2226

MAGNIFICENT PRE-PRODUCTION LUGER CARBINE SN: 77

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:20,000.00 USD Estimated At:40,000.00 - 60,000.00 USD
MAGNIFICENT PRE-PRODUCTION LUGER CARBINE SN: 77
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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2026 Aug 06 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
PRESENTED TO PUBLISHING MAGNATE ORMOND G. SMITH WHEN PRESIDENT OF SMITH & STREET INC. WITH EARLIEST FEATURES AND EXHAUSTIVE DOCUMENTATION. Cal. 30 Luger. S# 77. Phenomenal and fully matching pre-production transitional Luger Carbine, with the highest serial number of the two-digit serial number carbines. This example with many early and highly desirable features including a "1", "3" and "5" graduated ski slope rear sight, matching push-button shoulder stock, and factory fitted case with accessories. As per the later production carbines it has an 11 7/8" barrel with ramped front sight base and drift adjustable bead profile sight. The chamber has a gold inlaid "OS" monogram reflecting purchase by Orman G. Smith, president of Smith & Street, Inc., a New York publishing firm of novels and magazines. Narrow trigger, safety lever with the short checkered head, sliding ski slope rear sight, narrow grip safety, and early form shoulder stock lug (no transverse channel) with recesses on each side for the push button sliding arm securement. Fully factory matching with SN 77, the serial number marked under the barrel near shank, on the barrel extension lug, back of the frame as per the M1899/1900 pistols, under the takedown lever and sideplate, all usual components of the toggle train, grip safety, and each of the walnut checkered grip panels. Checkered Schnabel forearm with rotating sling swivel, portion of SN arguably within frame extension recess, clearly marked on upper surface of the crosspiece/locking wedge. Checkered walnut grip, complementary sling swivel, and buttplate with widow peak and serrated face. Exceptionally well documented in the book "The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols" by Görtz and Sturgess, Volume 1, pages 242 (full page of photos and copious caption) with additional commentary and close-ups on page 248, where the transitional "knife-edge" rear frame recess is compared to other presentation carbines including "9103C" and "55C". Although many of these guns were marked with the GL monogram on the rear toggle, there was no such marking on this pistol, Sturgess' commentary suggesting that "possibly the two digit serial number range was used for customer purchased carbines, the 91xxC range being reserved for guns given by the factory or Georg Luger personally". MAGS: x1 correct 8-rd. mag. with tinned body and unmarked walnut plug. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Factory presentation case bound in black leather and lined in green baize, lid with nickeled plate engraved "Ormond Smith / Sept. 1902", separately compartmentalized for pistol, stock and various accessories to include a 17.25" brass cleaning rod with oiler handle / jag tip, and a shoulder strap with nickel-plated fittings. Push button stock with single screw lug, the push button with checkered head extending from the left side, the serial number marked transversely on the lower arm of the lug. CONDITION: phenomenal 99% rust blue, with discrete touch-up to include the bead front sight that is now rust blued and very fine micro pitting under the blue in the stock lug recess. Sharp edges, crisp numeration, and comparable condition strawed parts. Forend and grips with slight oil darkening, mostly the grips, with lightly blunted checkering, no cracks or significant losses. Excellent magazine with crisp plug. Shoulder stock in the same impeccable condition. Bright bore with sharp rifling. Correct manual mechanics. Near excellent case with leather loss/touch-up at edges, green baise with expected depressions and light staining, the brass cleaning rod with aged toning, the shoulder strap near excellent with handling use/cracking where flexed. An extraordinary pistol by any metric, well documented in the encyclopedic Luger text by Görtz and Sturgess. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of John Eckert. (26-2216/LMA). CURIO. $40,000-60,000.