Belgium Contract ?

Anybody see Gunbroker.co. #3032582, "Rare Belgium Contract.." Appears to have Belgium Lion W/ scripted capital Liege L, on forward link and on bbl., as well as on the L reciever over take down lever. Also, just forward of the rec. proof is what appears to be a horizontal C, with a star to the left of the C. I could'nt find a reference to it in Kenyon, Datig, or Davis.

It states in one of my books, Walters I think that Liege did some finish work on some Dutch guns, from the put together guns from Vickers.


But then it should have a DWM toggle, if original?


But I wonder how many Lugers were fixed or repaired in Liege gun shops? Liege has many gun manufacturing facilities and is where Browning went to have his first pistols made.


Ed

Many countries require that any weapon reworked by their gunsmiths must go through the proof house and have their local proofs placed on the barrel and receiver. I don't know if this is the case, here, but it is certainly a possibility?


The 'contract' reference could be just a 'value enhancement' ploy?


My daddy always said, "Most folks are honest unless it involves 1-Money 2-Sex 3-Ego." [does not leave much, does it?]


In this case, it is a #1


The Shadow

[JP]

Letters intertwined,no dished toggles,what looks like a walnut bottom on magazine,jus maybe a transition piece,

or a present to some frauline double agent in Belgium

residence.Well never know, unless the Proof turns up.

[Thor]

Before long we will probably see a GJL intertwined script inscribed toggle of the "personal" Luger of Georg Luger. ~Thor~

[tom]

Gents,


take a hard look at that piece and consider a few things...


First of all, it has a stock lug. Prior to 1913, I don't think so.


Second, it appears to have both the Walther and Schiewey safties. Those went only on German police pistols didn't they?


Third, look closely at the "grain" of the metal and the DWM logo...sure does look like it has been buffed after the original machining/die stamping.


Fourth, think about the national insignia of Belgum-a lion. See any lions on the piece? Me neither.


And lastly, look at the Cal.9MM stamping on the barrel...kinda looks like it was added as an after thought..because it was.


The origin of this piece is known but not well known. Back in the early '50's when Sam Cummings was just starting out, he acquired a load-a couple thousand-Lugers from the Greek government via a Truman Doctrine three way military aid plan payback-remember, the Greeks were in a civil war then and we wanted to support the Anti-communist side, hence the aid and Cumming's involvement since he was recently out of the "new" C.I.A..


To move the guns in international commerce, they had to comply with the proof laws of the period. Guess who was doing contract proof work between Browning orders...you got it! Liege. This example is one of those guns. To the best of my knowledge, this is not documented in any of the standard Luger reference books as it is not a true variant but merely a secondary proof applied to a refurbished pistol, and there are LOTS of those around. My source of information is a former associate of Mr. Cummings.


Hope this helps


Tom