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LOT 3349
Scarce and Excellent
Commercial Mauser “Banner” Marked 1936 Dated Luger
Semi-Automatic Pistol with Two Matching Magazines and a Police Holster - Serial no. 4264V, 9 mm cal., 4 inch round bbl., blue finish,
walnut grips. Manufactured during Mauser’s quiet
ramp-up of military contract sidearms, this Luger is marked and proofed for commercial sale, though
sharing the same “1936” date and “military pattern” serial numbering as the military pistols; while not itself
a military gun, these shared markings would have given Mauser some plausible deniability if anyone had come
around the factory asking questions. Fixed sights, with the “1936” date on the chamber and the Mauser “banner” logo on the front toggle link, and commercial “crown/crown/U” proofs on the left side of the chamber and the breechblock.
No proofmarks are present on the barrel, and no military or police pattern proofs are present overall. As previously noted, numbering is in the military pattern, with the safety, hold-open and firing pin left blank and the other parts matching,
including the grips and both of the included nickel finished alloy base magazines (neither has a “+” spare magazine marking, and numbers are double stamped). Includes a brown leather flap holster marked with a small “police eagle” and “H.EGER & LINDE/ SCHMALKALDEN/1937” between the belt loops.
CONDITION: Excellent, with 97% of the original blue finish, showing bright wear on the high edges and sides of the muzzle,
some light handling marks around the takedown lever and safety, and minor spotting on the gripstraps. 90% original straw
colors are present on the small parts, with vivid niter blue on the pins and screws. The grips are very fine, with mild dings and
scuffs concentrated on the right panel. The exceptionally fine holster shows minor scuffing and verdigris overall, with a solid
hinge and tight stitching. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 4,500 - 7,500
LOT 3350
World War II Mauser “42/byf” P.08 Luger Semi-Automatic Pistol with “Eagle’s Nest” Attribution - Serial no. 152e, 9 mm cal., 4 inch round bbl., blue finish, checkered walnut grips. Fixed sights, with “42” date on the chamber and “byf” manufacturer code on the
toggle. The barrel extension is marked with a pair of “eagle/135” proofs and an “eagle/swastika” proof,
which is repeated on the barrel and breechblock. Excluding the unnumbered “fxo” magazines and grips,
numbers are matching overall. Per a notarized statement from the consignor (included), they acquired this pistol in 1972 from a real estate agent who
identified himself as a former member of the U.S. 10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army, whom they met in a Sears in Colorado Springs. Per the sellers narrative,
he was among the men assigned to the Berchtesgaden region of the Bavarian Alps, vacation town for the Nazi elite, unofficial second capital of the 3rd Reich, and feared “National Redoubt”, at the close of the war. During a search of the “Hehlsteinhaus” (aka
the Eagle’s Nest, a mountaintop reception hall used for prominent state events and VIP visits), a member of the unit spotteded an out-of-place door in an elevator shaft between
floors, and broke it open to reveal a cache of small arms, chiefly pistols and SMGs; the presumption was that it was meant for the use of the Waffen-SS troopers assigned to the building.
The consignor purchased two Lugers claimed to be from this arms room, one of which was sold c. 2014
and the other in this lot. The statement does not include the name or regiment of the seller, and while the 10th was
active in the Italian Alps, Austria and Slovenia around and after the end of the war in Europe prior to their return to the
U.S. in July 1945 (originally to be sent to the Pacific, but cancelled due to the end of the war), the unit history does not
explicitly note a stay in Berchtesgaden.
CONDITION: Excellent, 98% plus original blue finish with some extremely minor muzzle edge wear, and minor handling marks. The grips are also excellent, with some minor storage dings. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
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U.S. TROOPS AT THE EAGLE'S NEST