A navy with history! Imperial, Weimar, and Third Reich

[DonVoigt]

I received yesterday, this new to me, Navy luger. It came to the US via Canada, and according to the Canadian owner was brought back by a WWII Canadian vet. Like all stories, just for reference, really has not much to do with anything so believe it or not.

This pistol started out as at least three different Imperial Navy pistols: a 1906 first type, a 1906 2nd issue, and a 1916 dated 1914 type; all subject to validation by the experts here of course.

I believe the complete upper came from 1906 first issue number 747a, whose barrel was shortened to 4" and the front sight from the 1916 pistol added. At some point the original number 747, which is found on the barrel and the bottom of the receiver, was over stamped with a new number in larger font- 4150. One can see how the front sight was removed and then replaced in one of the pictures below.

The frame is numbered "10", which is a new number and not consistent with a 1906 second issue; but the frame has the grip safety provision and factory stamped "Gesichert" in the upper position of the 2nd issue. Perhaps a spare frame? or just that well scrubbed and numbered 10? I can see no signs of previous numbers nor of shortening.

Small parts like the take down lever, side plate, middle toggle, and Erfurt proofed rear toggle are numbered 10. The breech block and the trigger have no numbers or acceptance/proofing at all.

The various pieces met their first session with modification in about 1920, when they were assembled into a 4" piece compliant with the 1920 rules and marked with the 1920 property stamp. "1920" is hand stamped both on the chamber top and left front side rail.

The pistol then served the Weimar Navy for some years, and in approximately 1935/6 received the N over 1159 engraving on the rear strap. N/1159 is a marking of the resurgent Kreigsmarine and numbers in close sequence are found on G date Mausers with similar Navy numbers, thus the 1935 or '36 estimate of marking.

The grips were replaced at least once, maybe twice. The left grip is an unmarked replacement, as the original grip would be cut out for the grip safety which was removed. The right grip is a later replacement, from about 1941 as it has an e/135 inspection marking.

The magazine present is a scrubbed Mauser magazine from a later Navy pistol, dating to about 1937/8 with N 2318 stamped over a 145/m/se 63 original marking. N 2388 is found on a 1937 dated Mauser Navy.

References to these modified navies can be found in Still's Weimar and Early Nazi volume, the Mauser Parabellum, and Goertz and Sturgess three volume set. In fact a very similar 4" Navy with serial 21 is found in Sturgess p-381 Volume 1 green set.

So here we have pictures of an interesting Navy pistol with service to three "Germanies", Imperial, Weimar, Third Reich.

Comments, corrections, observations are welcome!

Additional pictures are in post #2.

PS- If anyone needs the N2318 magazine(blue body, al base); and has an N with a lower # to trade, I would be open to trade.
A N1159 or N91 would be ideal, but others lower than 2318 ok.