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388
LOT 436
Extremely Rare and Extraordinary Factory
Presentation Engraved and Platinum Plated Krieghoff
P.08 Luger Semi-Automatic Pistol with Relief Carved
Walnut Grips, Presentation Case and Two Matching
Magazines, Attributed as a Bringback from Staff
Sergeant Joseph C. Zachara - Serial no. 17303, 9 mm
Luger cal., 4 inch round bbl., platinum finish, relief carved
walnut grips. Rock Island Auction Company is honored
to have the privilege to offer this extraordinary factory
presentation engraved and platinum plated Krieghoff
P.08 Luger pistol. Manufactured in 1939 by Krieghoff in
Suhl, Germany, as one of only an estimated 10 factory
engraved presentation Krieghoff Luger pistols made, found
in the approximate 16000-18000 serial number range, per
page 200 of “The Krieghoff Parabellum” book by Randall
Gibson, with other factory engraved presentation grade
Krieghoff Lugers shown on pages 200-213, in which a
few have similar accompanying presentation cases. Serial
number 16999 has nearly identical oak leaf pattern factory
engraving to this example offered, and it is documented
as having belonged to the very well known Hermann
Goering: Supreme Commander of the Luftwaffe. Goering’s
presentation pistol along with serial numbers 16953,
17232, 17239, and this example number 17303, all have
nearly identical factory engraving and all have the identical
dated factory side plate inscription which reads “HEINRICH
KRIEGHOFF/WAFFENFABRIK/SUHL/15.8.39” for August 15,
1939, only a few weeks before the German invasion of
Poland which marked the beginning of World War II. This
grouping of factory presentation Krieghoffs, with the same
exact dated inscription to Goering’s documented example,
were certainly presented to high ranking individuals close
to Hermann Goering, possibly even some Luftwaffe aces.
The other noted examples have variations in their grips,
all of which being embellished to a high level. Krieghoff
manufactured P.08 Luger pistols for the Luftwaffe between
1935-1945, and on special occasion they made a small
amount of embellished Lugers, such as this one, as gifts for
high ranking party members. Another Krieghoff pistol with
serial number P305 is shown on page 199 of the book that
features nearly identical relief carved walnut grips to this
example offered, and that one was presented to Heinrich
Krieghoff himself, with a factory side plate inscription that
translates to “Anniversary Prize of the German Research
Institute For Small Arms in Pistol Shooting 1938”. A gold
plated factory engraved example is also pictured on page
209 of the book with serial number 16939 and it does
not have an inscription. Offered here is an extremely rare
and extraordinary masterfully engraved and platinum
plated factory presentation Krieghoff Luger P.08 pistol
with relief carved grips, undoubtedly the pinnacle of Luger
collecting. It is complete with two matching numbered
magazines and a presentation case. The pistol features
exquisite factory engraving with highly detailed large oak
leaf patterns on extremely fine punchdot backgrounds.
The engraving covers approximately 75% of the pistol
with the only major portion of the pistol not engraved
around the center section of the barrel. The walnut
grips are highly carved with deep relief, large oak leaf
patterns on the upper and lower portions surrounding
finely checkered oval center sections. The left side of the
barrel extension and underside of the barrel have single
“Crown/N” commercial proofs, and the right side of the
barrel extension has the five-pointed star indicating that it
was a rejected part, all of which tracks with other factory
presentation grade Krieghoff Lugers listed in the noted
reference book.