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LOT 1397
Highly Desirable Serial Number “01” Krausewerk Custom Made Model 1906
U.S. Trials .45 ACP Luger Semi-Automatic Pistol with Extra Magazine - Serial no. 01, 45
ACP cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., blue/straw finish, checkered walnut grips. This is serial number
“01” of only a handful of these wonderful custom Lugers professionally made around the late
1990s to early 2000s by Mike Krause of Krausewerk out of San Mateo, California as a faithful recreation
of the original “full size” DWM Model 1906 Luger test pistol chambered in .45 ACP with the distinctive flat bottom trigger guard shape.
Back in the 1904/05 time frame the U.S. Ordnance Dept. issued a draft requirement for a new .45 ACP handgun open to all competitors
who could submit test samples. The DWM factory is believed to have originally produced one prototype and two full size Lugers for the
1907 U.S. test trials. Supposedly, one of the original trials pistols was consumed in Army testing, and the other trial pistol actually survived and
is still held in private hands today (original Ordnance Department photograph shown on pg. 383 of “U.S. Military Automatic Pistols 1894-1920”).
This Krause pistol is marked with serial number “01” on the front of the frame and the “GL” monogram of Georg Luger on top of the rear toggle link,
with a dovetailed blade front sight, “V” notch rear sight, the 1906 pattern grip safety, main components finished in blue, niter blue finished springs and
toggle pins, straw finished remaining components, and checkered walnut grips. These Krause pistols were written up in the March 1998 issue of “Guns and
Ammo” in the article titled “Return of the .45 Luger” by Garry James. Includes an extra magazine.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 98% original blue finish and straw colors, with a safety drag line. Grips are also excellent with crisp checkering and minimal
handling evidence. Sear needs adjustment; otherwise, mechanically very good. Considering the “real”
one is extremely rare and valuable, this Krausewerk .45 ACP Luger is as good as it gets to add
to any advanced early pistol collection!
Estimate: 18,000 - 27,500
LOT 1398
Rare and Highly Desirable Serial Number
1 Krausewerk Reproduction Baby Luger
.32 ACP Semi-Automatic Pistol with Case
- Serial no. 1, 32 ACP cal., 3 inch round bbl.,
blue/straw finish, checkered walnut grips. This
is serial number “1” of only a small handful of these superb custom Lugers
professionally made around the late 1990s to early 2000s by Mike Krause
of Krausewerk out of San Mateo, California as a meticulously crafted faithful
recreation of the original scaled down “Baby” DWM Luger pistol chambered
in .32 ACP. Originally developed around 1925-1926 by DWM’s head engineer
Heinrich Hoffman, the Baby Luger was DWM’s attempt to revamp the Luger
pistol to compete with Colt, Fabrique Nationale and other firms in the pocket
gun market. A noble effort, but it did not pan out, and only two original
prototypes of DWM’s Baby Luger pistols are known to exist. One of those,
which came to America as a war trophy after the Second World War, served
as the base model for this very limited series of handmade reproductions
by Mike Krause. The overall profile and features show their lineage, with the
silhouette being unmistakably that of a Luger, though with a novel one-piece
sliding thumb safety in place of the traditional multi-piece lever, a slab-sided frame for
a more comfortable fit in the pocket, and a shortened toggle assembly that brings the
overall length down to 6 1/2 inches. Produced without maker’s marks, the front of the
frame bears serial number “1”, as well as various components marked with the matching
number “1”, with the proper straw and niter blue finishes on the small parts, a dovetailed
blade front sight, “V” notch rear sight, checkered walnut grips, and a nickel finished magazine with
unmarked walnut base. Includes a black leatherette case with green felt lined fitted interior containing a takedown tool, punch, combination cleaning rod/
oiler, and an extra magazine. Also includes a scanned copy of the article “Baby Boomer, Krausewerk Re-Creates the Littlest Luger” by Jeff John.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 99% original blue finish and straw colors. Grips are also excellent with crisp checkering and minimal handling evidence. Mechanically excellent. Case is excellent. Considering
the “real” one is unobtainable, this Krausewerk .32 ACP Baby Luger is as close as it gets!
Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000