Click on crest for larger view.

The M1903 & M1908 Bulgarian Parabellum Holsters

This is a discussion of the Bulgarian Luger holsters made for contract supplied Lugers or by association with the M1903, the M1908 and the M1911. The M1903 is the Bulgarian military designated name for the first 1,000 contract P00 or Old Model long frame 4¾-inch barrel 30 Cal Bulgarian Parabellums purchased in 1903. The M1908 designation is for the second contract of approximately 1,300 of M1908 New Model short frame 4¾-inch barrel 30 Cal Bulgarian Parabellums purchased in 1908 and the third and largest contract of 10,000 in two 5,000 batches is for the P08 style 4-inch barrel, caliber 9mm M1911 Parabellum purchased in 1911. Note that all three, the M1903, M1908 and M1911, Bulgarian Parabellum pistol designations are based on the contract year of purchase.

Interestingly, there are Bulgarian language printed instruction manuals for the M1903 and M1911 Lugers titled: Pistol „PARABELLUM” mod. 1903 r. and 1912 r. on the cover page for both the M1903, published in 1905 and the M1911, published in 1912 with both being exceedingly rare, especially the M1903 instruction manual. There is no identified instruction manual for the Bulgarian New Model or M1908 which, based on the 1905 and 1911 publication dates of the M1903 and M1911manuals, that if the M1908 had a Bulgarian language instruction manual it would have been printed in 1909/1910. Pictured is the English translation of the M1903 manual cover.

Based on the similarity of the M1903 and M1908, in operation and caliber, it is most likely that the M1903 instruction manual served both models. Regarding the M1903 and M1911 manuals, even though the M1903 instruction manual is rarer than the super rare M1911 instruction manual, ironically, based on the subject M1903 example it survived in better condition because of the purportedly, exclusively private purchase Officer issued M1903 Parabellum, holster and instruction manual were not used in the Balkan Wars or WW1.

Interestingly, the M1911 instruction manual contains references to the M1903 instruction manual such as a comparison of ballistics/properties of the M1903 to the M1911 on page 51 titled: Numerical data on pistols Model 1903 and 1911^[1] with no mention of the M1908. Also, in the four unattached or stand-alone, fold-out plates or illustrations inserted at the end of the M1911 manual are a mix of M1903 Old Model Parabellum illustrations with the P08 style M1911 Bulgarian Parabellum. For example, ЛИCTbII. or Plate II fold-out contains same page illustrations of the M1903, 7.65 mm caliber Parabellum and the DWM 480C, 9 mm cartridge for the M1911.

Holsters

The most common Bulgarian holster found is for the 10,000 M1911 contract Bulgarian Parabellums. The holsters are found in a bewildering variety of shapes and styles from approximately 1912 through World War 2. A unique feature common to many M1911 examples is the full-length cover flap. Most, even though of sturdy construction, experienced hard service through two Balkan wars, WW1 and WW2 where many did not survive well.

Several examples are pictured on this site in the Accessories directory under Holsters/Bulgarian.

Interestingly, in the M1911 instruction manual on page 53 titled: Holster Description^[2] is dedicated to the purportedly “official” M1911 holster, its method of construction, configuration and carriage. Pictured are three M1911 holster examples in the collection; example 1, example 2 and example 3.

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However, the main focus of this article is on Bulgarian holsters for the Bulgarian chamber crested P00 and P06 contract Lugers designated by the Bulgarian military as the M1903 and M1908 grip safety 4¾-inch barrel, 30 Cal Parabellums. Since these Lugers were purchased prior to the two Balkan wars and World War 1 that they were private purchase issued, mainly to officers in the Bulgarian Army and by the start of World War 1 the majority of the 10,000 4-inch barrel, 9mm caliber P08 style M1911 pistols were issued to both officers and enlisted men. A rare M1911 example is pictured with belt and shoulder straps worn by officers used in the field.

There are very few published examples of converted M1903 Bulgarian Old Model long frame grip safety Parabellums to 4-inch, 9mm barrels as most examples are converted short frame New Model Bulgarian M1908 4¾-inch barrel 30 Cal pistols to M1911 type 4-inch barrel, 9mm caliber, interestingly, of the few conversions done, both the M1903 and M1908 Parabellums retained the grip safety. The few conversions starting from the introduction of the Bulgarian 9mm caliber M1911 Parabellum and continuing sporadically from circa 1912 through the NAZI era leading up to and during World War 2 as evidenced by NAZI era barrel proofs, some using existing Bulgarian style/manufacture NAZI marked holsters.

The first published information on M1903 Bulgarian holsters was in the © 1986 book titled: The Luger Book by J. Walter where he stated on page 88, Section B91 Bulgaria: Holsters (i) that: The first 7.65mm 12-cm barreled guns were apparently issued with standard German-made commercial holsters, though no known authenticated survivors are known. Many of these guns were lost during the second Balkan War of 1912-13. Apparently, the statement is self-contradictory and a guess, since Walter states that no known authenticated survivors are known.

How Many

There are six different identified, purportedly Bulgarian style holsters for the M1903 and M1908 grip safety 4¾-inch, 30 Cal Bulgarian Parabellums. What is interesting of the six different style holsters is that there is only one published example of each that have been identified, currently in private collections, being a testament to their extreme rarity! More unusual being that the M1903 and M1908 grip safety, 4¾-inch barrel 30 Cal private purchase “Officers” pistols were issued, as stated above, prior to the Balkan Wars and World War 1 and due to the small 7.65 mm caliber were obsolete by 1911. Pictured are the only known, six published Bulgarian holster examples for the grip safety Old and New Model Bulgarian M1903 and M1908.

M1903 Bulgarian Holster 1

The existence of Holster number 1 has been known of by the writer since 2006 as indicated in the below Sturgess personal correspondence, next pictured four years later in © 2010 Pistole Parabellum, and again pictured in © 2010 – 2011 The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols, V3, C19, page 1210, Fig.19-64, next being pictured and offered for sale by Simpson Ltd, being on his site since approximately 2015 and finally, eight years later in 2023, currently part of the Land of Borchardt collection. All six of these holsters will be discussed, however, since it is Holster M1903 example 1 that is “in-hand” more information in the form of detailed pictures describing Sturgess’s initial private 2006 description and later 2010 published book comments with additional comments resulting from a thorough, personal examination are presented.

Regarding M1903 Holster 1, part of the reason for the unusual eight (8) year-long, unsold offering on the retailer’s site in addition to the initial, excessive $1,000 price for an important, but relatively obscure, rare and esoteric Luger accessory, is unfortunately, because of not being described as such, with the main reason being the poorly written, inaccurate, unproofed text description of the holster with no mention of its Bulgarian provenance as specifically and accurately defined by the consigner and author, G. Sturgess, privately in 2006 personal correspondence and in two later book publications, © 2010 Pistole Parabellum and © 2010 & 2011 The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols.

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While its overall physical condition was accurately described by the retailer, unfortunately as stated above, its historical provenance was not mentioned, in addition to being incorrectly described by the retailer generically as a: “New Model commercial holster for 4¾-inch barrel Luger pistol(s)”. Full flap with snap closure. Cleaning rod pouch along leading edge with snap flap closure. Single, wide belt loop. Internal lifting strap. Unmarked. Good intact original condition. From the Dr Geoffrey Sturgess collection.

28 October 2006 correspondence with G. Sturgess

Chuck, I promised to let you have photos of the Bulgarian P00 holster, which arrived today direct from Bulgaria, with provenance to a P00 pistol. The quality and body stitching look German, as does the general quality, and the flap shape could have been modified from a commercial Old Model holster, but shows no sign of the slit fastenings that I would expect to see if it had actually been converted from a slit & stud to snap fastener closure. The snap fasteners have non-western European hieroglyphics, so are probably not of German origin. Geoff.

This holster was next seen four years later in the © 2010 †Görtz/Sturgess, three volume book publication titled: Pistole Parabellum, volume 3, page 1298, figure 1206 and in the later © 2010 – 2011 †Görtz/Sturgess, three volume book publication titled: The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols, volume 3, page 1210, figure 19-64.

A detailed examination basically supports the 2006 Sturgess descriptions of the M1903 Holster 1 and pictures of the holster specific to the Sturgess comments are addressed and linked to the below Sturgess Figure captions in Pistole Parabellum and The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols. In support of Sturgess comments the holster body inside rear panel entrance clearly shows evidence of long term storage of an Old Model Parabellum as indicated by a deep impression of the left side fluted grasping surface of a dished toggle. Attached is a table of the M1903 Holster 1 dimensions and weight.

The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols: Below the figure 19-64 on page 1210 further describes the holster: There is no provision for carrying a spare magazine with the holster, but it is provided with a very fragile leather draw strap, which is only 4.5 mm wide, compared with the normal 11 – 12 mm of German holsters. The stitching of the body, belt loop and cleaning rod pouch are of contemporary German pattern, though the finer border stitching around the main flap is not, but the similarities with early German Parabellum holsters make it most likely that these holsters were procured in Germany to a Bulgarian specification for supply with these pistols. Pictured is a more detailed LOB view of the very unusual narrow, fragile holster body pull-up strap.

While it is most probable that the M1903 Holster 1 cover flap, dome shaped snap fastener surface was originally black enamel, along with the smaller cleaning rod cover flap snap fastener convex dome black enamel surface as pictured in both †Görtz/Sturgess publications vs the white metal, slightly corroded cover flap fastener as offered on the retailers’ site and as acquired was either an embellishment by the consigner or the result of poor handling by the auction house and/or the retailer. With the slight, possibly cleaned-up corrosion present on the cover flap dome shaped, white metal fastener surface indicates that if originally black enamel coated, it had worn or chipped off many years ago.

On close examination of the black enamel fastener, it clearly looks as though the black coating is/was peeling away from the underneath metal surface. If the surface is oxidizing due to scratches allowing moisture under the coating, then that would exacerbate the situation. So, it is possible that the coating would come off in one large piece, especially if it was originally not a good coating application job. Alternately, it’s been 17 years since originally acquired by the consigner that the cover flap fastener black enamel coating, already fragile and separating/lifting from the surface in 2006 is now totally gone, it is possible, therefore, that the loss occurred while for several years in possession of the consigner, ergo as received by the retailer.

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An enlargement of an actual, in-hand photographed cleaning rod cover flap black enamel fastener surface lacks a pixilated edge indicating originality. Pictured is a side-by-side comparison of the holster and cleaning rod cover flap black enamel fasteners highlighting the differences. This loss of the black enamel coating on the cover flap fastener does not diminish the value or rarity of the M1903 Holster 1, but does emphasize the value of a thorough examination in the digital age. Incidentally, this detailed comparison was made possible by examination of the 2006 quality photograph of M1903 Holster 1 received from Sturgess vs the oversaturated, poor quality and resolution of the M1903 Holster 1 pictured in The Borchardt Luger & Automatic Pistols, V3, C19, page 1210, Figure 19-64. Pictured are more views of M1903 Holster 1 with accessories. View 1. View 2.

M1903 Bulgarian Holster 2

The origins and manufacture of this brown leather colored holster are difficult to assess and other than the fact that it was first identified and sold at auction in 2023 with a M1903 Old Model Bulgarian 4-3/4 inch barrel, 30 Cal Luger serial number 20177, no other information is available. The Rock Island Auction M1903 Holster 2, front view available only, shows much use with considerable wear, possibly a result of poor storage. Compared to the black leather colored M1903 Holster 1 the commonalities are that both share a fine stitched cover flap decorative, non-functional border edge trim, except that Holster 2 has two parallel cover flap lines of stitching as does the M1903 Holster 2 body shaped edge while the black colored M1903 Holster 1 body, single line stitching is more conventional, resembling German stitching. It should be noted the both Holsters 1 and 2 are associated with M1903 contract Bulgarian Parabellums.

Another example of Holster 2 has been identified that shows both the front and rear of the holster and a front view with the cover flap open. Other than the added fancy stitch work pattern on the cover flap, the similarities of the second example Holster 2 shares the same shape holster body and cover flap and the same style and size of the cover flap, along with the same early bird cage style snap fastener. The cover flap border edge of both Holster 2 examples 1 and 2 exhibit the same 2-line stitching. Based on the unusual shape of the cover flap and holster body entrance lip and the unique single belt loop, the holster, based on the early Akah catalog offerings cannot be an Akah design.

Unfortunately, with Holster 2, example 2 being pictured with a new model grip safety Brazilian contract Parabellum and Holster 2 example 1 associated with a P00 M03 grip safety Bulgarian contract Parabellum further confuses which holster is correct for what pistol. Pictured together are a front view of both Holster 2 examples with their pistols, M1900 old model Bulgarian and M1906 new model Brazilian Parabellum.

Interestingly, while the M1903 Holster 1 has a spine attached, Old Model German style cleaning rod pouch and barrel style cover flap with sewn circular ears and an early, bird-cage style black enamel color snap fastener with cover flap closure vs a spine attached magazine pouch of M1903/M1906 Holster 2 examples with cover flap style closure type. Additionally, the rather narrow, tight-fitting shape of the "M1903" Holster 2 body vs the more conventional German holster body shape of M1903 Holster 1, suggest possible non-German origins of both Holster 2 examples.

M1908 Bulgarian Holster 3

The first holster, identified as a 1906 holster for a M1908 Bulgarian Parabellum was pictured in © 1992 Luger Holsters & Their Accessories by E. Bender on page 73. The caption describes the holster as Bulgarian Holster for M 1906 Luger – In this figure 4b example of a brown leather holster for the M 1906 Luger, the cover flap extends nearly to the toe. A cleaning rod slot exists alongside the spare magazine pouch on the leading edge of the holster. Twin single belt loops are sewn to the rear of the holster. Closure of the front flap is effected by passage of a strap through the wire loop which emanates from the body, and slips through a metal plate affixed to the cover flap.

An unusual feature of the E. Bender holster is the holster body entrance lip which is virtually horizontal with only a very shallow slope making the extraction or withdrawal of the pistol from the holster difficult. This is also the only Bulgarian holster for a M1903 or M1908 Bulgarian Parabellum pictured in this article with an attached combination magazine and cleaning rod pouch only with no provisions for a pin punch or loading tool.

The Sturgess M1908 Holster

As described by Sturgess in Pistole Parabellum volume III, C49 page 1299 illustration 1207 and The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols volume III, C19, page 1211 Fig.19-65. The M1908 Holster 3 is purportedly for the second batch order of the M1908 New Model grip safety Bulgarian chamber crested Parabellum, also with a 4¾-inch, 30 Cal barrel. Interesting that the Holster 3 with spine attached magazine that it is shown with a “matching” twin magazine pouch which means four loaded, eight round magazines are available with this rig. Regarding the Fig. 19-65 pictured Bulgarian twin magazine pouch there are other similar Bulgarian twin magazine pouches.

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Apparently, M1908 Bulgarian Holster 3 wasn’t identified until recent times as in the © 1991 Lugers: The Multi-National Pistol by †C. Kenyon Jr. on page 107 pictures a M1908 New Model contract Bulgarian 4¾-inch 30 Cal barrel Parabellum resting on a Luger holster made for a 1943 byf Portuguese Mauser 4-inch 9 mm barrel P08 with an opposite page 106 text description incorrectly stating the holster is a: E - Representative holster 1905 and 1906. Additionally, it can’t be certain that Holster 3, credited to Simpson Ltd is for a New Model 4¾-inch 30 Cal barrel Parabellum without a fit check as only the front of the holster is shown.

M1908 Bulgarian Holster 4 and 4a

Little is known about this M1908 Holster 4 and 4a variation, except as described in The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols, volume 3, chapter 19 – Accessories, pictured on page 1212, Fig. 19-66 (top and bottom view) with caption and described on the previous page 1210, in the third paragraph below:

Those particularly Bulgarian examples (Holster 4 and 4a) for the 120 mm barreled Officer's Model 08 New Model Parabellum have the usual long Bulgarian flap style, with hasp/staple & strap closure, the staple being normally mounted on a pentagonal brass plate riveted to the body, with or without a metal reinforcing plate around the slot in the flap though which the staple passes. A single magazine pouch is sewn to the spine, with a snap button closed flap at the top. (Holster 4) A double pouch for the screwdriver and pin-punch and a pocket for the cleaning rod, without separate flaps, may be located on the front body under the main flap or (Holster 4a) there may be no provision for tools at all.

The Fig. 19-66 pictured lower Holster 4a is described in the caption as of the same M1908 Bulgarian pattern holster of similar type^[3] as the top or upper Holster 4, except as lacking or without any provision for carrying tools. This example has the normal, brass closure reinforcement riveted to the flap.

Since the upper Fig. 19-66 Holster 4 is described as for a 120 mm barrel M1908 grip safety Bulgarian Parabellum and is pictured with an inserted grip safety Parabellum, one assumes it has a 120 mm barrel and since the lower Fig. 19-66 is pictured with the same holstered, identical 120 mm barrel Parabellum, that the holster is also for a 120 mm barrel M1908 grip safety Bulgarian Parabellum. Note that Holster 4a is shown with the cover flap closed and secured with the inserted grip safety Parabellum.

The Fig. 19-66 Holster 4a was part of the G, Sturgess Collection and is currently offered for sale by Simpson Ltd. with a relatively accurate description with the noteworthy exception of stating that the holster is for a 4-inch or 100 mm barrel and not a 4¾-inch or 120 mm barrel as described or inferred in theTBLAP, Fig. 19-66 text caption. A subsequent conversation with Simpson Ltd. insisted that the holster was for a 4-inch barrel, meaning the holster was made for a contract M1911 Bulgarian Parabellum with a 4-inch 9 mm barrel.

There is another identified M1908 Bulgarian holster, which is near identical to M1908 Holster 4a offered by Simpson Ltd, and as pictured in TBLAP Fig. 19-66, except for a lighter color of leather, featured in a French language, “youtube” video. It is, however, pictured with a near mint, contract M1903 Bulgarian Parabellum serial number 20724 along with yet another purported, brown colored Bulgarian twin magazine pouch variation. It is, therefore, not certain if the TBLAP, Fig. 19-66 M1908 described Holster 4a was made for a M1903 or M1908.

The question arises is, if the Fig. 19-66 “M1908” Holster 4a offered for sale by Simpson Ltd. is indeed made for a 4-inch 9mm barrel contract M1911 Bulgarian Parabellum, then what New Model grip safety and barrel length Parabellum is inserted/holstered in the TBLAP, V3, C19, page 1212, Fig. 19-66 Holster 4 and 4a?

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The Answer

With the acquisition of the subject Holster 4a the answer to the question of whether the holster was made for a 4-inch barrel M1911 Parabellum as Simpson Ltd stated is yes, however, with caveats. The holster will fit a M1908 Bulgarian Parabellum with a 4¾-inch 30 Cal barrel, barely, and it is not a stretch, metaphorically speaking to say it is literally a stretch to close the holster flap and secure closure as the consigner certainly must have noticed while still classifying this holster in Pistole Parabellum and TBLAP as made for a M1908 New Model Bulgarian Parabellum. Of note that in 1912 the holster at original manufacture the leather was probably much more pliable, making for an easier closure with an inserted M1908 than after 110 years.

Even though the holster was clearly made for a 4-inch barrel M1911, again however, based on the location of the fluted thumb safety grasping surface, being unexpectedly near or at the top of the holster body rear panel entrance lip rather than the expected ¾-inch lower position, along with the deeper than normal indentation of the right-side rear frame edge in the cover flap inside surface, suggests long term, tight fit storage of a 4¾-inch 30 Cal barrel M1908 and not of a 4-inch Cal 9mm barrel M1911.

There can be endless opining and theories to explain this situation with one that immediately comes to mind and that is while the holster was made sometime in 1912 – 1914 for a M1911, is that it was purchased by a Bulgarian officer for his private purchase M1908 who, with no other option at the time, made do with this holster.

The real mystery is why Sturgess in The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols would show this Holster 4a with an inserted M1908 in Fig. 19-66 (Below) with no explanation, inferring in his caption and other text that the holster was made for a M1908. The other, Holster 4 in Fig. 19-66 (Top) with the same identical M1908 or any 4¾-barrel New Model Grip Safety Luger pistol inserted specifically states in the same below caption that the holster is specifically for a M1908. Since both holsters are identical in length suggests that this Holster 4 also pictured with an inserted M1908 also could have been made for a M1911.

TBLAP, V3, page 1212, Fig. 19-66 pictured Bulgarian Parabellum Holster 4 body with cover flap open with M1908 inserted was compared side-by-side with an identical Bulgarian holster with an inserted M1911 Bulgarian. The conclusion reached, contrary to the caption description, is that both holsters were made for a M1911 Bulgarian Parabellum. Additionally, Holster 4a in the same Fig. 19-66, also with the cover flap open with an inserted M1908 was compared against the same holster with an inserted M1911 with the same conclusion being that Holster 4a was also made for an M1911 and not a M1908. Pictured is the Fig. 19-66 Holsters 4 and 4a comparisons.

Regarding the excellent condition LOB Holster 4 example comparison, it is also unique in that it is the only published example of a Bulgarian M1911 holster stamped with the makers' name and city, interestingly, with the insert only of the holster makers' name and city featured in both book publications titled: Pistole Parabellum and The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols by †Görtz/Sturgess.

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Conclusions

The identity of holsters made for the 4¾-inch 30 Cal barrel M1903 Old Model and M1908 New Model Bulgarian contract Parabellum pistols continues to be an elusive endeavor as evidenced by the debunked examples identified herein. The identifying criteria should include:

1. at a minimum a personal fit check,
2. verification of internal holster body impressions of the proper Model; the M1903 with fluted grasping surface, dished toggles or the M1908 with cross hatched grasping surface, square-face toggles,
3. and most importantly, and unfortunately the most difficult, which is Provenance.

The only holster that satisfies the above criterion presented in this article is Holster 1 for an M1903 contract Bulgarian Parabellum.

Unless or until more identical holster style examples for the M1903 and/or M1908 4¾-inch 30 Cal barrel contract Bulgarian Parabellums are discovered, which seems unlikely after 110 plus years, no single example is sufficient to determine provenance or a single or multiple source, be it of a domestic or foreign leather maker and, therefore, any single example should be considered a variant. With a M1903 contract amount of 1,000 and a M1908 contract amount of 1,500 for an approximate total of 2,500 contract Bulgarian 4¾-inch barrel 30 Cal barrel Parabellums, the lack of identified holsters suggests that very few 4¾-inch barrel originals were privately purchased or, that prior to issue, many were reworked to 4-inch 9mm barrels.

The New Model M1908 Contract Bulgarian Parabellum – Issues

Sturgess in the © 2010 Pistole Parabellum and the later © 2010 & 2011 The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistols a.k.a. TBLAP discusses the legitimacy or chronology of factory markings in the forward frame lug well and around the receiver underside stock lug of the 1906 New Model M1908 Bulgarian Parabellum as compared to the 1906 New Model Brazilian Parabellum. Note that both the 1906 New Model Bulgarian and Brazilian contracts used separate, but identical serial number ranges, both starting with serial number 1 through 4 digits.

Sturgess first addressed the issue of Bulgarian vs Brazilian in September 2003 personal correspondence where he stated regarding the complex subject of internal markings in regard to his upcoming book prefaced his remarks with: it is pure guesswork to sort this out, which is why I'm most reluctant to try to explain all this in the book.

While Sturgess is hesitant in his 2003 personal correspondence regarding the interpretation of internal markings as a determinative factor regarding the validity of a M1908 contract Bulgarian Parabellum, he goes further in the © 2010 & 2011 The Borchardt & Luger Automatic Pistol publication than in the earlier © 2010 Pistole Parabellum publication, being more convinced, in his view, that based on differences in internal markings he has “concluded” that “some” 1906 New Model M1908 contract Bulgarian Parabellums are fakes using 1906 New Model Brazilian Parabellums. Specifically:

1. by removing the Carregada marked extractor and replacing it with a Cyrillic marked extractor,
2. removing the circle B from the receiver left side,
3. adding the Bulgarian crest to the plain chamber and,
4. adding the Bulgarian Cyrillic safety marking to the left-side upper recessed frame Thumb Safety lever area.

This all with no pictured or identified example in Pistole Parabellum or TBLAP of a converted, contract Brazilian New Model Parabellum to a New Model contract M1908 fake or counterfeit M1908 Bulgarian Parabellum.

Per Sturgess in TBLAP, Volume I, page 578, Chapter 9, Proof and Inspectors marks, the above sham effort was accomplished by the following in a paragraph titled: Summary of internal markings in an excerpted section where he states in a rather simplistic, generic scenario: With spurious Bulgarian chamber and safety markings being added…and with minimal re-finishing and substitution of an appropriately Bulgarian marked extractor, provided the Brazilian donor gun serial number (1 – 5000) is within the 1 ~1300 serial number Bulgarian range, no mechanical alteration or serial number changes are required to add several thousand dollars to the value of the counterfeit.

Straightaway, there is an issue regarding the above TBLAP comments where the automatic assumption is that because both Brazilian and Bulgarian models are in the same serial number range, ignores or does not address the possibility of different frame and barrel serial number numeric font sizes. A random sampling of the frame and barrel serial numbers of the two, three and four-digit serial number range of Brazilian and Bulgarian Parabellum examples reveals a minimum of two different numeric font heights of 2 m/m and 2.25 m/m, in either or both variations. Yet another factor to consider when evaluating the originality of a contract M1908 Bulgarian Parabellum.

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Although Sturgess, belatedly acknowledges in the earlier September 2003 personal correspondence of the alternate possibility of correctness regarding the later time frame of differing internal markings of some New Model M1908 Bulgarian Parabellums could be correct stating that: As far as the (M1908) Bulgarians are concerned, this seems to indicate that they were made in a later time frame than previously supposed, and in several widely separated, small batches.

In order to accomplish this transition or metamorphosis from a M1906 New Model contract Brazilian to a Bulgarian M1908 contract Parabellum requires, 1) a convincing, professional made aftermarket applied Bulgarian roll-die type chamber crest, which is not practicable, hence the alternate possibility of a LASER applied crest, 2) a replacement Cyrillic marked extractor, 3) a special Cyrillic stamp for the thumb safety area and, 4) since the original rust bluing was done to the receiver before the roll-die chamber crest was applied and with the removal of the receiver left-side, sometimes deep, circle B stamping along with bluing of the Brazilian lower Thumb Safety polished bright white metal area, is not easily, convincingly done simply by spot (cold) bluing. Since the main purpose of selecting the Brazilian Parabellum as the donor is based, as Sturgess states, on using the original frame and barrel Brazilian serial numbers, whose verification of authenticity or originality is challenging, considering the matter of different numeric font sizes.

LASER^[4]

The crest application by LASER to a plain chamber New Model Brazilian Parabellum would involve complex computer program mapping of an original M1908 Bulgarian crest, transferring that crest, including the depth of the original stamping, including surface blemishes, and displaced metal of the original stamping, through-the-blue of a plain chamber surface of a contract production New Model Brazilian Parabellum involves temperatures hot enough to vaporize metal. The resulting crest, exactly replicating the donor crest in all features, however, requires additional work as the LASER process assumedly, leaves white metal in the vaporized outline that needs to be “touch-up reblued” or some form of correction. In the original Bulgarian roll-die stamping, the resulting high application pressure required, simply “forces/pushes” the surface blue into the applied crest, requiring no secondary steps.

Pictured below are five Bulgarian crests of which three (1, 4 & 5) are Bulgarian Parabellums in the collection:

1. Early serial number M1903 Old Model 20027,
2. Early serial number M1903 Old Model 20130,
3. M1908 New Model 257 approximately the middle of the 1 ~ 1300 contract range,
4. M1908 New Model 861 approximately the middle of the 1 ~ 1300 contract range and,
5. another M1908 New Model serial number 1172, toward the end of the range with a 9mm NAZI era Eagle proofed 4-inch replacement barrel.

The five crests are identified numerically as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 with lower case letter characters a, b and c highlighting similarities/differences in the crests. Mouseover each crest for larger image.

Area “a” of M1903 20027 crest 1 and M1908 861 crest 4 show raised metal around the lower edge of the left banner, being displaced metal, a result of a roll-die application. The “a” marked area of M1908 1172 crest 5 is not as apparent, although still considered to be originally a roll-die application is, due in part, that the surface has been polished, probably as part of the conversion from a 4¾-inch 30 Cal barrel to a Cal 9mm 4-inch barrel. Area “b” of M1903 20027 crest 1 and M1903 20130 crest 2, M1908 257 crest 3^[5] and M1908 1172 crest 5 show a flaw or defect in a left section in the arch of the crown, which is flat or distorted vs the pronounced, definitive curved arches of the rest of the crown. Note that the crown arches of M1908 861 crest 4 are distinct and symmetrically identical, suggesting the use of a different roll-die.

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Area “c” of M1903 20027 crest 1, M1903 20130 crest 2 and M1908 257 crest 3 and M1908 1172 crest 5 are most interesting where part of the right-side banner arch is actually missing, a result of a defective or damaged roll-die engraving and in addition with the crown arch issue on the same 1, 2, 3 and 5 crests strongly suggest that the same, defective die was that was used on crest 1 Old Model 20027 and crest 2 Old Model 20130, crest 3 New Model 257 and crest 5 New Model 1172, interestingly, with both Old and New Model crest applications being years apart. Note the identity of the defective roll-die, in this case, does not necessarily imply a different roll-die, simply that the roll-die became defective or damaged after several applications and continued to be used, although it is difficult to explain the different chronological time spread.

The most interesting aspect of these Bulgarian crest applications, other than their shared, identical flaws, excluding M1908 861 crest 4, is the several year span over two separate contracts with the use of the same, defective roll-die engraving. There are probably more Bulgarian crest examples out there applied with the same defective roll-die engraving, however, due the paucity of surviving, identified published examples, the number is unknown. Regarding the number of Bulgarian crest roll-dies made, it is certain, after this exercise, that there are, at least, more than one.

A final issue with serial number 861 crest 4 is the unevenness of the roll-die stamping, being deeper or stronger in the top section of the crest and the lighter stamping of the lower part of the crest. Assuming, for the sake of argument, that the 861 crest was LASER applied. The unique quality of a LASER applied crest would be that the process accurately and completely replicates the original donor crest. Based on this scenario, indicates/assumes that the donor, “copied” crest was identical, being similarly stamped, deeper in the top half and lighter in the lower section of the cross.

The reason for this exercise is that, one would think, a LASER crest application would use a better, less suspect Bulgarian donor crest example and that, actually the crest of 861 is the result of an uneven, original roll-die application. There are several similar Bulgarian crest examples, Old and New Model, with uneven roll-die application. Another interesting observation, although mute, is that if a donor crest was used it was not necessarily copied from a M1908 New Model Bulgarian Parabellum and could have just as well been from an Old Model M1903 Bulgarian Parabellum.

However, it is hardly likely that the LASER applied crest would have variations in depth of cut. The LASER application is based on the design and would use a constant laser intensity to cut the crest into the chamber, resulting in a uniform depth for the whole crest. Most laser machines don't have variable intensity control while cutting the metal. It is possible that more elaborate, sophisticated laser cutting machines could do variable intensity, but then you are talking very expensive equipment. Hardly worth the effort or expense to fake a Bulgarian receiver chamber crest.

Several Old Model M1903 and New Model M1908 Bulgarian crests have been identified and shown in the subject article of varying picture quality of from poor to excellent. Although, being a small sampling of the approximately 2500 Old and New Model Bulgarian crested Parabellums made, there were enough examples to illustrate all manner of differences, such as

1. differing longitudinal positionings on the chambers,
2. light stampings, deep stampings, light at the top, heavy at the bottom and vice versa indicating uneven jigging and/or uneven pressure control,
3. flawed stampings indicating defective, damaged roll-die engravings.

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The Original Roll Die Method of Application

Pictured are two elementary line-drawing versions of the DWM Bulgarian or any national crest roll-die, press or engraving to a circular chamber surface, version 1 using a flat engraving plate and version 2 using a circular plate. Both variations require rotation of either or both surfaces, the engraving plate and receiver chamber top, however, version 1 is more realistic than version 2 because if one has a curved die engraving on a curved surface, you need to match rotation speeds and adjust die to account for two curved surfaces, instead of correcting only for one surface if using a flat die, ergo version 1. Alignment and control of a flat die and curved chamber would be much easier than two curved surfaces.

Since the plate engraving was hand applied by a DWM craftsman, the metal had to be reasonably malleable, however, to be effective the engraved plate had to be subsequently tempered or hardened to effectively, progressively apply/transfer the engraved crest to the chamber surface under extreme pressure, ergo the term “roll-press”, however, how does one determine what degree of hardness is required for the engraving plate to flawlessly apply the crest to the rust blued receiver surface, multiple times to many chambers using the same engraving.

It is difficult to determine if multiple roll-die engravings were used, for a defective, damaged engraving does not mean two different roll-die engravings, only that the same defective die was not “retired” and still used. The argument that the value of an “original” 1906 New Model Bulgarian M1908 4¾-inch 30 Cal barrel Parabellum is sufficient to warrant the effort to purportedly fake a facsimile will make a potential, knowledgeable customer for one of these “replicants” very cautious and hopefully suspicious in verifying authenticity before parting with a huge sum. Regardless of the rarity of the variation, its authenticity should be evaluated with standard criteria against any original condition 1906 New Model Parabellum.

Additionally, if the originality of a New Model M1908 Bulgarian Parabellum, specifically the originality of the crest and the commonality of the contract serial number range of the New Model M1908 Bulgarian and the Brazilian contract New Model Parabellums is based solely on the internal factory inspection markings, regardless of any other considerations then one can assume the crests of the Old Model M1903 Bulgarian Parabellum of the DWM production 20000 – 21000 serial number range crests, that all are original, including restored examples, and that there is no financial reason to replicate, even though the value of an Old Model contract M1903 Bulgarian Parabellum has sold at auction in excess of $40,000.

However, it is important to note that prior to the © 2010 & 2011 TBLAP publication, no Luger author, dealer or collector was aware of the purportedly “fake” New Model contract M1908 Bulgarian/Brazilian issue and based the authenticity and originality of a contract M1908 New Model Bulgarian Parabellum solely on an external and sometimes an internal inspection for some evidence of authenticity, other than markings, as there are simply not enough examples for comparisons.

Unless a prospective purchaser of a M1908 New Model Bulgarian Parabellum has studiously read, studied and accepted the TBLAP detailed information on Bulgarian Parabellums, the previous acceptance criteria will stay the same. With that said, pictured are the Bulgarian chamber crests of the Land of Borchardt Bulgarian Parabellums featured in this article and two views of the M1903, M1908 and M1911 with accessories. View 1. View 2.

Owners of New Model contract M1908 Bulgarian Parabellums purchased prior to circa 2000, regardless of their internal markings, the crests are most likely correct despite the purported claim of aftermarket LASER applied crests, as even though LASERS were used before circa 2000 the technology was not yet sufficiently advanced or available until about the mid-2000s to fake a believable Bulgarian crest.

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Complications

To further complicate matters of what has been considered original is demonstrated with a high-quality picture of three Bulgarian Parabellums, an M1903, M1908 and an M1911 pictured on page 107 of the © 1991 Luger: The Multi-National Pistol a.k.a. LTMNP by †C. Kenyon, Jr. The pictured M1903 and M1908 contract Bulgarian Parabellums, both with 4¾-inch 30 Cal barrels that slightly differ in appearance. Specifically, the front sight bands differ with the distinct soft, tapered termination of the New Model M1908 to the barrel vs the typical abrupt, stepped edge termination interface of the Old Model M1903 to the barrel. This can be better seen in a circled close-up of the two sight bands.

The †C. Kenyon, Jr. pictured M1903 Bulgarian sight band abrupt, stepped termination is typical of all Old Model and M1903 Bulgarian Parabellums and most New Model and M1908 Bulgarian Parabellums. Particularly important or significant here is that all observed, potential donor 1906 New Model Brazilian Parabellums with 4¾-inch 30 Cal barrels have the same, typical sight band abrupt, stepped termination barrel interface.

This difference, although minor, but significant in the barrel sight band/barrel termination interface somewhat contradicts Sturgess’s assertion that fake M1908 Bulgarian Parabellums are modified 1906 New Model Brazilian Parabellums. There are at least two M1908 Bulgarian Parabellums with these unique 4¾-inch 30 Cal barrels with several possibilities,

1. that two legitimate barrel variations were used with the M1908 Bulgarian Parabellums, possibly subcontracted barrels from different vendors or,
2. there are two different variations of fake M1908 Bulgarian Parabellums or,
3. the remote possibility that the †C. Kenyon, Jr. pictured M1908 Bulgarian Parabellum and the LOB M1908 Bulgarian Parabellum are one and the same.

It should be noted that the Bulgarian Lugers pictured in Luger: The Multi-National Pistol © 1991 are circa 1991 or earlier and if one questions the authenticity of the M1906 barrel and barrel sight band then Bulgarian Lugers were messed with much earlier than realized, like about 30 plus years ago.

Sturgess Correspondence

September 2003. Thanks very much for taking the trouble to list out your internal markings - I have not had chance to study properly them yet, but I strongly feel that they do indicate period of manufacture for series production variants quite closely (apart from funnies like the prototypes), as things, once changed, tend not to be changed back again later - once the flaming bomb disappeared, it was gone, but old components always turn up to confound the nice clear picture. I think this indicates that more study is worthwhile, but it also begs several questions - especially when were some marks applied.

Obviously, they are a mixture of parts inspection (i.e., passed inspection to drawing within tolerances), fitting inspection (sub-assemblies properly working together) and final inspection stages, one of which I feel quite certainly must have been an internal pressure proof firing (i.e., by DWM personnel, not the independent proof house inspector who applied the BUG marks) for both contract and commercial (and prototype) pistols which did not have the BUG marks. They may therefore have been applied at quite widely spaced intervals, especially as old parts would not have been assembled or proofed/final inspected until made up for sale, while parts manufacture would have been a reasonably continuous batch process.

I feel this is probably the flaming bomb in the frame well on early pistols, since this mark was uniquely used over such a long period of production, and disappears quite abruptly as soon as military inspection and proofing was introduced with the first P.08s. It may well be that other marks such as the circle/triangle and pinwheel are also final inspection marks for subassemblies or the whole pistol, but it is pure guesswork to sort this out, which is why I'm most reluctant to try to explain all this in the book, though I do think it serves its original purpose, which was to try to put the 10xxxB prototypes, and the Navy & French transitionals and then other Old and New Model contract guns into a proper time frame, by comparison with dated P.08s and other guns with known dates associated with them.

As far as the Bulgarians are concerned, this seems to indicate that they were made in a later time frame than previously supposed, and in several widely separated, small batches. the marks in your 861 (receiver and frame well) appear to firmly place the components into the 1910-time frame, the changes being well marked out in time by the change in procedure of marking/inspecting the first contract P.08s around the beginning of the "b" suffix, which is a date that can be closely fixed to the end of 1909/very early 1910, from DWM's delivery history: I'll discuss this further when I see you in Miami over the weekend after next.

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Summary of internal markings TBLAP, Volume I, page 578, Chapter 9, Proof and Inspectors marks

The foregoing observations are summarised in the table (9/11) below, which shows the principal marks and their locations according to the production chronology from 1899 to 1930, as they relate to the major variations of the Parabellum produced during this period. Since the table is based on detailed analysis of only a couple of thousand pistols, which is necessarily time consuming since extensive stripping is required for each pistol, it can only be very approximate in its indications of serial number ranges, and many anomalies will inevitably be found, some of which may in fact point to re-working or repair of some of the pistols analysed, as well as hopefully assisting identification of some of the subtler fakes through their internal marking anachronisms: relatively common and cheap Brazilian New Model contract pistols have, for instance served as the basis for fakes^[6] of the far rarer Bulgarian M1908 New Model, the small Brazilian circle-B mark being removed and spurious Bulgarian chamber and safety markings being added to the Brazilian blank chamber and safety well. With minimal re-finishing and substitution of an appropriately Bulgarian marked extractor, provided the Brazilian donor gun serial number is within the Bulgarian range no mechanical alteration or serial number changes are required to add several thousand dollars to the value of the counterfeit. Comparison of the internal markings and the receiver ring serial numbering between these two variants, as shown in the table will, however, reveal the fraud immediately, however well the false markings are applied.

[4] LASER is an acronym for – Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.

[5] M1908 contract Bulgarian Parabellum serial number 257 being pictured in ©1991 Imperial Lugers by †J. Still on page 204, figure 75B and in ©2007 Central Powers Pistols also by †J. Still, page 398, figure 168.

[6] Note that while that Sturgess continues to state/imply that the M1908 Brazilian Parabellum has: served as the basis of fakes of the far rarer Bulgarian M1908 New Model there are no published examples in books or periodicals or the internet of faked M1908 Bulgarian Parabellums using Brazilian New Model Parabellum parts.

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