Star plus all serials list. Buymilsurp.com Ortgies Patent 7.65 Pistol Deutsche Werke Erfurt. Ortgies Paten right side frame, Serial number and GERMANY in front of trigger guard.

Heinrich Ortgies lived in Liege Belgium for many years and pistol patents (Br pats 146422/1918, 146423/1918, and 146424/1918) were granted to him circa 1916-1918.

After WW1 he returned to Germany and set up in business manufacturing Ortgies pistols in 7.65 mm calibre. Over 10000 pistols were manufactured by 1921 when he died and Deutsche Werke AG purchased the patents and machinery. 7.65 mm pistols were manufactured 1920 to 1928. 9 mm short pistols were manufactured from 1922 to 1926. 6.35 mm pistols were manufactured from 1921 to 1928.

The pistols were very well designed and made. No screws were used in the assembly, the parts lock together. The pistols incorporated no screws and even the grip panels had spring clips. There are some examples with screws holding the grip panels from Deutsche Werke.
The Ortgies pistols are striker fired and have a grip safety which blocks the sear-bar. Some weapons have a button safety as well. This was a made to order feature and scarce. The button safety only blocks the grip safety from disengaging. In the up position the button safety engages the grip safety.

These pistols are very collectable due to their good quality and excellent design, engineering and finish. 435000 pistols were manufactured of all the different types and calibres after World War 1. 185000 were 6.35 mms and 250000 were 7.65 mm and 9 mm combined.
(ref. ‘Price guide for collector handguns’ - R H Balderson p318, ‘The G/D modern gun values’ p123, ‘Pistols of the world’ by Hogg and Weeks p81/176,)