Very Rare 1940 Swedish Commercial Mauser Banner Luger 7.65mm - w/ Provenance

Description

7/21/26 - In 1938-39, the Swedish military ordered 319 pistols from Mauser. Major Swedish gun dealers such as Widforss in Stockholm became interested in selling Mauser Lugers on the Swedish commercial market. It seems that Widforss was the sole importer, seller, and also broker of the Luger pistol sales through other dealers in the country. Sweden being a neutral country, there were no restrictions for export. A large batch of serial numbers in the banner "w" series was reserved for this contract. The first pistols in this contract were 9mm and had 4 inch barrels. Widforss began ordering them in 7.65mm because they showed better results at the range. Because they were selling the gun in both calibers, Widforss asked Mauser to mark the caliber on the left side of the barrels. The last 1940 shipments had barrels which were engraved with the text "Kal. 7.65". Such marked pistols fall in the 6449w - 7998w. Ours here falls in the correct serial range for this variation and is marked 7.65mm on the left side of the barrel. It is also dated 1940 on the chamber, has the Mauser banner on the toggle, straw-colored small parts, and "Eagle N" proofs. It has retained about 95-96% of its original finish with muzzle wear (primarily on the left side), high edge wear, and a few small scratches on the left side of the barrel. Fitted with matching-numbered and "Eagle 655" grips (as we've seen with others). The bore is like-new. The gun comes as a rig with a mismatched but rare "7,65" marked magazine, another mismatched un-proofed magazine, a blank tool, and an excellent un-marked holster. The holster has a WW2-era hang tag that has a GI number and the name Sgt. Norman H. Boehm. The previous owner was able to find his enlistment information in the Archival Databases - a printout is included here. We have no other information about the GI or how he may have acquired this gun.