Daniel Murphy

Backstrap showing the grip safety and the rear toggle serial. It is not unit marked.

Top view, notice the adjustable 100/200 meter sight.

The magazine has has been renumbered to match at the arsenel. This was done by milling off the original non-matching number and restamping a number to match. When this was done they removed the Crown/M proof mark.

These early Lugers are serial numbered in the commercial style, which means the serial numbers are mostly hidden on the small parts. Not like the later military style.

The serial number without a letter suffix. It is all matching.

Close up of the proof and acceptance marks.

The other side.

Now to the meat of the subject.

Under the flap are the makers marks and the year of issue.

On the back are belt loops instead of a holder for the stock and shoulder strap. It is in rather rough shape but it has protected the gun very well.

Since things are slow, I decided to post my nice condition 1st issue (altered) Navy luger. This gun was made circa 1907. I will discuss why it is altered later. I have had it for a few years and it is one of my prized possesions. Here it is in it's 1914 pattern holster. Instead of a slot and stud fastener, the 1914 pattern has a strap and buckle to secure the flap. Dan Murphy

Kevin, I agree it is a copy. It is just hard to say from when. If it were made in the 20's-30's by a jeweler that originally made them, I would think the detail would be a little better and the dimensions would be the same. It is still possible to be from that period, but it could be from much later. Dan Murphy

It was purely a fashion statement. At one time it was fashionable to do this to have something just a little more special than the next man. Kind of like a convex or screwback EK1, or an obscenely high spike on your pickelhaube. It told everyone that you demanded the best AND could afford it. Dan Murphy

Four German soldiers (someone had to take the photo) kindly offer a Belgian farmer to take care of his geese. The farmer does not trust them at first so he watches them. Every day they come and feed them, fattening them up and slowly becoming friends with the farmer and his dog. Then the geese start dissapearing one at a time. Who could it be?, says the farmer, not those kind German soldiers that have taken such good care of them and reported them missing. It must be someone else. That night, after another goose has turned up missing, those kind German soldiers go back to their barn and ask each other....... "Who want's a leg?" Dan Murphy

The engraving is not, it looks stamped to me. Then you have the fake tarnish in the "engraving", the silver marks (with a crown) on a plate in an odd spot etc. Wouldn't fool an experienced collector, but might snare to new one.

Another fake flight badge that might be worth the start price of $2.99. Note the casting pock marks and poor cut outs in the crown. Dan Murphy http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewIt...em=300000995824

Ok, you asked for it. Don't say we didn't warn you. Dan Murphy

Chris, Mine is originally battleship gray with red primer underneath on the thin sheet metal inserts on the side. A common thing to do with these is repaint them and to replace the cloth covered horsegair pads. I have had numerous people tell me I should redo mine. Never gonna happen. To me it is like reblueing a gun, you destroy the value. Gray, various shades of olive and field grey are acceptable original colors. As long as the paint looks old and shows a good bit of wear, it may be original. If the paint is near perfect, it has been repainted. These things saw a lot of use under horrible conditions. One practice of the gunners was to leave the sled mount in place during a bombardment, so that once it stopped they could come out of cover, mount the gun and open fire on attacking infantry ASAP. Mine shows several schrapnel/ shell splinter hits. I saw one at the Hill 60 museum that was cut in half by shell fire. Here is another photo of my pride and joy at a recent living history event (where we won first prize by the way)which shows the condition of the paint on the sled. Dan Murphy

Robert, Gee, you think? That is, without doubt, the best conditioned WW1 Officers leather belt I have ever seen. From any German state. It looks like it has never been worn. It is most likely for the Leib Regiment or Pioneers due to the color of the buckle. Most are painted green or brown. Do me and you a favor and put some light oil on where the light rust is starting to form, on the rear of one of the keepers and the front on the wreath. Is that a matt silver finish or zinc? Dan Murphy

I have a tendency to agree with what Andreas posts on his site, decide on a theme and buy the best you can afford, the common items can always be gotten later. However you have to do your research first and don't hesitate to post potential purchases here on the forum and get our opinion. We can help you avoid potential pitfalls before they happen because all of us have been where you are now. Back in the old days before there were the great reference books we now have and the internet, we had to pay our money and take our chances. Often we got cheated, but that was part of the learning process. That is not neccesary now, because since you have joined this forum, you can benefit from the many years of experience of our members. Don't hesitate to ask questions of us, because that is what the forum is about, being able to help one another. Dan Murphy

I think he is stealing pictures from all over. He has a Knight 1st class with swords at the top and other photos of a knight second class w/s which is what he is supposed to be selling. The piece might be real but, the main reasons I would not buy from him are..... Then we have this little item. And Dan Murphy

Beautiful pieces gentlemen. I have seen a few of these for sale recently, but they were in the EK1 retail price range. Dan Murphy

Joe, Great group. Since you know where it came from, I have no problem accepting it as a group. As you know there are many reasons for the for the mixture of bravery awards and a HK sans swords. Wounded and sat out the rest of the war in a non-combattant unit, for example. Dan Murphy

For the few I have seen for sale a complete helmet sells for in the $3000 range and a shell for about $1000. Dan Murphy

Chris, Probably Bulgarian used from WW1 into the 30's. Dan Murphy