This is a rare documented U-Boat Commander's 1938 dated (S/42 code) Mauser Nazi Navy contract Luger pistol which belonged to Oberleutnant Claus Hilgendorf of U-1009. This is truly a rare find because most of the captured Nazi weapons during the war simply lost their history for obvious reasons while this Luger has a written letter from Oberleutnant-zur-see Claus Hilgendorf which list the serial numbers of the three Luger pistols that he used on his submarine including this specific Luger, "Nr 405". At the end of WWII, Admiral Donitz ordered all German Navy submarines to surface and surrender to the nearest Allied ship or port. As part of that surrender, they were ordered to fly a "black flag" from the conning tower to signal they were surrendering. The U-1009 was surrendered to the British ship H.M.S. Byron, commanded by Cdr J.B. Burfield sometime around the beginning of May 1945 off the Cape of Wrath, Scotland. After his surrender, Oberleutnan Hilgendorf was ordered to sail U-1009 to Loch Eriboll, Scotland, where it was officially surrendered on 10 May 1945. Unfortunately, the U-1009 was sunk by allied gunfire in early 1946 as part of the efforts to completely destroy the German Navy which ended the scourge of the Gray-Wolves of WWII. In 1989, Cdr. Burfield sold his Luger to R. A. Pearson of Cobham, Surrey, England. Mr. Pearson was able to locate Oberleutnant-zur-see Claus Hilgendorf through the "Stiftung Traditionsarchiv Unterseeboote" (the Foundation of Traditional Submarine Archives) located in Cuxhaven-Altenbruch, Germany, NE of Hamburg. They were able to contact Oberleutnant Hilgendorf, who wrote to Pearson and confirmed the serial number of this Luger as being one of his personal pistols on U-1009. The documentation included with this lot contains letters from that organization, Cdr. Pearson and also Oberleutnant Hilgendorf. The Nr. 405, as noted, is listed in the correspondence and is Navy marked on the back strap: "N/2603" indicating North Sea issue. The chamber area is dated "1938", and the "S/42" code marking is on the front toggle along with the standard Mauser factory wartime proof and acceptance marks. It has all matching numbers except the two magazines that accompany this Luger; however, both are correctly Navy marked. It has checkered walnut grips with the right side stamped "05", and the left only stamped with a single "0" at the top. The safety and extractor are correctly marked "GESICHERT" and "GELADEN" respectively. The aluminum bases of the magazines are stamped "N 2688X1387n/+/Eagle/63" and "N2691x/9548l/+/Eagle 63". This Luger also comes with an original 1937 dated Navy proofed Luger holster stamped on the back with an unreadable maker's name. These early Navy issue Lugers are scarce as the Navy just did not require nearly as many as the German Army, and it is estimated that only 10,000 total were actually procured for Navy issue during WWII. This Luger, its spare magazine, proofed takedown tool and a small box (16 rounds) of WWII 9mm ammunition, are all stored/displayed in a handmade walnut case. The case itself has a large brass shield mounted on the lid that has been engraved "U/1009".

Fine condition with 50% of the faded blue finish overall with general handling and wear overall from actual wartime use. The grips are also in fine condition with nice distinct checkering on both sides showing light handling marks and wear consistent with the finish on the Luger itself. The holster is in very good condition with a nice medium brown color overall, nice distinct markings and Navy proof, tight stitching overall, and light wear and age cracking on the corner of the flap. As noted, this rare WWII Nazi Navy Luger comes with several letters of correspondence attesting to the originality of the pistol.