Description
The DWM 1905 Dutch Trials Luger is one of those rare firearms that carries the weight of history in its steel. More than just a beautifully engineered pistol, it’s a tangible artifact from an era of experimentation and innovation that helped shape the modern semi-automatic sidearm.
This example showcases several early and transitional features that make it stand out, an unmarked center toggle link, blank chamber, dished toggles with latch, and a Crown D proof on the receiver’s left side. It’s also fitted with a grip safety, unmarked thumb safety polished bright in the “safe” position, and a wide trigger guard paired with a narrow trigger, all hallmarks of the early DWM design evolution.
Nearly all parts remain matching, save for the left grip panel, which bears the number “72.” The grips themselves show honest age, lightly hand-worn checkering, scattered small marks, and a patina that feels lived-in rather than neglected.
Provenance takes this piece to another level. This very Luger appears across several pages of “The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols” by Joachim Görtz and Dr. Geoffrey Sturgess, the definitive reference on the subject. Its inclusion verifies not just authenticity, but significance — and, fittingly, it once belonged to Dr. Sturgess’s own personal collection.
With its Simpson import mark discreetly tucked in the magwell and an early-production configuration built from a shortened frame, this pistol represents a fascinating link between prototypes and production.
A true collector’s piece, historically documented, visually distinctive, and deeply tied to one of the most respected names in Luger scholarship.
