New acquisition!!! 1911 DWM
 

I am new here. Just acquired my first Luger. It's a 1911 DWM. All matching, good finish, holster wear here and there. Straw still there but faded. Serial 54XX, with either a script capital "L" or small "e". No bolt hold open, not cut for stock, and has a loop on the back of the frame for a landyard. Mag is wood bottom, numbered 4759, with the same " L" or "e". Also have an aluminum bottom mag numbered 6010 " i", a stamp that appears to be an eagle over the number 83. Unit marking is " B.3.T.S.1.16.". Would appreciate any info, and maybe a ballpark value.

it sounds like a very nice gun however photos are needed before we can venture an estimate of value.
Dju

It is most likely a small "e". Both "e" and "l" suffix Lugers were produced in 1911, but the "l" was not capitalized. I'm sure everyone would like to see some photos of your new piece.

Okay, dju beat me to the photo comment, but coming back to edit gives me a chance to welcome you aboard. It's a good source of information.

Bayerische Train Batallion 3,Sanitaets Compagnie 1, Waffe 16. It's a pistol issued to a Bavarian medic.

Sorry for the low quality pics. Had to use my phone.

Barrel

This is a beautiful gun!

For your first Luger, I think that you started out with a real winner....Congrats!!

OK, Gents, let's hear your thoughts on value.
I'm guestimating, with that spare magazine, from $1500 to $1750 as a realistic sales price, but then I have a soft spot for those early DWM's. What do the rest of you think?
dju

I would say $1700-$1800 assuming it's all matching.
But that's really a wild guess because the pics posted have not shown the whole gun.

Love the wood bottom mag - it's probably worth a couple hundred by itself, if the metal is in really good shape.

Best I can get. Thanks for all the info.

The early wood bottom mag alone is worth a bunch.

Nyghtfall,

That's an awesome way to start any Luger collection, good find! I also have a Bavarian DWM 1911 without the hold-open.

Merry Christmas to you and all members on this board!

Balder

I really appreciate all the great info. This is going to become my favorite website!!! Merry Christmas to everyone!!!

I would agree with the estimates, but ensure it is all matching as it should be.

Has a hold open been added?

The early wood mag, as Herman said is worth a decent amount if in nice shape (maybe $200 or more, depending on condition).

Welcome to the forum!

Ed

No bolt hold open. I have not taken the grips off to see if they are numbered, but everything else matches. Is it OK to clean the grips? I have seen posts on how to do it.

Welcome to our LUGER forum, and congratulations on your first Luger, it's quite a good start.

Sergio

Cleaning the grips must be done very carefully, particularly taking off the left panel so as not to chip away wood from behind the safety. Sort of lift it out at the bottom just enough to clear the frame, then rotate the bottom so that the top slips out of the grove, but never force it.
I use a soft toothbrush and some mineral spirits or paint thinner. If hey are dry and I want to freshen them up a bit I'll add a few drops of boiled lindseed oil to the mineral spirits, but be advised that this is a personal choice and that some of the more advanced collectors recommend doing nothing.
dju

Yes, unfortunately it already has the chip under the safety.

FYI we do have a member or 2 here who specializes in restoring Luger grips and they can "fill" that million dollar chip so that you can't tell. Again a personal thing...
dju

Nyghtfall,

Sometimes those old grips fall right off, but sometimes they are stuck (I have one like that). If the grip is stuck, it helps to put your finger in the mag well and push out on the bottom of the grip, rather than trying to pry the grip up and break it more.

You have a very nice collectable, and I must say, some excellent beginners luck!

- Geo

I would advise leaving the grips as is, and not clean them. Nice early luger. John

BTW, if anyone is interested, I paid $800 for the gun.

Luger is very widely distributed. One peasant phrase,,,if translating into English,, roughly says "a son who sold his father's land cheaply did not feel painful". Not every son behaves that way, but as long as the volume is there well distributed, some sons do that, statistically :)

I think something got lost in that translation
Jack

Well, the original phrase probably describes men who sold their ancestor's properties and then wasted money on gumbling, opium, brothel, etc. If putting in regular living,,,, still acceptable. The original phrase did not say that though. For a peasant, sold land, then he lost everything. But we can expand the meaning as above. Never mind, it's off topic, I know.

Alvin,
I think what you are saying is someone sold that gun way too cheap, probably because it was inherited and they had no interest in it. Am I close?

Nyghtfall, you're either very lucky or an amazing negotiator! Where did you find this Luger for $800?

Just did a little bit statistics on Luger value based on public data.

Morphy sold a few Lugers a few days ago. Sold price listed below, the number after "/" sign is the final cost, with 18% BP counted:

byf42, #6997, 95%, $1500/1770
42, 1940, #6219, mismatch, $750/885
DWM 1912, #92, 90%, $950/1121
Erfurt 1918, #3536, 80%, $750/885
S/42, #3783, %95, $1900/2242
byf42, #9206, %95, $1600/1888
42, 1940, #5433, $1800/2124
DWM 1918 LP08, #4868, $2000/2360
Mauser Interarms, 9mm, $1600/1888
DWM 1917, %65, $750/885
DWM 1917, %70, $750/885
DWM 1917, %85, $750/885
byf41, #8131, %98, $3000/3540
DWM (1920), #455, 7.65mm, %98, $750/885
DWM (1920), #9662, 9mm, %90, $750/885
42, 1939, #9308, %95, $1800/2124
DWM (1920), Police, 9mm, #1285, %92, $800/944
Erfurt 1917, #3399, %95, $1100/1298

DWM 1912 sold $1121. But consider auction house charges a fee on seller too, the final $$ falling into owner's pocket is probably about $800. So, market value range is $800-$1200.

From this list, it's interesting to notice Interarms. I was interested in it, but I did not even have a chance, too many people love it and pumped it up quickly.

Here is the link, the "Sold for" was the hammer price, 18% BP not counted yet. Adding 18% is the final price:

https://www.proxibid.com/asp/Catalog.asp?aid=89390

Alvin

Here we have more or less the same saying, anyway all things considered prices are lower in the States, for instance the below pictured 1920 Commercial is for sale at the equivalent price of USD 2350.00 and that very common 1936 S/42 rechambered 9x21 IMI for USD 1470.00

Sergio

Here's the scoop. I found the Luger on Gunlistists.org. It was here in Missouri. The gentleman had it listed for 2-3 months. He had it listed to trade. I had contacted him a few times. He set a value at $1200. Well I had a handgun that I had about $800 in. I offered to trade and he jumped on it. I had to drive about 50 miles to make the deal. My Dad had always wanted a Luger and never had one. So I grew up wanting one too. I wanted it to shoot, but thought I would check it out for value beforehand. Glad I did!!!! Guess it was a better deal than I initially thought!!!!

The hammer prices at Morphys are interesting. WWI sold for less than what I would expect, and much less than blue book, but WWII seem to be selling high. Are WWI Lugers falling out of favor?
Maybe I should start buying while they are cheap.

Alvin,

I looked at the 1912 on Morphys. It is missing a takedown spring, likely has repro or reblued grip screws (they're way too nice given the condition of the grips and gun), it has no pictures of the magazine so who knows what it has, and the straw is weak. On these auctions there is no way to determine the matching condition of all internal parts, so most people bid low to manage risk (I know I do). Market range for that gun on Morphys may be $1100-1200, but I would say the OP's gun & two mags is still worth more.

I also think that other than hard core collectors like us, very few people are buying old guns the week before Christmas - most folks are out shopping for gifts for family and friends, and fewer bidders means lower prices. The Interarms is a shocker though - that was a nice Christmas present for the seller!

- Geo

Geo -- There is some risk on auction buying due to their return policy. For regular DWM or Erfurt, if putting in hands of dedicated collectors, and grant them 3-day inspection, the risk should be zero. But auctioneer usually considers sales being final. For a $1000, or $2000 purchase, how many people will go across a few states distance to PA preview session? Probably only local people.

It's interesting to note "MR LUGER" (a collector of this type of gun) inspected those Lugers in auction. Although his description may not be 100% correct on all Lugers, the accuracy should be acceptable on a group of Lugers. After all, he's a Luger collector and numerous instances have passed through his hands over years. On specific instance,,,, say, this DWM 1912, spring and screw are not numbered parts, not inspector stamped parts either, so not big issue. The risk is not high at this price level.

FYI, I removed the grips, and they too are numbered to the gun. However, the cover plate is not numbered at all.

The side plate should be numbered with the last 2 digits. Certain that they are not along the lower edge of the plate, visible only from the bottom?
dju

You're right!!!!! There they are!!!!! Guess I expected them to be on the side. Thanks.

Very nice early unit marked Luger. As mentioned, great start to an historical collection. Thanks for sharing.

Joe

Like the others said, it was a great start for a Luger collection.
And you paid the half of its actual value.
Congratulations and welcome to the club!

Douglas.