This is a very rare set indeed, a First World War PO8 Luger dated 1916 with a similarly dated regimentally marked holster, spare magazine and take-down tool and 1914 dated DWM 9mm round. The pistol is all matching numbers apart from the magazine which is in the same serial range as the pistols. The holster has an extremely rare regiment marking and equally unusual modification. The initials 6.S.B.2.22 are those of the 6th Strum Battalion, 2nd Kompany, weapon number 22 who were a special commando unit for the 6th German Army, this being a Bavarian Army group. We have included the compelling finding surrounding this rare set.
1. 1916 Luger & matching Holster issued to the 6th Sturm Battalion, an elite WW1 German commando type assault unit.
2. WW1 Sturm Battalions are very different from the WW2 SA units who have a similar name. The SA re-used the “Sturm” name of the WW1 elite units to add prestige to their organisation.
3. WW1 Sturm Battalions were formed from specially selected troops from various units as opposed to standard WW1 German regiments recruiting from just one German state.
4. The 6th Sturm Battalion (6SB) was the special commando unit for the 6th German Army, this being a Bavarian Army group.
6SB itself was a mixed Bavarian and Prussian unit having one Bavarian company (the 1st) and one Prussian one (the 2nd).
5. All markings on the special holster and some on the matching gun tie up to the 6th Sturm Battalion >
i) Firstly, on the inside flap the holster is marked: 6 . S . B . 2 . 22
This stands for 6th Sturm Battalion, 2nd company, weapon number 22.
The different size lettering used in the stamp is deliberate, German Army regulations at the time prescribing that a specific different size of stamp be used for different elements of the marking so that one could tell to which fact the marking relates > unit or gun etc.
The 2nd Company to which this marking relates was the Prussian company within the 6th Sturm Battalion.
ii) Next, the inside flap is ink stamped: B A X I
This stands for the Bekleidungs Ampt (equipment issue) of XI (11th) Army Corps.
The 11th Army Corps was one of the few Prussian Army Corps within the 6th (Bavarian) Army Group, this essentially meaning the soldier this holster was issued to came from a Prussian regiment, this tying in perfectly.
All the commandos in the 2nd (Prussian) Company of 6SB were specially selected from Prussian regiments.
iii) Next, the holster itself is made by a manufacturer in Pasing, a district of Munich in Bavaria.
The 6th German Army to which 6SB belonged was a Bavarian Army Group so naturally its equipment for the most part came from Bavarian manufacturers.
6. The Luger itself was manufactured by Erfurt in Thuringia, this a small German state bordering Bavaria.
Due to its close proximity to Bavaria, the vast majority of weapons ordered by Bavaria for issue to the 6th German Army came from this well known gun maker.
7. The Luger has all matching serial numbers throughout (aside from the magazine), this serial number ending in “22” which again ties in nicely with the weapon number marked on the holster flap.
8. The Luger has a its stripping tool and spare magazine contained in the holster.
The holster is dated 1916 matching the Luger’s date.
9. Most importantly, the holster has been professionally cut down by the 2nd Company of 6SB to enable special quick access to the weapon by its commandos in the assault.
The German commando's main weapon in WW1 was the stick grenade, this thrown incessantly in the assault and thus carried in quantity via sandbags tied about the person. The Luger would be kept holstered during that time, but kept to hand in case needed quickly hence the cut down.
