Pictures are better, but they lack detail when enlarged to try to "see" what the upper center marking might be.
Need to take the picture with more "active" pixels- just not enough detail there.

Here is best I could do with data in the picture.

A nice photo has arrived!

1913 pic
 

Grand daughter took pic with her fancy phone. I hope this is what you are looking far.

Bump - hoping someone will comment on the markings now that we finally have a good photo. Even if the comment is that the markings are unknown/mean nothing, that's helpful.

Yes, it is a good picture and the correct one!

The "odd" shape looks like an "arrowhead" but may be a "barred shield". Neither fits the observed characteristics of the frame.

I don't know what the frame is, but it is not a post 1914 DWM, for two reasons, it does not have an "N" or circled "N" in the well, and it has a grip safety.
The serial number of 356a, also is an enigma- which should be a military number.

I am mystified and bumfuzzled. :confused:

1913 dwm
 

Found 3 more stamps on pistol. 1 in rear of lower frame and 2 real small ones on upper receiver. Will try to send pic.

4 scales did you get the last 3 pic sent today?

Three more also of solid quality.

I believe we have established that the receiver is DWM.
It is the vintage of the frame that remains unknown, these last pictures don't help.

1913 dwm
 

How do you determine the vintage of the frame?

A few years back I saw a similar pistol on Simpson's site. It had a DWM military barrel extension with the date over the chamber, but a Swiss .30 caliber 4.75" barrel. It was a quality rework, very nice and offered for around $1,400. I remember the pistol well because I strong considered purchasing it. I forget who I spoke to at Simpson but they said they see a few like that from time to time, which they defined as Swiss re-works of Imperial militaries that were then sold into the Swiss commercial market post WWI. I found their explanation and the pistol both fascinating and sort of regret not getting it. Given Ron's comments at post #36, absent other information to the contrary I have to wonder if this may be another example of the type.

Determining frame vintage requires real expertise. If you compare Ron's post #36 in this thread to this tutorial on frames http://luger.gunboards.com/showthrea...Frame-Tutorial that will enlighten on some of the characteristics to consider.