Page 368 - 4093-BOOK1

366
LOT 415
Excellent Pre-World War II
German Luftwaffe Contract
“1937” Dated Krieghoff Luger
Semi-Automatic Pistol from the
Jan Still Luger Collection - Serial
no. 9603, 9 mm Luger cal., 4 inch round bbl., blue/straw finish, plastic grips.
Manufactured in 1937, this is one of approximately 2,500 Lugers made by Krieghoff
that year for the German Luftwaffe. These pistols fall within the 7300-10000 serial
number range and were
part of the first contract
for 10,000 pistols.
Serrated blade front
and notch rear sights,
“1937” chamber date, with
the front toggle bearing
the “H(anchor)K/KRIEGHOFF/ SUHL”
marking. Luftwaffe drooped wing
“eagle” and “eagle/2” proofed. Besides the unnumbered
Schmeisser patent Haenel magazine and correct unnumbered checkered brown plastic grips, there
are all matching visible serial numbers on the frame, barrel, toggles, breech block, rear toggle pin, side plate, safety, trigger,
takedown lever, firing pin and firing pin retainer. The lot is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from noted author Jan C.
Still’s family verifying it is from his personal collection.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 97% original blue finish and 80% original straw colors, with some light finish wear at the muzzle, some
minor leading high edge wear, and a few areas of minor surface freckling. Grips are also excellent with minimal handling evidence and
crisp checkering. The hold open functions intermittently, otherwise mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Jan Still Luger Collection.
Estimate: 6,000 - 9,000
LOT 416
Uniform Set for a Luftwaffe NCO Assault Gun Crewman with the
Hermann Goering Division - This uniform set is configured for a feldwebel
(sergeant) of the Luftwaffe assigned to an sturmgeschuetz (StuG, “assault
gun”) in the Hermann Goering Division, consisting of a tunic, trousers,
and two “overseas” pattern caps. The tunic is of the Heer “panzerjacke”
style (and was likely taken from Heer stocks and dyed/refitted to match
Luftwaffe regulations), with a pair of pink waffenfarbe trimmed feldgrau
shoulder boards, the embroidered Luftwaffe eagle on the right breast,
and a ribbon for the Iron Cross 2nd Class run through the left lapel button
hole. Note the absence of any Totenkopf/”Death’s Head” imagery; while Panzers
and StuGs worked in close cooperation, the distinction of the Totenkopf was
reserved for Panzer crews. The blue-on-white “HERMANN GORING” cuff title is
present on the right sleeve. Partial blue cloth lining is present on the interior,
with suspension hardware, mixed buttons, and no visible maker’s marks. The
trousers are unlined blue/gray wool, with gray colored snaps and mixed
buttons; one of the suspender buttons bears “H.J.-D.J.” markings, one of the
acronyms for the Hitler Youth, and while no documentation is available this
might be the result of a rushed field repair. Both caps are of the overseas
style, with dual buttons on the functional ear protectors, conjoined eagle/
cockade patches, and cloth lining, one in a purple tinted rayon marked
“0/0504/0015” and “56”, the other a gray herringbone twill with what
appears to be a 1944 date over a faded code number (which appears to end
in “/0041”) and “58”.
CONDITION: Good overall, showing wear and fading appropriate to age and use. The tunic shows mixed
color, with the areas beneath the lapel flaps and collar having been protected from the sun and the
elements. As mentioned, no documentation was included with this grouping, so the exact timeframe of the
dying of the tunic and the attachment of the ribbon and buttons is unknown.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection; Property of a Private Collection.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250