1902 DWM 7,65mm para Luger
 

Hello,
This is my first post on this forum. I was recently given a 1902 7,65mm para Luger by my father. This is my first Luger. The pistol is in 95%-98% condition. I do not have the means to post pics at this time. All parts match on my gun. The pistol also has a barrel length that is longer than four inches. Any info regarding how many DWM produced in 1902 would be appreciated. Lastly, what is the ballpark value of this Luger (not that i am interested in selling)? Thanks in advance for a reply.

Rick, the 1902 and the 1906 are very different.

Can't give even a ballpark without a really good description, and pictures.

Need serial number, condition, if all matching etc.

Otherwise, you are asking for wild guesses.


Ed

I just finished taking a look at the serial #. It is 17121. The barrel length is slightly over five inches. All parts are matching.

It is likely a 1906 commercial contract


Ed

according to the database, doesn't that serial # make it a 1900?

Deleted by Moderator

The 1906 production began around #25050. Number 17121 would be a Model 1900 With production date probably late 1901/early 1902.

Hi Rick, Welcome to the forum, and congratulations on your Luger.

You can get some estimates of retail (replacement) value of your Luger by looking at the Simpson listings. These would be good for insurance purposes.

http://www.simpsonltd.com/index.php?...49da19d214b5e3

Your 1900 model Luger should have cupped toggle knobs and a leaf (rather than coil) spring. Please confirm this.

Condition and marking details are quite important in Luger collecting. That's why it's very difficult to give you a ballpark estimate of value without seeing the pistol.

Marc

Thank you for welcoming me to the forum. I appreciate your reply regarding my Luger. My pistol does indeed have cupped toggle knobs and a leaf spring. I am definitely going to look into insuring this pistol in the very near future. Also, in the near future, I am going to purchase a digital camera so that I can post pictures. This is really a great forum with a tremendous amount of very informative information.

Rick,

Your father started you out with what surely is a very desirable Luger.

As you may have read elsewhere, these are rather addictive!

Take good care of it. If it is all matching, consider carefully before firing it. Breaking a matching part really drops it's collector interest and financial value.

Marc

1902 DWM Luger.jpg (90.1 KB)

Nice gun. The bottom of the magazine appears to be a home made replacement.

The magazine is original. The photo of the gun is not the greatest; took it with my cell phone camera.

Hi Rick,

The shape of the wooden base of the magazine is not what you would expect on a factory magazine. While the magazine body and other parts may be original, it's not likely that the wooden magazine base came from DWM. At least I've never seen one with that shape.

On this forum, if he can be of help, Gerald Tomak (G.T.) is an expert on Luger magazines and their restoration.

The barrel looks like a standard 4 3/4" 7.65mm.

The base of the magazine does look strange. It looks like it might be the original home made/hand carved replacement. Just a hunch.....

here are a couple more pics


1004111304_0001.jpg (134.4 KB)
1004111306_0001.jpg (101.5 KB)

The wood base on your magazine is definetily a home-made replacement.

thanks for the reply. Even with it being a replacement wood base, the workmanship appears to be very good.

As I recall those bases were not numbered to the gun, so you should be able to find a correct one for that mag. Contact GT or the Luger Doc, or post a "wanted" ad on this forum. You asked about values, but keep in mind that the market is not good. About the only ones that actually sell these days are those that are deemed to be a bargain OR there is some emotion involved. I will guess $1600-$2500 based only on some very general phone photos. But, as always, I invite others to correct me on that figure.
dju

Hi Rick,

I had a hunch I might find you here.
Congrats on this fine piece of history that is now in your hand.
Pictures of the chamber markings would be very helpful.

Russ

There are no chamber markings present on my Luger; only the DWM marking on the toggle. What is the significance of this?

Only that it was probably not originally intended for export to the USA.
dju

Is there a GERMANY stamp under the serial number on the frame?

--Dwight

Dwight,
There is no Germany stamp on the frame.

There are many Old Model commercials (no chamber stamp) with a GERMANY export mark. This is what indicates an export to the US, not the presence or absence of an American Eagle chamber stamp. This does indeed indicate that your gun was not origianlly a USA-marketed export. No accounting for how it ended up here.

--Dwight

Attached are some additional photos. This Luger may be going to auction in the near future. Potentially, I may post it in the classified section here.

Rick,
You have what appears to be a relatively nice 1900 Commercial Luger that was not marked for distribution to the American market and has a home made magazine base.
It would be a nice approach for you to determine an asking price with which you are comfortable and allow forum members a chance to acquire your Luger. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
Ron

Apologies on bringing a thread back from the dead....sale of this particular model 1900 did not go through years ago. I have attached some better photos of the commercial example.

You should be glad you still have that. Looks like a nice one.

Thanks! Yes, I am quite glad to still have this one.

UPDATE: I have decided to sell the early 1900 commercial DWM Luger that was not destined for export. Really would like to see it go to a collector that focuses on acquiring early models. The pistol can be viewed on Legacy Collectibles. Many excellent photos are provided. The asking price is quite reasonable considering condition and scarcity of the pistol. Overall condition is a solid 85% with all matching parts. The only nuiance is the magazine base.

You may want to ask Legacy to provide a closeup view of the left side of the pistol with the safety lever in the "up" position, as the area under that lever (on Old Model Lugers) is crucial for a potential buyer deciding whether the pistol has its original finish. Legacy should know that by now.