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EXTREMELY RARE DWM 1906 ROYAL PORTUGUESE NAVY

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,250.00 USD Estimated At:6,500.00 - 8,500.00 USD
EXTREMELY RARE DWM 1906 ROYAL PORTUGUESE NAVY
LUGER SEMI-AUTO PISTOL ASSOCIATED WITH ANIBAL SOUSA DIAS & JOSE LUIS GOMES TEIXEIRA. Cal. 9mm Luger. S# 318. Bbl. 4" with fin shaped front sight and number 318; no other marks. Receiver has crown over anchor of King Manuel II, intertwined "MP" proof on left front plus S# on bottom via 3 in front of lug and 18 on lug. No import marks on the pistol. Very rare example from Portuguese late 1909 order for 1,000 pistols of which about 350 delivered under King Manuel II (this pistol) then approximately 300 delivered after the King's overthrow in 1910 having a slight change in the inscription over the chamber to be "R.P." over the anchor. This first batch is extremely rare with Arron Davis' reference book reporting only 6 known. Balance of info listed is a melding from Davis' plus Sturgess' "Borchardt & Luger" Volume II beginning on page 679. Number "18" on trigger, takedown lever, grip safety, sideplate, toggles, "CARREGADA" marked extractor and breech block. Checkered walnut grips with "+" on left; right marked "6" (or 9). Safe with lever in upward position exposing polished bottom area. Correctly strawed small parts plus appropriate internal areas are in the white. Consignor states this pistol issued to Anibal Sousa Dias in 1910 when received by the Portuguese Navy; Dias was 35 at the time with rank of 2nd Lieutenant. On April 3, 1937 he was promoted to Vice Admiral (rare 2 grade promotion). In 1911 Dias & other navy officers were assigned to leadership positions in the 1st Republic of Portugal. On April 30,1960 Dias was in Lisbon at the wedding of a granddaughter to 2nd Lieutenant Jose Louis Gomes Teixeira; Dias gave the groom this pistol as a wedding gift. Teixeira went on to have a highly successful Navy career which included high level commendation for bravery while leading navy infantry unit in Mozambique; promoted to Vice Admiral in 1987. Teixeira died in January 1992 and later that year his widow sold the pistol to a collector in Lisbon. From 1910 when Dias helped overthrow the Portuguese monarchy until 1992, the pistol was with one extended family. Consignor purchased this pistol from the Lisbon collector. MAGS: 2 correct nickel plated 8 rd. with wood base marked in script "Cal. 9m/m"; correct for some examples (most unmarked and all without proofs). Near excellent appearance of both. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: very good black flap holster w/ attached shoulder straps (brown) having black dual mag. pouch; flap mostly worn to brown plus all leather unmarked. Original appearing unmarked loading tool and brass cleaning rod with oiler handle. Navy Luger style holster including length of cleaning rod yet shorter for 4" barrel. Missing flap covering cleaning rod handle. Light wear on top of holster flap and numerous light scratches on back of holster. Original continuous loop lanyard cord in very nice condition. Luger pin punch for extractor removal. Copy of hand written Portuguese contract of 23 November 1909 for 350 Luger pistols with ammo and accessories (referenced in Sturgess' Volume II page 679) as copied from Navy Archives in Lisbon, Portugal. Numerous hand written historical time line notes from consignor along with various photos of Dias and Teixeira to include 1 of them together at the wedding. CONDITION: stellar example with components such as breech face indicating extremely minimal use. Close to near excellent finish throughout with the only flaw being faint scratches above takedown lever likely from someone having lack of strength or knowledge to release the lever. Extremely fine thinning on sideplate. Very good to excellent grips. Especially nice straw colors without staining. Bright polished muzzle and near excellent bore. A truly great Portuguese example. (22-5558/ZAL). CURIO. $6,500-8,500.