since we are on the unit mark kick
 

Old post I did in 2013 on Stills forum. This pair are really neat, and some of my favorites, and thought I would post here for those that don't visit that site, or are newer collectors to see what unit mark collecting is about. John


1913 DWM ser# 1734 n/s. unit marked to the Bayerische Infantrie regiment 22 Machinegun company weapon 14
1913 DWM ser# 1712 n/s. unit marked to the Bayerische Infantrie regiment 22 Machinegun company weapon 10
Both are listed by serial number on the Landau list. Two survivors of 83 issued to the B. 22 MGK. at the outbreak of war

In excellent original condition, all matching. Non matching mags.
Reichsadler located on right receiver, right barrel, and left breach block. Manufactured without stock lug, with long sear bar, and without holdopen device. As per most Bavarian marked lugers, this one never was sent back to have one installed, or to have front site replacement.
Ser# range 1201-6055b Est. production 35,000

Unit History:
Upon the outbreak of WWI, the 22nd Bavarian was part of the 3rd division of the German army. It served on the western front and fought in The Battle of Frontiers against the French and participated in the "Race To the Sea"(1st Marne-Picardy-Artois). Fighting along the Somme and in Flanders, including the first battle of Ypres.
It remained in the trenches of Flanders until April 1915. The regiment was transferred to the newly formed 11th Bavarian division. Initally serving on the eastern front, It fought in the Gorlice-Tarnow offensive against the Russians from April 1915 to August 1915, causing a total colapse of Russian lines, and forcing a total retreat off German soil. It was then transferred south and participated in the Serbia campaign. The division was held in reserve in Serbia from November 1915 to February 1916, when it was transferred back to the western front. From march 1916 to May 1916 it fought in the battle of Verdun. Returning to the eastern front, it fought in the battle of Kovel. It was then transferred to the Romanian front until January 1917. Again, it was transferred back to the western front, fighting in the 2nd battle of Aisne. The division also saw action at the battle of Passchendaele. It remained on the western front until April 1918, when it was sent to the Dutch border. The division fought in the 3rd battle of Aisne, and saw action in the 2nd battle of the Marne, suffering extreme losses. It was then sent to Flanders, where it remained until the end of the war.
Allied intelligence rated them as a 1st class division.

Credit for research: 251 Divisions of the German Army- Central powers Pistols(Jan Still)- Battle History of 22nd Bavarian-Klause for Landau list information.

We have had #1734 for several years.
#1712 was recently aquired. Both were picked in Pennsylvania, and further research should prove interesting, if my hunch is correct.
Chances are very good that these 2 lugers served together in the same Bavarian gun crew, and were captured by a pair of fellow PA doughboys at the same time/place.
They were assembled together, issued together, fought together,captured together. Seperated for nearly a century, and now are reunited again.
I think all the unit mark junkies will appreciate this pair.

Sweet! Early 1913s, no stock lugs!

It doesn't get much better than that.

Fantastic guns John! I have only one unit marked Luger other than my Garde Grenadier. It, like yours, is Bavarian being a 4th Infantry Division staff piece and a year earlier from 1912 (DWM). Gotta love those slick backs.
Ron

Speaking of Bavarian unit marks, I have one on a regimental beer stein. Much to my consternation there is very little information about it that I have access to over the last few hours of searching, but from what I have gathered it belonged to a Captain Andreas Bechtler of the 11th Bavarian infantry regiment “von der Tann”. It was part of the 6th Bavarian division at war’s outbreak and served exclusively on the Western Front seeing almost every major battle. In early 1917 the 11th regiment was transferred into the 16th Bavarian infantry division and this is where the trails run cold from my limited source sets that I can find online.

Ron, that is also a really nice one. You have good taste in unit marks my friend. The early DWM are my favorite.