"DWM 1902 GEORG LUGER PRESENTATION LUGER CARBINE. SN 9106.c.. Cal. 30 Luger. Extraordinarily rare cased presentation carbine with 11-3/4" bbl with 3-position 100-300 meter rear sight marked "1", "2" & "3". Front toggle link has the DWM scroll with extremely rare gold inlaid stylized letter "B" over chamber (which is believed to stand for "Borchardt.. It has the rare "GL" (Georg Luger's initials) marking on rear of rear toggle link. This "GL" marking only appears on Luger pistols & carbines personally inspected and/or presented by Georg Luger. This carbine is in the correct 9000/C serial number range for presentation carbines. Fitted with full checkered walnut grips. The stock & forearm are highly figured, checkered walnut and are matching numbered to the carbine with deluxe checkering patterns & have correct sling swivels. Accompanied by its orig, apple green velvet lined, burgundy leather covered presentation case with gold plated latches, reinforcing corners & handle hardware. Top of case has a large, very decorative gold-plated plaque engraved with a large "B". Top of lid has multiple decorative border lines. Front of case has a mortised, gold-plated 2-pronged lock. Interior is French fitted for carbine, its matching numbered stock, three spare correct wood base magazines plus a fourth magazine in the pistol, an orig tin of vaseline, an orig small flat sided tin oiler, both encased in burgundy leather sleeves, a rare brass & steel carbine length cleaning rod/oiler, a pin punch & takedown tool. Rear edge of lower compartment has a hinged lid with ivory pull which conceals a compartment containing five, period, nickel-plated, dummy cartridges with "D.M./K" head stamp with a 5-pointed star on each side. There is also the orig gold-washed functioning key for the lock & the extremely rare, orig, burgundy leather sling with leather-covered buckle making this an absolutely complete & orig cased presentation Luger carbine, one of the few known in private hands in the world today. The orig Luger was a developmental offshoot of the successful Borchardt pistol and, according to some scholars, early on Georg Luger had a working and/or professional relationship with Hugo Borchardt while developing the Luger pistol. In well-known historical information, the Luger-Borchardt relationship eventually deteriorated and in the end they were essentially bitter enemies. Charles Kenyon, Luger scholar and author mentions this Borchardt Luger carbine in two of his articles in The Gun Report. One in the April 2002 issue and the other in the November 1998 issue.. In Mr. Kenyon’s article in the April 2002 issue he illustrates and discusses SN 9109C Presentation Carbine GL marked rear toggle, “H.S.M. March 15, 1903” in gold inlay over the chamber thought to have been presented to Hiram S. Maxim.” The SN of the purported Maxim gun is only three digits away from the Borchardt presentation Luger SN 9106C. It is a fact that Luger worked for DWM at the time of the presentation of this carbine and DWM evolved from the Ludwig Loewe firm which had employed Borchardt during the production of his famous pistol. It is most certain that either DWM or Georg Luger himself, made presentations of these special carbines to both Borchardt and Maxim. After all the toggle design in the successful Luger had been modified from Borchardt’s design. Borchardt’s toggle design had been taken from Hiram S. Maxim’s design for his famous machine gun which preceded the Borchardt pistol. DWM or Luger was therefore acknowledging, and in some way thanking both of these individuals, for their influence on this improved design utilized in this Luger pistol. This was an important piece in the famous Press Collection from which the consignor purchased it many years ago. At the time that Mr. Smith purchased the Borchardt Luger from the Press Collection it was represented as having come from the Borchardt family and Mr. Smith did a fair amount of research to affirm this fact. First, he contacted the original buyer of the Luger , Lee Engles, a well known East coast dealer at the time. Mr. Engles affirmed that that he had purchased it at a Rochester, NY gun show directly from a G.I who had been stationed in Berlin at the end of WWII. Mr. Smith later checked phone directories for Berlin and discovered that in the 1941 directory there were members of the Borchardt family in, and around, the Charlottenburg, a very wealthy region of Berlin. The G.I could have salvaged the carbine from a Borchardt family residence, or since all German citizens were required to turn in their arms it is very likely that the gun was turned in with other weapons and was salvaged at that time. This is one of the most significant presentation Lugers in the world, with exceptional orig condition. A signed affidavit, from MR. Smith, attesting to the above information is included, along with a copies of the Gun Report articles mentioned. PROVENANCE: Doug Smith Collection CONDITION: Extraordinarily fine, all numbered parts are matching & may be unfired. Overall retains 99%+ crisp orig factory blue & 98-99% strong orig factory straw colors. Grips are crisp with beautiful color & highly figured grain showing through, showing little or no wear. Stock & forearm are crisp & orig with only very minor handling & storage mars in surface, retaining virtually all of their orig factory finish. Horn buttplate has severe bug damage to about 50% of its surface. All accessories are in near mint condition. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. Case is extremely fine with minor scuffs & wear on edges with a few scratches on top, bottom & sides with some minor losses on left lower edge. Interior is crisp with one or two small faded spots, otherwise is a crisp green color. Handle shows wear & flaking. This is, without doubt, the single most significant presentation Luger extant. 4-36111 JR231 & BS (150,000-250,000)"
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