This is a very nice example of a scarce "Totenkopf" Death's Head Luger pistol with the standard 3-7/8 inch barrel. The pistols had long been associated with the early "SS" units but recent research suggests that they were more likely associated with the early "Flame-Thrower" units of WWI. This pistol has the date of 1916 over the chamber area with the very distinctive "Death's Head" with the Lazy "S" proof mark directly over that with the typical notch on the front edge of the receiver that is usually associated with an artillery Luger. The right side of the barrel extension is marked with three "Crown over Script" proofs and one Imperial Eagle proof, which has been over struck with a "Crown / N" commercial proof. The barrel is unnumbered and on the underside it has only the bore markings, also with a "crown / N" proof above that. The front toggle is marked "DWM" for Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken where it was manufactured, and the left side of the toggle and breechblock both have a small "crown / N" Commercial proof. It is a very early pistol being serial numbered "712" only with no letter prefix. It is correctly marked "GELADEN" and "GESICHERT" on the extractor and safety area respectively and it has checkered walnut grips with a rust blued metal finish, and straw color on the takedown lever, trigger and safety lever. The magazine is a wood bottom, nickel plate version that is stamped on the bottom 8716. This pistol is very similar in proofing to the one listed in Still's book Imperial Lugers on page 150.

Arsenal refurbished/reworked overall with approximately 60-70% of the much faded blue with wear on the edges and high spots, the side plate hump, the front edges of the frame rail and thinning on the grip straps. It still retains 20% of the straw color on the small parts. The grips are in good condition with honest even wear on both sides. It has matching numbers on the various parts except the magazine and breechblock which is a Erfurt produced part that has been renumbered the match the pistol. It appears that this was an early post WWI pistol that was sold on the commercial market. Still a very scarce pistol with the Totenkopf association.