Old Model Swiss Commercial #513

[spacecoast]

I'm the proud new owner of an early Old Model Commercial Luger configured with the Swiss Cross and the serial number 513. This is a relieved frame gun, and in a separate thread I am going to compare/contrast it with my relieved frame Swiss Military Contract #555 and speculate whether #513 started out with an unrelieved frame, or was manufactured with a relieved frame. I think I have good reason to believe the latter, even though there are later unrelieved Swiss Commercials.

This beautiful Luger was purchased from a forum member (not sure if Dennis is an active member of this forum or just the other one). The small parts (toggle pins, front sight blade and grip screws) retain their fire blue finish that is very hard to photograph. The blued finish is so nice, even on the grip straps, that it would lead one to speculate that it may have been "arsenal refinished", but I'm not sure that happened with Commercial guns or not. The markings all look very sharp to me. The DWM stamped on the toggle is light, which is the same with #555 and is typical of the very early guns. In any event, I am very pleased. It came with an Old Model "flaming bomb" magazine that is coveted by some and is I believe proper for this gun, as opposed to the silver button magazines supplied with the military guns.

Some pictures...