^Lot 1448 RARE FINNISH M/23 LUGER SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL.

Cal. 30 Luger. S# 7668p. Bbl. 3 13/16". 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". The left side of the bbl. extension is marked with a vertical Crown/N commercial nitro proof (repeated on underside of bbl.). Toggle is marked with the intertwined "DWM" monogram. Rear grip strap is marked with a "PRI GARDEN CITY KS/ P08 30 LUGER GERMANY" import marked around the stock lug. Metal components exhibit a Finnish arsenal reapplied blue finish overall, save for on the bbl., which appears to retain its original blue finish. Takedown lever, trigger, safety lever, and ejector have been cleaned and polished in-the-white. Frame is mounted with 2-piece checkered wood grips. Dovetailed Lahti pattern blade front sight (installed backwards) with fixed notch rear sight reworked to wide "U" configuration. Nearly all serialized parts are matching and include the frame, takedown lever, sideplate, trigger, bbl., and rear toggle link. Sideplate is mismatched via "66". Remaining components are unnumbered. MAGS: 1 blued 8-rd. with black synthetic plug, lightly etched "7668" on the spine. CONDITION: metal components retain the vast majority of their Finnish arsenal reapplied blue finish, showing some light to mild edge wear, some superficial handling marks, as well as some spots of light surface oxidation and pitting. Bbl. exhibits areas of light to mild wear and thinning that are fading to gray patina. Frame exhibits a dent below the left grip panel, running along the mag. well channel that does not effect functionality. Mirror bore, exhibiting some light pitting towards the muzzle, while retaining well defined rifling throughout. Proper manual mechanics. Grips show mild smoothing, but otherwise remain sound. (25-6058/MLW). CURIO. $800-1,400.