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This pistol was procured for the Ministry as a standard Commercial Police Model and has the sear safety over the side plate along with the “eagle/C” police proof on the right side of the barrel extension and the standard “crown/U” proof on the left side of the barrel extension. The chamber area is stamped 1939 for the year of manufacture with the standard Mauser Banner logo on the front toggle. The entire pistol has been meticulously engraved with traditional German oak leaf, acorn, and scroll engraving with a punch dot backgrounds for shading that covers 99% of the exposed surfaces of the pistol. The only noted area that is not engraved is the very upper portion of the rear grip strap. The engraving on this pistol was obviously performed
by a master engraver given the overall layout and meticulous attention
to detail. The side plate also has a small redition of the coat of arms of the von Papen family. The dark walnut grips have been hand carved in a large oak leaf and acorn pattern, and the left grip carries a small 1 1/2 X 2 1/2 inch gold inscription plate that reads: “Seiner Exzellenz/Herrn Botschafter Franz von Papen/in tiefster Verehrung/on 11ten November, 1940/uberreicht von Joachim von Ribbentrop/Aussenminister des Deutchen Reiches.” This translates to: “His Excellency/the Honorable Ambassador Franz von Papen/ in deepest dedication/on 11th November, 1940/given by Joachim von Ribbentrop/Foreign Minister of the German Reich.”
This Luger is accompanied by a copy of a letter dated 1986 from Dr. Rolf Gminder, a consultant to the Mauser-Werkes factory who had viewed the pistol, noting that it was fully engraved in a very high quality style probably executed in Suhl, Thuringia, and that the gun itself has been gold plated
in the old fashion done around the 1939/1940 using the heat process (Feuervergoldung). A letter signed by Egbert von Papen dated December, 1968 also confirms that the pistol was given to his “great uncle Franz von Papen by Joachim von Ribbentrop in appreciation for their long friendship.” The pistol is accompanied by a period leatherette presentation case with green felt interior that has individual compartments for a box of ammunition and the gold plated accessories: carved handle cleaning rod, takedown tool, punch, and two total magazines with wood bases numbered “00.” CONDITION: Exceptionally fine with 99% of the period gold plated finish showing some minor handling marks from the gun being carefully cycled over the years. The relief carved walnut grips are also in exceptionally fine condition. The case and noted accessories are all in very fine condition. Mechanically excellent. It is certainly a one-of-a-kind, historic, gold plated, German presentation Luger pistol given by the former German Chancellor and Vice Chancellor Joachim von Ribbentrop to influential
ambassador Franz von Papen.
Provenance: The Joe Marlin Hilliard Collection.
Estimate: 75,000 - 110,000