Description:
The extremely rare 7.65mm Luger you are looking at has never been removed from the box except for shooting the photos for this ad. As such, it has never been fired except for the rounds in the test target provided. [see photos]. It is mint condition. I purchased it many years ago with the extra 6 inch barrel and it has remained in my safe since. The 6 inch barrel comes with the purchase and has not been attached. The original box contains a cleaning rod, take down tool [marked Mauser], extra mag marked "Mauser", signed test target and owner's manual. It has the "American Eagle" motif on the chamber, "original Mauser" banner on the toggle, "Mauser Werke A.G. Oberndorf a.N." on the front grip, "made in Germany" on aft receiver, and several eagle over N proofs. The barrel top is marked ".30 Luger". On the left of the receiver and rail area, there is again the eagle over N proof, the Ulm "antler" inspection proof [interesting because not required on American imports of this Luger] and an undeciphered "HF" [one "expert" called it a date 1975 without substantiation]. Under the thumb safety lever is "GESICHERT" indicating that this Luger was not made for the American market. Of great interest is serial number beginning with "RG"
This Luger is not the early 1970 Swiss style [straight front grip] but the later 1975ish more popular classic German P08 design [curved front grip]. There seem to be several versions of the story why Mauser agreed to again produce the Luger. The short version of several is that Interarms entered into a contract with Mauser for the production and sale of Lugers in the late 60s with the first produced around 1970 in the Swiss style. Getting to the rarity of this example, around 1975, the Italian arms company Renato Gamba placed an order for 1000 Mauser Luger pistols in the classic P08 German style. The contract with Gamba required production of Luger pistols with specifications of cosmetic appearance requested by Gamba, one of which was the serial numbers beginning with the prefix "RG". The prefix of the Luger serial number herein for sale is RG and number 830 of the anticipated 1000. According to Ian Hogg, in his "Pistols of the World":
"Only a few hundred were made with the distinctive RG prefix numbers, but a substantial number were never delivered. These were deactivated for a Stuttgart dealer in 1976 and sold lacking both "RG" numbers and nitro proofs."
Other self appointed experts opine that less than 100 were delivered with the Renato Gamba requirements including the RG prefix numbers. Anyway you cut it the pistol you are looking at is extremely rare. Rare for several reasons beyond its mint condition. First, it does not have any of the Renato Gamba "stuff" [a chamber design with a big RG under it, a bunch of Renato Gamba text on the right side] but does have the RG serial number. According to all sources on this subject, this was not supposed to happen. For the American market, the safety was supposed to state "Loaded" not "Gesichert", there was no RG serial number prefix for the American market, there is no Ulm inspection proof [not required by U.S.] and if the Luger had the RG prefix it would follow that it would also have all of the other Gamba cosmetic stuff of the 100 or so delivered under the contract. All of these circumstance shows great rarity. For all of the above reasons, I have priced this beautiful Mauser Luger well above the average.
I offer a 3 month layaway plan. For 3 day inspection, firearm must remain with FFL and returned in same condition. Shipment to FFL only. Buyer to supply copy of driver license for i.d.
Condition:
New In Box
Brand:
MAUSER
Caliber:
7.65 mm Parabellum
Item #:
988174574
Stock No.:
830
Location:
CA
Trades Accepted: I do not take trades.
Shipping Notes: I ship USPS Priority
My FFL license is that of a C&R license.
