Guntensperger 1906 Swiss

[wterrell]

(I am making this post on behalf of Don Beasley)

I have not posted for some time; however, after waiting three year I've just acquired this Model 1906 Swiss Luger serial no. 13392. It came with an extra magazine and the Swiss holster. I acquired it from the son of the Swiss officer who purchased it before he came to Canada about 1920. I have asked for more details about his father.

Here is the information I currently have: The original owner was Julian Joseph Guntensperger from the Eschenbach region of Switzerland. He graduated with a PhD from the University of Freiberg, and came to Quebec as the first academic Dean of the Science Faculty at Laval University. He died at age 93. His daughter in Quebec City is the family historian and her brother will ask her for biographical information and some pictures. I like to keep the history of the person with his Luger.: you may remember, like Robert Musgrave and his American Eagle Model 1900, which I still have.

I have created this thread for two reasons: the condition is about 90% with all numbers matching;and (the big question) how rare (if authentic) is the leather wrist lanyard? I did not see it in my reference books: Walter, Kenyon, Datig and Reese

On the insde of the holster flap there is a rectangle with a Swiss cross and capital letter K underneath.
On the back between the belt loops there is an oblong circle with what is probably the manufacturer's name: starts with an A and ends with an S (I cannot read the rest) with BERN under the name; below the circle are the larger numbers 09 (maybe the date of manufacture).

Any information from the brothers (or sisters) of LugerForum concerning the wrist lanyard, or other comments, would be appreciated.

Right side view



Left side view (Musgrave pistol beneath)



Holster & mags front view



Holster & mags back view

[Ron Wood]

The "wrist lanyard" is authentic and relatively scarce since they were a non-issue item added as a personal preference and not all Swiss Lugers had them applied. Many have worn out or have been removed by "collectors" who didn't realize they were legitimate. If you go to the Member Gallery and do a search on Swiss Family, you will see that my Cross in Shield example has a very similar lanyard.

Actually the lanyard serves a dual purpose. The longer version, such as yours, can be used as an aid in steadying the piece during firing. However, I believe the primary purpose was as a pull strap to aid in extracting the Luger from the form-fitting holster

[wterrell]

(I am making this post on behalf of Don Beasley)
(I have edited the previous post to include the pistol serial no. 13392)

Ron,

Is there a correct technical term for this lanyard?
Personally as my untutored hunch, I think the lanyard is useful in case one is riding one's horse, or is running etc., and drops the Luger; it will be retained. Also makes it harder for the enemy to grab and use against you. I think wrist lanyards on pistols and swords serve the same purpose.

What do you think?

don

[Ron Wood]

Is there a technical term for the lanyard? That is a good question. I don't know. If it is actually used to withdraw the gun from the holster it might be called something like "Entfernen Schnur", but that is just a WAG. Since it is primarily a Swiss device, perhaps one of our Swiss members could help us out here.

Your hunch is possible, however since some of the lanyards I have seen are far too small to fit over the wrist, I suspect that it probably serves the less glamorous function of a pull strap.

[Edward Tinker]

lugerholsterrepair (aka jerry) makes one that is "based" on the swiss model, and he specifically felt it was to pull the gun out of the holster.

When riding in an open army jeep, I found that the lanyard kept my 1911A1 from jumping out of the moving vehicle, an important thing when on duty...

Ed

[Pete Ebbink]

Hi Don,

What a beautiful Swiss luger rig with documented owner history. Congratulations ! <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

Your pistol's serial number of # 13392 places it in the 815 lugers made by DWM for the Swiss Ordnance in the year 1913.

The "09" stamp on your holster is the date made...1909.

I checked all of my Swiss luger reference books (both American, English, Swiss, Italian, and German authors)...unfortunately there is no ID for the Swiss Cross/K stamping. John Walter just states in his book, The Luger Book, it was an unidentified Swiss inspector's stamping for leather goods.

I have seen both shorter leather straps that are mere "pull straps" and they are usually sewn together so one cannot try to place over the hand...even if it were long enough. I have also seen the longer straps (as yours) that are not sewn together...and are probably both a pull strap and a wrist stap...dual use.

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

[wterrell]

(I am making this post on behalf of Don Beasley)

Pete,

Here are pics of the attachment of the lanyard.

<a href="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/Guntensperger/MAP0000e.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/Guntensperger/MAP0000e.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>
<a href="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/Guntensperger/MAP0000f.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/Guntensperger/MAP0000f.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

[wterrell]

(I am making this post on behalf of Don Beasley)

<a href="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/Guntensperger/MAP0000g.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/lugeralbums/Guntensperger/MAP0000g.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

[wterrell]

(I am making this post on behalf of Don Beasley)

First picture is of mark on back of holster.
Second picture is of mark inside flap.

[John Sabato]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by wes:
<strong>(I am making this post on behalf of Don Beasley)
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Wes, Is there some reason why Don is unable to post to the forum himself? Does he need some technical assistance? a reminder of his password? or is he just away from his computer? ... and thanks for posting the photos and the assist to Don...

[don beasley]

I can post messages, but images are beyond my technical ability; people have tried to help me, but I don't understand modern technology; besides, it gives me a chance to stay in touch with Wes. In 3 years I've made two contributions; if I were to make more I'd make the effort to learn. Meanwhile, Wes is very helpful.

[Guisan]

Interesting is that the rivet used to fit the lanyard here is the same as the type that is used to fit the leather strap to a Swiss bayonet scabbard.
It is not a common rivet anymore (the diameter and the black paint) and it took me long to find some of these for restoring old scabbards.
Most of the Luger lanyards were fitted by stitching.

Thanks,
Guisan.