This is a beautiful example of an original and very rare early production "Presentation Grade" DWM Model 1902 Luger carbine. This historic Luger carbine is from the personal collection of Ralph Shattuck and is pictured on pages 78 and 79 of the book "Lugers at Random", page 141 of "World of Lugers" by Costanzo and also in the book "Lugers of Ralph Shattuck" on page 16. This is a one-of-a-kind "Presentation Grade" Luger carbine manufactured by DWM for Hiram S. Maxim, the inventor of the Maxim machine gun. It is not a prototype nor one of the early transition Luger carbines, instead it has the rare early "special" serial number with the letter "C" suffix designation intended for special order Lugers manufactured as presentation pistols. The top of the chamber area is gold inlaid and reads: "H.S.M./MARCH 15/1903". The "DWM" markings on the front toggle, the range markings on the rear sight and the intertwined "GL" initials of Georg Luger have also been highlighted with an old white colored highlighting material. Since this has the original intertwined "GL" initials on the rear toggle, Georg Luger most certainly supervised the actual production/manufacture of this Luger. It has all the early features such as a early flat breech bolt, dished toggles with toggle lock, grip safety and stock lug with an original DWM hold-open device. It is fitted with the 11 3/4 inch round tapered barrel that is fitted with a ramp front sight base with a bead front sight and the classic "3-position" carbine rear sight. The top of the sight is marked "1, 2 and 3" for 100-300 meters. It has the original/correct hanger soldered on to the front of the frame correctly numbered "9109C" on the underside. The last two digits of the serial number (09) are stamped on the underside of the barrel, recoil lug, side plate, takedown lever, side of the breech bolt, and underside of the toggle train. It is fitted with a matching checkered walnut grips that are numbered (correctly in pencil) on the back sides with "09". Since it is a carbine, it is fitted with the checkered walnut forend which is also numbered "09" on the inside and is correctly fitted with the small recoil accelerator inside. It is complete with an original tin plated magazine with an unnumbered wooden base. This rare early carbine also comes complete with its correctly made replacement walnut stock with the early renumbered matching stock attaching iron. This early attaching iron has the short upper and lower tang with a short wide lever that is identical to the early push-button attaching irons. The underside of the iron is matching numbered "9109C". The stock and forend have beautiful hand checkered panels on the sides. It has a rust blued metal finish with straw colored smaller parts.

Excellent with 98% original blue finish with slight edge and high spot wear. The grips straps and side plates have been professionally refinished along with the various straw colored smaller parts that are just starting to fade. The beautiful European walnut grips, forend and stock are all in excellent condition with sharp distinct checkering overall showing some minor handling marks. At one point, the top of the stock lug was ground off (probably back in the 40s or 50s) over concern about compliance with the 1934 Federal regulations at that time with the shoulder stock. The lug was period repaired with a small piece being grafted on top to make it functional with the stock iron. This is an exceptionally rare and well known Presentation Luger Carbine to the inventor of the Maxim machine gun who later received a knighthood in 1901.