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LOT 1329
Historic Douglas Vickers
Attributed Presentation
DWM Model 1902 Luger
Semi-Automatic Carbine
with “DV” Monogram,
Matching Shoulder Stock, Field Case and Vickers-Armstrong Collection Tag - Serial no. 21710, 7.65 mm Luger Auto cal., 12 inch round bbl., blue finish, checkered walnut stock, checkered walnut grips. This historic DWM Model 1902 Luger carbine was reportedly presented to Douglas Vickers by the DWM company and features a fancy gold “DV” monogram on top of the chamber. Douglas Vickers (July 24th, 1861-November 23rd, 1937) was a prominent English industrialist and politician, and his family owned the large Sheffield engineering conglomerate Vickers, Sons & Co. Ltd (later Vickers Ltd. and then Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd.) known for manufacturing a wide variety of items large and small, including Luger pistols made on license that were sold on Dutch contract, and a large number of Maxim machine guns sold all over the world. Douglas Vickers became director of the family business in 1897, Master Cutler of Sheffield in 1908, and held office as a member of parliament for Sheffield Hallam between 1918-1922. This DWM Luger carbine with its gold “DV” monogram was likely presented to Douglas Vickers by the DWM firm as a way to gain his interest in the Luger platform, which seems to have worked and led to the Vickers firm manufacturing a quantity of Lugers on contract with the Dutch. The Luger Carbine was intended as a substitute for the light hunting rifles then available on the market, being highly compact when disassembled and light and easy to maneuver when together, and many were
exported to the United States during the time of production. Ramp blade front and 300-meter sliding notch rear sights with gold filled graduations, with
the “DWM” monogram on the toggle, “crown” proofs on various parts, and matching numbers visible on various components as well as inside of both grip panels and the forearm. Import marking on the underside of the barrel hidden by the forearm. Fitted with a checkered Schnabel tip forearm with integral booster spring, a pair of checkered grips, plated tin magazine with blank wood base, and a detachable shoulder stock (matching numbered
“710” on the iron) with a checkered wrist and a serrated horn buttplate. Also included is an old “Vickers-Armstrongs Limited” headlined collection tag with faint handwriting on it, a brown leather field case with padded pockets for the pistol and stock, an included cleaning rod, and a pocket on the outside for magazines (no extra magazines included).
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 97% plus original blue finish, 90% plus
original straw color on the small components, 60% plus original niter blue
finish on the grip screws, and all of the gold finish in the “DV” monogram.
All of the visible numbers match (including the attaching iron as noted
above). The grips are also excellent with sharp checkering, minimal handling
marks, and an attractive wood grain showing throughout. The stock is also
excellent with only light handling and storage marks on the sides and 90%
plus of the original blue finish on the attaching iron itself. The holster is fine
with light flaking, some age related cracking, and remains sound. Mechanically excellent. This excellent DWM Model 1902 carbine, tied to the prominent figure Douglas Vickers, with its matching numbered shoulder stock would make a fine addition to any advanced Luger collection!
Provenance: The Vickers-Armstrong Collection.
298 Estimate: 40,000 - 60,000