This is an example of a scarce 1938 dated Luftwaffe Contract Luger as manufactured by the Heinrich Krieghoff company. This series of Luger were manufactured to complete the original 1937 Luftwaffe contract for pistols that had failed their proof firing/acceptance testing. These pistols fall into the general accepted serial number range of 9500-10100 with an estimated production of approximately 50 pistols. The chamber area is dated "1938," and it has the early C-2 die stamp on the front toggle. The left side of the barrel extension has the "double Eagle/2" Luftwaffe proof with the late Luftwaffe "2" test/acceptance proof, in between. The underside of the barrel is marked with the "883/LWaA" 1st-Stage II early Luftwaffe "Eagle/2 proof" over the smaller serial number "10042." The left side of the breechblock is also stamped with the "LWaA 1st-Stage II early Luftwaffe Eagle/2" proof while the underside of the front toggle has the "LWaA 1st-Stage II" mid-proof. The full serial number "10042" is stamped on the front of the frame, underside of the barrel and left of the barrel extension, and the last two digits of the serial number "12" is stamped on the various smaller parts. It is correctly fitted with the early checkered brown plastic grips that have only the mold marks on the back sides of each grip. This scarce example is discussed in the excellent book "The Krieghoff Parabellum" by Randall Gibson. It is complete with one nickel plated Schmeisser marked magazine with an unmarked aluminum base that has a single "Eagle/2" proof. The pistol has the distinctive Krieghoff blue finish with the barrel extension having a purplish tint similar to that as seen on Mauser Lugers, with straw colored small parts.

Very fine as partially refinished (cold blue on muzzle and bottom of front strap) with balance of pistol retaining 90% of the blue finish with wear on the edges and high spots overall with thinning on the top of the barrel extension with blue loss in front of the side plate. The smaller parts retain 50% of their straw colors overall. The grips are in very fine condition with nice distinct checkering on the sides of the grips. This is a very fine example of a scarce 1938 dated Luftwaffe contract Krieghoff Luger pistol.