I'm new and I need some information please.
 

I purchased my first Luger today to add to a collection. I like police used pistols mainly. This one, 1915 is quite nice, 97-98% w/90% straw. All numbers match except magazine but it is a period wood based mag. It was a rework adding the sear safety.
it has all the military proof marks on the reciever but while cleaning it, I came across what I think is a ReichAdler mark on the left side of the toggle. I have looked at your luger proof marks and from the one I can identfy with, it's a Mauser toggle mark and this one I have is a DWM. I first thought that sometime during the Nazi time the toggle was replaced but looking at it, I don't think it has. The matching number 11 is still on top. So!!! what are the opinions of you that know more than I do about Lugers?

Much appreciated. I have attached a couple of photo, the best I could do.

http://i47.tinypic.com/vjcb9.jpg

http://i45.tinypic.com/23kx16o.jpg

please show full left, full right, top of the gun, any markings

All we can say right now is that the breach block was replaced or proofed during the nazi period - does it have numbers underneath it?

I'll take some more shots...be right back.

Attachment 30420I aint no expert by no means, but its possible that the luger went through a rearmament some where along the way and was replaced. I have a Erfurt police luger with a part DMW toggle and a simpson marked rear toggle. But all have been restamped to match the original serail number. Maybe this can help, but I aint 100% positive. I know there are others here that are more qulaified to answer this question.

So... Im curious just how off I am :rolleyes:

Attachment 30417

Attachment 30418

Attachment 30419

Attachment 30420

A simpson side plate. What gave that away, Im curious

http://i50.tinypic.com/pas5u.jpg

http://i47.tinypic.com/2rqn246.jpg

http://i48.tinypic.com/2ymx3yb.jpg

http://i46.tinypic.com/10ypb9i.jpg

http://i46.tinypic.com/qsv2wx.jpg

It has the ser number and under that small cased script 'a' and bottom end of barrel.

NonComRetired... I mixed up the two pistols posted onto this thread. Deleted my prior posting... On second look, the other pistol has probably has an Erfurt side plate...

Your pistol has both the sear safety and the magazine safety. That is unusual to find. Most of the magazine safeties were removed. Yours looks to be in very good condition except for the chip from the grip, which is a large one.

Get in touch with Hugh Clark. He has the skill to repair grips like this.

The breech block replacement would have been after 1933 to get that proof eagle. Is the firing pin fluted? If so, it was replaced with a later part.

Marc

Its a beautiful gun. looking at the pictures the link between the breech block and center link looks like it could have some scarred up areas around the circumference of the toggle pin hole. Its hard to tell through the pics though.

Is the chip not a cut out to accommodate the mag safety?

With what you see, no reissue army marks, would it have been a police issue from end WWI to end of WWII, do you think and then proofed for the nazi period. There is no police unit markings but it still has the WWI MG unit markings on the grip strap.

I haven't broke it down yet to check the firing pin.

Can't see any scaring on top at all. Hardly any scaring on the gun at all. One side of a grip is a worn spot but on the metal, some holster wear but that's all.

The chip I was talking about is in the area at the top rear of the left grip near the gold safety lever that is broken off, exposing the base of the safety lever.

Marc

OH!! Yes, I see now says the blind man!!! Need to get that fixed for sure. Thanks

I see a 1915 DWM army luger that later received a mag and sear safety; this would have been after 1933 to around 1936 and not all police guns received the mag safety.

In 1937 it was decided that mag safeties were not working out and were deactivated, some were cut like yours, some were totally removed. The grips on many guns will show a 'chipped' area there, that is correct (I will have to look and see where yours is chipped)

Sometimes its best not to show another gun in the same thread :p

Took the grips off, they are marked also #11. The mag safety from what I can see is still very much there, plunger spring and the release. The chip area look like a clean cut and not a break. I'm not expert of Lugers, I said this is my first one, so I'm virgin to knowledge of what I read only and then things are not always clear.

If the magazine safety was intact, I think it would add to the collector value of this police Luger...To someone who collects Police Lugers... ;)

Does it actually extend behind the trigger??? I can't quite tell from the pic...Many were 'deactivated' by simply cutting off the tang that extended behind the trigger...Leaving the useless pieces in place... :(

Its not in the finish at. It just looks as if someone tried to pry the center toogle pin out. Heres some of you pics with closeup of that area. Im not dogging on that luger by no means. Its a very nice gun. I would love to own it. This area just caught my eye when looking at it. Whats your opinion?

Attachment 30421

Attachment 30422


Ed,
I do apologize for having two guns in a thread. He intialy was asking about the rework of oilie guns. I was just the first one to chime in and just give some examples of one with different markings, just no a nazi proff. And I agrree that trying to talk about multiple things in a thread can be confusing. Sorry.

Cant wait to read up on these police style lugers.

I had a closer look at that area, I don't think they are pry marks, there are some marks as you pointed out but not what I would call deep seated cut marks.

going back to the original question of the nazi marking on the breachblock; it could be a replacement (most likely) or was cleaned up and restamped (proofed / accepted)

Ed
SSG USA (RET)
.
.

Thanks.....I have also found that the mag safety is still in full use.

When I saw your post, I thought I was talking to meself

I'm also:
Ed
SSG USA(ret) in 85.

Do you think it was police carried?

Undoubtedly. It has all the features of a police issue pistol.

Thanks, that's what I was hoping for. It will stand nicely between my city and rural police shakos. I also have a JP Saur & Sohn police, a Mauser HSC police and a Walther PP 1940 made swedish contract police in mint condition. Saving now for a Walther PPK police.

I'd like to see close ups, very, very seldom is a mag safety intact.


Ed

I'll try to get some, my Kodak Brownie Box isn't all that great with close-ups..........

:D

http://i50.tinypic.com/33ys7c3.jpg

http://i48.tinypic.com/fngsy1.jpg

http://i49.tinypic.com/iglouw.jpg

SWEET! Good photo's.

From the photo's, nice, it looks like the mag safety has been clipped. Nice luger. Bill

Since I'm a virgin to Lugers, can you point out where it has been clipped? I have an idea but I really don't know since I've never seen an un-clipped mag safety.

BTW, I cowboyed in Stillwater Co for a while..........

I finally came across some photos showing where the mag safety has been clipped and this one has been clipped.

so, I have a 1915 DWM luger w/ army acceptance proofs, assigned to a MG Unit, later was reworked sometime after 1926 for police use adding the sear safety. Sometime after 1933 is was proofed by the nazi regime or the toggle was a nazi proof toggle replacement and given the mag safety also. The mag safety was clip around 1936/37. Am I close?

My mis-match magazine is numbered 818 and my luger ser# is 1011 so if you have mine and I have yours, well, ya never know.

Sounds like your Luger has certainly "been around".
dju

yes, you can also see and read info on the sear and mag safety in the FAQ or by gum in Dwights and my brand new book :)


Ed

I love documented History. Now if I could decypher what MG unit exactly it was in and maybe I can get some research done on the unit.

I might just get that book, this luger has sparked an interest where there wasn't one before..............if I find I'm becoming a Luger addict, I'll need one.

I re-read the thread and missed the part about a "MG" unit. Does it have unit markings?
dju

Yes 1.M.G.21.A.

Sorry, it's too late: more will come!
Nice Luger, with a lot of story.

Douglas

Has anybody chimed in on the Unit Marks?

I read "First Machinegun Regiment, 21st. Division or Company" ?

A= "Abtailung"?

You're the first and alot more close that I was for sure.......Thanks.