^Lot 1447 RARE FINNISH M/23 LUGER SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL.

Cal. 30 Luger. S# 6740e. Bbl. 3 15/16". As the result of praise from Finnish volunteers that served in the German army during WWI and dissatisfaction found with the domestically designed Ahlberg pistol, the Finnish Ministry of Defense approached DWM to purchase a number of P.08 Luger pistols. Due to the Treaty of Versailles, DWM could only supply Finland with 7.65x21mm Lugers (1920 Commercial Lugers), ultimately leading to the Finnish army acquiring approx. 8,000 of said Lugers, designated as the "M/23", with a small number of Lugers being converted to 9x19mm and being designated as the "M/08". This example, an M/23 Luger is marked with 3 partially visible Imperial German DWM arsenal proofs on the right side of the bbl. extension. Toggle is marked with the intertwined "DWM" monogram. Rear grip strap is marked with a "PRI GARDEN CITY KS/ DWM P08 30 LUGER GERMANY" import mark around the stock lug. The bbl. is a Finnish replacement, marked with the VKT logo towards the breech. Major metal components exhibit a rust blue finish overall, with some small parts exhibiting a straw finish. Frame is mounted with 2-piece checkered wood grips. Lahti pattern dovetailed blade front sight with rear sight modified to a U-notch configuration. Nearly all serialized parts are matching and include the frame, trigger, safety lever & bar, hold-open latch, bbl. extension, trigger bar, breechblock, extractor, firing pin, toggles, as well as the grips. Sideplate is mismatched. Takedown lever is unnumbered. MAGS: 1 non-matching 8-rd. mag. numbered "2637" in large numerals on the wood plug and spine. CONDITION: metal components retain the vast majority of their apparent Finnish arsenal reapplied blue finish, exhibiting some light to mild edge wear, some superficial handling marks, as well as some scattered spots of light surface oxidation and pitting overall. Strawed parts retain fair to good amounts of their original finish, showing areas of wear fading to gray patina. Mirror bore, retaining well defined rifling throughout. Proper manual mechanics. Grips show smoothing and some superficial handling marks, but otherwise remain sound. (25-6054/MLW). CURIO. $1,000-1,500.