Case in point. I was reading the James D. Julia "Outstanding Fall Firearms Auction" catalog (registration required), when I came across this outstanding example of craftsmanship and world history.
Rare and Important DWM Hitler Guard "Night Pistol" Luger With Flashlight Attachment & Holster
I am not a big fan of Lugers, no particular reason for that, they just never really interested me. Same thing with Nazi paraphernalia. I find it somewhat interesting, but nothing I would spend money on. But this Luger, this is something special.
Accompanied by a unique & very unusual, precisely machined, anodized brass flashlight made to slip over the end of the bbl with about 3/4" ears that fit over each side of receiver & rest on receiver rails. This flashlight has its lens directly below and aligned with the axis of the bore with battery pack in a rectangular base at rear with a clip attachment for a wire to plug into a brass socket that is connected to a brass plate at top front of right grip. There is another brass plate riveted in place at bottom of right grip, all of which are connected with brass plates fitted into milled recesses inside grip so that when a person grips the pistol the skin conductivity makes a connection & illuminates the flashlight. It is believed that the flashlight & battery pack were carried separate from the pistol, probably in its own leather pouch. In Peter Hoffman's book Hitler's Personal Security he mentions the existence of these 30 cal night pistols with tracer ammunition & flashlight used by an RSD officer in constant patrol around the Fuehrer's bunker. Consignor states that the only other known of these rare flashlight pistols is on display in a military museum in Germany.
That is just plain neat. Click the images for larger versions. There are more images and details in the auction catalog.
2 comments:
I've always found Lugers fascinating, although I haven't had the opportunity to own one yet. They have that neat, knuckle-like jointed action that doesn't seem like it would work at all, much less as well as it apparently does.
Of course, I like any combination of the successful and weird: Nagant gas-check revolvers & Webley-Fosberry "automatic revolvers"? Hell yeah. (Gyro-Jet pistols? Not so much)
Too bad it has that Hitler funk. Clever design otherwise. I like Lugers as they shoot nice and somehow have a very natural point of aim.
Post a Comment