Curious DWM Luger with a Crown on the receiver from TURKEY
 

Hello,

I showed this pistol to Mr Mauro Baudino before. Unfortunately we couldn't find a proper explanation for the crown on the receiver.

For me it looks like a Erfurt Crown, however might also me a "M" Marine stamp.

Again I will try to upload some of the photos have taken to Lugerforum. If the resolution is not very good then I will also take Photobucket.

Photos with the crown are in my second message

Remaining photos

Hello folks,

no ideas about this Luger? Have you seen something like this before?

What is your comment on the Crown on receiver?

Hello Evren,

I've seen a similar Luger. I believe that it was a discussion which took place some time ago , either on this forum, or Jan Still's forum.

I don't think the origin of the Crown on the chamber was ever discovered. Although I recall that it could have been done on a small run of Lugers intended for awards, or a private contract which was later sent to the Army. My memory on the subject is very faint, and I could be wrong.

I don't believe it is a Navy / Marine crown. The Navy crown has a cross within the crown itself and is of a different design. It is a military style Imperial Crown, so most likely Army connected.

I would love to find one like yours. It's very unique...

Ron

Looks like an Erfurt crown to me.

Balder

Hi Evren, Does this gun have a stock lug? Is it fitted with a hold-open? Regards, Norm
P.S. Please provide a clearer photo of the inspection marks on the right receiver.

Are you selling those T-shirts??? :D

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I recall the discussion on that crown chamber mark...It wasn't all that long ago...

The crown as a symbol was taken very seriously back then and would not have been applied lightly to anything.

Is there any possibility the guns thus marked were meant for a Royal household guard of some kind?

Dear Alaint,

my friend (police commisar) who sold this pistol to another friend, told me that he heard that these Lugers with a crown on them are meant fot he royal household. I don't know but it looks like a Erfurt Crown to me.
I sent the photos to Mr Mauro Baudino for sometime ago, may be he opened a topic and posted the photos of this particular Luger.

Dear Ron, it is really very unique, I have never seen a Luger with such a stamp on the chamber, however can we be sure about it's authenticity?

Dear postino,

I did not understand what you mean? What T-Shirts?

The Istanbul t-shirt used in the background.
dju

I wonder which royal household would use second hand German military pistols?

This pistol was originally a military accepted P08. The chamber date was removed and replaced with the crown. Anyway, I wouldn't look at one of the more important (read: wealthy) royal houses, but more at second or third rate royalty. After WW1.

It is not a t-shirt, it is a textile bag given to my wife by the German Consul of Istanbul (there was something inside, I can not remember now). I sometimes use the German flag as background, when I take photos of Lugers.

Dear Vlim,

so you mean that a low grade royal family bought this pistol and let the date be removed and stamped it with their own symbol (crown) ?

Actually, this crown looks really like the Erfurt Crown. At first sight I thought one of our North Anatolian gun smiths made a crown stamp and applied it on this pistol. However the crown is too good made to be fake (I suppose).

In other words, should we accept this gun as a royal family pistol, if yes can anyone help to find out to which royal family it belongs?

Hi Evren, My theory, for what it's worth, is that this Luger was one of a small lot made by DWM in 1912/13, with a generic crown stamped chamber, in the hope of securing a Turkish order. We could narrow down the production date if we knew whether this gun has a hold-open and stock lug. Regards, Norm

Here is a good place to get started :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_royal_crowns

It actually seems to resemble the Romanian crown ...

I agree with MIM; military accepted and date later remove. TH