Navy Shoulder Stock

[Dwight Gruber]

The Luger was involved from before its beginning with the idea of a shoulder stock. That they were supplied with Borchardt pistols is of course well known.

Perhaps less well known is that they were mentioned as accessories with Borchardt-Lugers in the Swiss tests of 1898 and Dutch tests of 1899. In 1901 special Commercial Lugers in the 10,000-15,000 serial# range were produced with stock lugs, and special pushbutton-attach stocks were provided with them (the foregoing Kenyon, "Lugers at Random": "The Gun Report" April 2001). The 1902 Carbine evolved the stock lug with the turning-cam lock iron we know today.

The first military Luger issued with a stock was the 1904 Navy, and it pioneered the inexpensive, flat-board detachable stock, with attaching leather holster, provided with thousands of Navy (P-04) and LP-08 Artillery Lugers.

The standard Navy stock is 25mm--almost an inch--shorter than the Artillery stock would eventually be, and is shaped slightly differently. The Artillery stock is left slightly thicker in the area of the stock iron, obviously a strengthened design.





The Navy stock is distinguished by a steel or brass disc inletted into its left surface. This is where most stocks bear their unit markings.

The directives ordering the Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial Navy) unit markings did not survive, although there is evidence they were issued in 1907. In 1909 an official at the Kiel armory issued an order that pistol frames were to receive unit markings, and shoulder stocks were to be unit marked on the inner surface. In 1910 the directive ordering the metal marking disc was issued, and stocks without these discs were to be retrofitted. (The foregoing from G�¶rtz & Bryans, "German Small Arms Markings".)

This stock is marked W.K.9750., Werft Keil (Keil Dockyard or Arsenal) weapon number 9750. Note that the right upright of the W has a malformed serif, which can be seen in other examples of this mark. In addition to having the stock disc, the stock itself is embossed with a Crown/M stamp--difficult to make out in this example.



The steel disc is also stamped with a very tiny Crown/M.



The stock iron on this stock has 0% blue and 0% straw, and is thus a perfect match for my hard-case 1917 Navy.





Navy shoulder stocks were serial-numbered to matching guns--close examination, under magnification, reveals that the serial# has been removed from this example. This is also a good demonstration that Lugers were, indeed, considerably hand-fitted. This stock is an extremely tight fit--a jam-fit--on this gun, and does not go on quite far enough to allow the lock to fully engage.

This stock is also a salutary reminder that one does not often make advances in this hobby without the aid and interest of fellow collectors. My friend Russ Withem found this stock for me, when I didn't even know I was looking for one!

--Dwight

[John Sabato]

Great posting and great photography Dwight! Thanks for sharing!

[Russ]

Nice write up Dwight

See you in Reno. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

Russ <img border="0" alt="[burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />

[Sieger]

Dwight:

A few weeks ago, there was a thread on the 1970s Mauser authorized stock repos. Ron Wood asked if they ever made one for the Navy Model Parabellum.

Well, after examining your fine photos, I can tell you that I have a Navy repo, with a Mauser certificate, that I bought for around $89.00 (including tax) from the Collector's Armory in Alexandra Va., around 1976 or so.

As I have a good memory (I actually frighten my clients at times) I actually remember the owner asking me whether I wanted a Navy stock or an Artillery stock.

My stock has the unit marking Disc and all, just like the original in your photo above.

Thanks for the post!!!

Sieger

[Thor]

Does anyone make a nice reproduction of this shorter Navy Stock (shorter in reference to an Artillery Stock)

[lugerholsterrepair]

Ted, If they have I have not been able to find them. There are some really poor ones out there however...Beware!

Mauser made the best one on the 70's. Really nice. Jerry Burney