Jan C. Still Lugerforums banner

SAUER 1913, SN 77014, IMPERIAL MILITARY ACCEPTED

20K views 51 replies 23 participants last post by  majspud 
#1 ·
SAUER 1913, SERIAL NUMBER 77014, IMPERIAL MILITARY ACCEPTED

Sauer started production of the Model 1913 in 1913. Some of those produced during World War I bear a C/ script letter Army acceptance stamp on the right side of the frame behind the C/N commercial proof. These are interspersed with commercial Sauer 1913's. Some of the later War production bear a “Prussian Eagle” (really an Erfurt style German test proof eagle) on the front of the trigger guard. Thirty six with the C/ script letter Army acceptance stamp are reported in the 22939 to 85467 serial range. Of these, 8 bear the Prussian Eagle on the front of the trigger guard. (Note: almost all of those reported in the 75259 to 85467 serial range are Imperial accepted.) Wartime Production is estimated is estimated at 70,000 and it is estimated that less than 30,000 were Imperial accepted. It is one of the most compact and finest of the wartime auxiliary pocket pistols. In August 1917 the Prussian Army Arsenal offered the Sauer 1913 for sale to officers (Volume I, page 127).

Listing of Imperial Army Accepted 1913 Sauers. TGE=trigger guard eagle. Source “Volume I”; Still lists; and “J.P. SAUER and SOHN”, Volume II, by Cate and Krause. (Martin Krause (sauerfan) helped write this book and it is highly recommended).
22939 Imperial Army Accepted
33561 Imperial Army Accepted, TGE
46793 Imperial Army Accepted, 107.R.5.24.???
49778 Imperial Army Accepted, TGE
50837 Imperial Army Accepted
51487 Imperial Army Accepted
53863 Imperial Army Accepted
54154 Imperial Army Accepted, Res.J.R.71.M.G.
54680 Imperial Army Accepted
55097 Imperial Army Accepted
56198 Imperial Army Accepted
59553 Imperial Army Accepted
60746 Imperial Army Accepted
62355 Imperial Army Accepted, TGE
62405 Imperial Army Accepted
64209 Imperial Army Accepted
68123 Imperial Army Accepted, 107.R.5.34.
68807 Imperial Army Accepted
71427 Imperial Army Accepted
71535 Imperial Army Accepted
71537 Imperial Army Accepted
72032 Imperial Army Accepted
75259 Imperial Army Accepted
75633 Imperial Army Accepted
76297 Imperial Army Accepted
76927 Imperial Army Accepted
77014* Imperial Army Accepted
77064 Imperial Army Accepted
77113 Imperial Army Accepted
77146 Imperial Army Accepted
78842 Imperial Army Accepted (updated 02-25-05)
78872 Imperial Army Accepted
81085 Imperial Army Accepted
82291 Imperial Army Accepted, TGE
82332 Imperial Army Accepted, TGE
84120 Imperial Army Accepted, TGE
84344 Imperial Army Accepted, TGE
84505 Imperial Army Accepted, TGE
85277 Imperial Army Accepted, TGE, 1920 stamp
85467* Imperial Army Accepted, TGE, 1920 stamp
92907 Imperial Army Accepted, TGE (updated 02-25-05)



Download Attachment: Sauer19131.jpg
42.13 KB
Figure 1. Left side, Sauer 1913, serial number 77014. The slide is marked PATENT and the frame is marked with the serial number 77014. The grips are S and S marked. (Note: the back of the slide, not photographed, is C/N stamped.)


Download Attachment: Sauer19132.jpg
18.53 KB
Figure 2. Top, Sauer 1913, serial number 77014. It reads J. P. SAUER AND SOHN, SUHL. The Sauer little guy with a club is stamped in relief.


Download Attachment: Sauer19133a.jpg
12.74 KB
Figure 3. Back end, Sauer 1913, serial number 77014, showing the C/N proof on the back of the slide..


Download Attachment: Sauer19134a.jpg
42.05 KB
Figure 4. Right side, Sauer 1913, serial number 77014. The grips are S and S marked.


Download Attachment: Sauer19135a.jpg
50.05 KB
Figure 5. Sauer 1913, serial number 77014. Right side details. The slide is marked CAL. 7,65.


Download Attachment: Sauer19136a.jpg
37.34 KB
Figure 6. Sauer 1913, serial number 77014. Right side showing the German Army Crown over “Q” acceptance stamp and the C/N commercial proof.


Download Attachment: Sauer19137a.jpg
56.86 KB
Figure 7. Sauer 1913, serial number 77014 with its holster. Note: World War I auxiliary holsters were most often not marked to specific pistols. This holster fits the short Sauer 1913 barrel and it’s magazine exactly.


Download Attachment: Sauer19138a.jpg
53.43 KB
Figure 8. Details of the open holster.


Download Attachment: Sauer19139a.jpg
39.32 KB
Figure 9. Back of holster.


Download Attachment: Sauer191310a.jpg
137.2 KB
Figure 10. The holster is stamped B.A.XI. on the inside of the flap.


Download Attachment: Sauer191311.jpg
80.75 KB
Figure 11. The holster is stamped L.Z.A. / eagle / J. Berlin.d. According to research by Krause and Cate, L.Z.A. / eagle / J.Berlin.d. signifies: Leder-Zuweisungs-Amt Inspection Berlin which translates to: Leather Allocation Office, Berlin. The job of the of the LZA was to control leather goods production. “This consisted of supplying leather to private leather goods manufacturers for belts, boots, holsters, etc. for the purpose of producing these different items for army and navy usage” (AUTO MAG, XXXII-Issue 5, August 1999, page 114-116).

SAUER 1913, SERIAL NUMBER 85467, IMPERIAL MILITARY ACCEPTED, BEARING: PRUSSIAN EAGLE ON FRONT TRIGGER GUARD


Download Attachment: Sauer191312.jpg
43.4 KB
Figure 12. Left side, Sauer 1913, serial number 85467. This Sauer 1913 is identical to serial number 77014, except it bears a Prussian Eagle on its front trigger guard.


Download Attachment: Sauer191313.jpg
41.86 KB
Figure 13. Right side, Sauer 1913, serial number 85467.


Download Attachment: Sauer191314.jpg
17.49 KB
Figure 14. Front, Sauer 1913, serial number 85467, showing the “Prussian Eagle” on the front of the trigger guard.


Download Attachment: Sauer191315.jpg
29.24 KB
Figure 15. Front, Sauer 1913, serial number 85467, showing details of the Prussian Eagle. It appears identical to the style of eagle used to proof Erfurt Lugers and some barrels and breech blocks of DWM Lugers.

According to orders dated 23 July 1918, auxiliary Army pistols in use by troops are to have an Imperial Eagle (called Prussian Eagle by collectors) added by military armorers to the front of the trigger guard (Gortz, German Small Arms Markings, page 129). There is some indication that some of these Prussian Eagles were applied at the factory. See link below, TRIGGER GUARD EAGLE, after Figure 8.: MAUSER 1914, SN 168278, PRUSSIAN EAGLE Jan C Still http://www.gunboards.com/luger/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3900


Download Attachment: Sauer191316a.jpg
64.83 KB


Download Attachment: Sauer191316b.jpg
36.13 KB



Download Attachment: Sauer191316c.jpg
39.97 KB
Figure 16. The Sauer 1913 is about ½ inch shorter than most other Imperial German auxiliary pistols. Its holster has a stubby appearance. Above are holsters (for auxiliary 7,65 pistols) worn by Imperial German soldiers.
 
See less See more
18
#2 ·
Jan,

excellent presentation!!!!! And your Imperial accepted Sauer 13s are beautiful. My own Imperial accepted Sauer 13 SN 78,872 (Crown over Q; no Prussian eagle) also came in a 1918 made holster with LZA / J. Bielefeld holster . It is my observation, that holsters having any kind of the LZA or L.Z.St. marking were made only in 1918 and I assume that the relating pistols also are 1917/1918 made pistols. Should this be correct, the SN range of approximately 75,xxx to 85,xxx was made in 1918.

What seems to be quiet unusual is the letter "d." after "J. Berlin." . I haven't seen this before and I have no explanation for the letter "d.".

Regards

Martin
 
#3 ·
Martin
Thanks for you kind words. The 1913 Sauers maintained their quality up to the end of the war.

There is a lot of confusion regarding the LZA/eagle holster stamp on the internet and in publications. Your article in AUTO MAG and caption in your book on page 62 set the record straight by providing correct information.
Thanks
Jan
 
#9 ·
Jan,

a German collector just informed me of his Imperial accepted Sauer 13:

SN 25826, regimental marking "78.R.R.10.5" . The gun has NO aditional scryptic Q und crown, and no TGE, of course.

Martin
 
#12 ·
My Imperial marked Sauer M1913, S/N 53863, has a marking variation from the ones you show, here & in your book. The Crown Q is below the C/N instead of to the left of it. Must be an example of "There's always somebody that doesn't get the word" & he stamped it in the wrong place.

Cliff

Download Attachment: 000_0345.JPG
50.69KB
 
#14 ·
Fritz,

your OUTSTANDING TGE Sauer 13 makes me green with envy! We should discuss the right place for this honey the next time we will meet each other (I have a warm and comfortable place in my dry and calm safe together with a comfortable bed, every TGE Sauer 13 just will LOVE!)

;)

Jan, Gentlemen,

shown hereinafter is an action photo showing a soldier of the Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 250 together with a Russian soldier. The 250th R.I.R (being part of the Reserve-Infanterie-Division 75) was established on December 29, 1914, so this undated photo probably was taken in spring/summer of 1915 (there are still regimental numbers of the cover of the spike helmet – this ended in autumn of 1915). Maybe in May 1915, short after the battle of Tarnow-Gorlice.

What is exciting of course, is the fact, that the soldier has a Sauer 13, second variation sticking in his belt. The only WWI action photo I am aware of, where a Sauer 13 clearly can be seen.

Regards

Martin



Download Attachment: Sodat_250_Sauer13_gunboards.jpg
126.96KB



Download Attachment: Soldat_RIR250_Sauer13-detail_gunboards.jpg
122.29KB
 
#21 ·
Two more for Mr. Sill -

Serial number 53747. Crown Q located below (pistol held level) and in the same direction as the C/N proof just behind the trigger guard on the frame. All other markings standard.

Serial number 60637. Crown Q located behind (pistol held level) and in the same direction as the C/N proof just behind the trigger guard on the frame. All other markings standard.
 
#26 ·
Jan,

here are some new ones I noticed on the Kassel gun show this week:

68029, Imperial acceptance Crown/Q
80806, Imperial acceptance Crown/Q
83822, Imperial acceptance Crown/Q, TGE

Regards

Martin
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top