new member seeking info

cwwalker · Yesterday, 01:32 PM

I inherited a Luger from my father who pasted away in 1982. I would like to know 2 things about the gun. first I would like to know when and possibly where the gun was made. Second i would like to know an APPROXIMATE value of the gun. I will send some photos of the gun to help identification.

Thanks in advance

cwwalker

Curly1 · Yesterday, 04:23 PM

welcome to the forums

gunnertwo · Today, 12:32 AM

Your pistol appears to be a commercial production from the mid 1930's made by DWM. You did not state the caliber and I'm guessing it's 7.65 Parabellum (called .30 Luger in the US). The Germans were prohibited from making pistols in military calibers due to the Versailles treaty. The gun appears in fine condition. You should check out YouTube for instructions on disassembly to determine it has matching numbers. Mismatched guns have lower values. If all matching an estimate of value is around $1400. Lugers in 7.65 cal are less desirable than those in 9mm. Collector interest tends to lean towards the military contract pistols. Get back with us when you learn more. Thanks.

G2

Bill_in_VA · Today, 08:47 AM

It’s a commercial Luger, what’s commonly called an “alphabet Luger.” Yours is in the “n” block which puts manufacture at around 1925, IIRC. It is .30 caliber, not 9mm, and was made by DWM and imported into the US as evidenced by the “Germany” stamping. The finish looks original, albeit rough with pitting. The alphabet Lugers are one of the most common variants but one of the least desirable because of the caliber and lack of “mystique” otherwise associated with military guns. Matching, excellent condition alphabet Lugers are fairly common and can be found in the range of $1200-1400. With the finish issues yours has, expect it to be worth a few hundred less.

velodog455~ · Today, 09:02 AM

Made by DWM for export, probably to the U.S. The fact that it is both a commercial (non military) pistol in .30 Luger, as well as being an alphabet Luger, put it at about the bottom of Luger resale values, all other factors notwithstanding.

FWIW, value-wise, I have a 1928 alphabet Luger in .30 caliber that I bought from a pawn shop 2 years ago for $1,050 out the door. Mine is all matching numbers and has a little better finish.

If yours is also all matching numbers then I think my $1,050 price represents the floor of what yours is worth. You might get more for it from a motivated buyer, assuming one surfaces.

It should make a fine shooter for either you or someone else as collector value is minimal, IMHO. Others may chime in with differing opinions.
-Bob

Mac Cat · Today, 05:36 PM

Welcome to the Forum
You have a nice heirloom luger - keep it in the family !

You can confirm the caliber by trying to slide a standard #2 pencil into the barrel.
It will pass through a 9mm, but not the 7.65mm (.30 cal luger) barrel.
The ammunition is still in production.

Get it checked out by a gunsmith familiar with lugers.

I can't tell what kind of magazine it has, but if you shoot it, make sure it's a new magazine.
Mec-Gar still makes very good magazine and they are in many on-line gun stores.
The magazines work with 7.65mm or 9mm ammunition.
Use "target loads", not anything NATO or high powered.

Today, 08:47 AM	#4
Bill_in_VA Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Southwest Virginia Posts: 417 Thanks: 846 Thanked 658 Times in 232 Posts	It’s a commercial Luger, what’s commonly called an “alphabet Luger.” Yours is in the “n” block which puts manufacture at around 1925, IIRC. It is .30 caliber, not 9mm, and was made by DWM and imported into the US as evidenced by the “Germany” stamping. The finish looks original, albeit rough with pitting. The alphabet Lugers are one of the most common variants but one of the least desirable because of the caliber and lack of “mystique” otherwise associated with military guns. Matching, excellent condition alphabet Lugers are fairly common and can be found in the range of $1200-1400. With the finish issues yours has, expect it to be worth a few hundred less. __________________ John 8:32 reive (riːv) vb (Military) (intr) dialect Scot and Northern English to go on a plundering raid [variant of reave] ˈreiver n e.g., " Some view the Border Reivers as loveable rogues."

Yesterday, 04:23 PM	#2
Curly1 User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1,263 Thanks: 130 Thanked 722 Times in 379 Posts	welcome to the forums __________________ Laugh hard and often. Gary

Today, 12:32 AM	#3
gunnertwo User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Nampa, Idaho Posts: 659 Thanks: 858 Thanked 987 Times in 384 Posts	Your pistol appears to be a commercial production from the mid 1930's made by DWM. You did not state the caliber and I'm guessing it's 7.65 Parabellum (called .30 Luger in the US). The Germans were prohibited from making pistols in military calibers due to the Versailles treaty. The gun appears in fine condition. You should check out YouTube for instructions on disassembly to determine it has matching numbers. Mismatched guns have lower values. If all matching an estimate of value is around $1400. Lugers in 7.65 cal are less desirable than those in 9mm. Collector interest tends to lean towards the military contract pistols. Get back with us when you learn more. Thanks. G2

Today, 09:02 AM	#5
velodog455~ User Join Date: Aug 2023 Posts: 112 Thanks: 31 Thanked 110 Times in 61 Posts	Made by DWM for export, probably to the U.S. The fact that it is both a commercial (non military) pistol in .30 Luger, as well as being an alphabet Luger, put it at about the bottom of Luger resale values, all other factors notwithstanding. FWIW, value-wise, I have a 1928 alphabet Luger in .30 caliber that I bought from a pawn shop 2 years ago for $1,050 out the door. Mine is all matching numbers and has a little better finish. If yours is also all matching numbers then I think my $1,050 price represents the floor of what yours is worth. You might get more for it from a motivated buyer, assuming one surfaces. It should make a fine shooter for either you or someone else as collector value is minimal, IMHO. Others may chime in with differing opinions. -Bob

Today, 05:36 PM	#6
Mac Cat Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 782 Thanks: 2,224 Thanked 671 Times in 358 Posts	Welcome to the Forum You have a nice heirloom luger - keep it in the family ! You can confirm the caliber by trying to slide a standard #2 pencil into the barrel. It will pass through a 9mm, but not the 7.65mm (.30 cal luger) barrel. The ammunition is still in production. Get it checked out by a gunsmith familiar with lugers. I can't tell what kind of magazine it has, but if you shoot it, make sure it's a new magazine. Mec-Gar still makes very good magazine and they are in many on-line gun stores. The magazines work with 7.65mm or 9mm ammunition. Use "target loads", not anything NATO or high powered.