Help Identifying Luger
 

Hello Everyone,
Sorry this is my first post, please be patient.

My buddy inherited this luger from his father. His dad was a forward observer with the 94 Infantry Division during WW2. His father, who spoke fluent German, received it when his unit took the city of Ludwigshafen around 21 - 24 March 1945. He actually receive it voluntarily from a German citizen baker, who feared due to Nazi propaganda, American retribution. The story that was given with the gun indicated it had belonged to a German officer in WWI.

My question is what does he have here, and what is the ballpark value? Holster & Magazine are original.

Do all the numbers match on the gun and does the serial number on the magazine match the gun? Also what is the date on the chamber and are there any marks on the front of the grip strap?

Looks like a very nice DWM imperial military Luger from the 1st world war. The above information would need to be confirmed to help give a good estimate on value.

The photos are not good and the info. is sketchy, however it does look very nice, exceptionally nice bluing and straw coloring. If the numbers match except the mag, maybe $1600, with matching mag. maybe $2000. If the numbers do not match, then a grand or less.
I'm not familiar with that style of holster, but I'm certain that the others here are.
Again very ballpark figures based on unusually good condtion.
dju

David and Michel, the holster looks like a commercial or very early holster. It's all very nice but I'd like to see more of it ;)

Is there a tool pouch on the inside, extra magazine?

Looks suspiciously nice...

Your buddy may have a winner. In spite of the bad lighting and not so great photos, there are some things that look right. Really would like to see better focus and closer photos taken in natural light without single point lighting like a lamp or flash. It is a good looking gun and I for one would like to see more. Ballpark values would then follow.

That is a very nice condition WWI army Luger, made in 1915. Appears to be original finish, but like the other folks said, better pictures are needed to be more certain.

I agree with David on the value = $1600-$2000 for the gun - IF it has matching numbers on all the internal parts.
I've never seen a holster like that and don't know what it's worth but it is not an original WWI army holster.
The magazine bottom looks suspicious, like a repro - color & finish appears wrong.

Can you provide close up pictures of the mag sides & bottom?

Apart from the magazine woden bottom all the rest looks in excepional conditions... too good to be true? A close inspection would be needed.

My view is that the finish is original, from the photos available. It jibes with the story. Why would a baker have a Luger? His personal gun from WW1, or a relatives, most likely. Kept intact and never used between the wars and until surrendered in 1945.

Also, I would expect and expertly "restored" Luger to be paired with a nice, correct WW1 holster to enhance the deception, not a civilian offering.

The holster is a real plus. It's a very early Reichsrevolver holster converted to P08 use.

VERY NICE! A keeper for sure.

I would agree with George on your Luger and holster. With the scarce and desirable RR converted holster, it correlates with the story of this belonging to an Imperial officer. Officers were required to purchase their own sidearm.

I think your friend has an exceptionally nice example. IMO, insurance (not necessarily market) value would be closer to $3000.00.

Hello Everyone - thanks for the help. Any idea on about where & about when it was made. My buddies father actually registered the gun when he came back from the war with the city of Detroit. He has (and I have digital copy but don't feel comfortable posting) the registration paperwork. There are two certs: Customs Cert & Safety Cert. All of the serial numbers on the paperwork match the gun.

1) All serial numbers match on the gun
2) He has three clips. One with no serial number and wooden bottom? He has two other clips with serial numbers but do not match the gun.
3) More pictures are attached.
4) I may have missed any other requests that may help??

It was made in 1915, the date on the chamber. It was made by DWM in (or near) Berlin. The gun is a beauty, one of the better ones out there. it is standard military issue so not an officer private purchase, but it may have been carried by an officer. The cross hatched base on the magazine in the gun is something someone "customized" or replaced. The two magazines in the pouch are original and look to be in as nice of condition as the gun. The pouch itself is very interesting and would appreciate a photo of the back side. If original also, it has considerable value. The whole kit and kaboodle is pushing 3 Grand.

Thanks! I will get the pictures of the back side of the pouch.

Yow!! This enssamble keeps getting better and better!!

The pouch appears to be made by Eugen Huber. If so it will be marked so on the cover just above the button. The two pieces of leather have a considerable value.

The holster is a BAVARIAN altered Reichsrevolver holster and as Geo said it is also a Bavarian mag pouch.

Another plus are the two spare magazines in the pouch, which seem to have almost pristine wood bases.

Are the wood bases numbered?

I am sorry, I maybe confused. What do you mean by wood bases?

there are three magazines. Two of which are fully metal with serial numbers (the serial numbers do not match the gun). The third magazine has the wood at the bottom, which I have no idea why there would be wood on the bottom of a magazine??

Thanks again for all of your help & history lessons. This is great stuff!!!

Forgot to post this picture as well.

Those two magazines are not "fully metal", they also have wood bases. The "bases" that folks are referring to are the wooden finger pulls at the bottom of the magazine. The numbering of the magazines in the pouch is a bit unusual. They are numbered in the early style along the long axis of the base, but I have not seen any that were numbered off-center like these. It would be nice to see close up clear photos of the numbers...it appears that there may be a letter suffix or acceptance mark below the numbers. Sorry to keep asking for photos but that is the only way to determine what these articles are. Thanks.