thus replaced.
I think the gun may have been refinished at that time as there is little to no wear marks on the cams and the area under the safety lever is blued.
All of the other parts of the gun are original and numbered accordingly.

I think I may have got me a lemon., still it is an interesting item all the same.

Murray,

If the price was right, nothing wrong with having it as a shooter in your safe !

BTW...I have seen 3 or 4 Swiss M1929 Bern lugers with the "home-made" dicing lines added by an owner or local gun-smith. Some folks may have found the smooth toggle knobs of the m1929 a bit too smooth and slippery for their liking.

V numbers: V = Versuch = Reseach (or prototype)

Murray's gun has some company :

This '24 Bern has some M1929 toggle knobs...

http://www.gunrunnerauctions.com/lis...mnum=854991338

This M1929 has that odd "pattern" added to the normally smooth toggle knobs...

http://www.gunrunnerauctions.com/lis...mnum=854484496

Since the 1970s Mauser Parabellums were made on the previously Swiss owned M29 machinery, it does not seem unreasonable to me, that persons seeking repair parts after 1970, would get them from Mauser. If the parts are Swiss inspector marked inside, they were probably installed at the Bern arsenal. TH