picture test early luger
 

See if this worked?

Good it did it did!

Glad it did! That is an odd piece...need more photos!
Ron

Try taking your photos without flash and in soft indirect shaded sunlight. They will look better.

Use a camera with adjustable focus and a tripod You'll need to get closer to show details.

Marc

will do guys,yes it’s a bit of a odd duck.
I got this piece from my brothers estate so I’m not really a collector of Lugers though I have always wanted one simply because of their history and beautiful design.
I’ll start another thread with some better pictures and hope that I can get some more information on this pistol.
Thanks.

Tried to magnify your picture. That looks like an interesting piece, I'm sure several of us would love to see better close-ups taken in the shade, natural lighting without flash.

Regards.

Here are a few pictures ,what throws me is the lack of serial numbers and inspection stamp etc. this Luger simply has the DWM scroll on the toggle and the serial number with GERMANY stamped on the frame beneath the barrel.
Maybe disassembled i might find a couple but most pictures I’ve seen seem to show a profusion of stamps lol.
Understand after going through the forum that this should be a very early model with the grip safety and the dished toggle knobs.
Other than that I’m in the dark.
As I said not really a collector and received this piece through my brothers estate so it does have sentimental value.

A few more!

today again removed the side plate and now see clearly the inside is stamped with the numeral 8
Actually it’s stamped twice.
I’m therefore assuming it’s original to this Luger as the serial number on the frame under the barrel is 8008. With Germany stamped beneath it.
If you look close the 8 is clearly visible.
But the style of this side plate has me stumped, it was mentioned that it could be a custom made plate but that really makes no sense to me as I’m sure there were replacement plates readily available if one were needed.
It was said by my brother that this could have been a pre production piece meaning the pistol, but just maybe the plate!
Anyone else have any thought on this strange Luger?

Just realized the picture of the inside of the plate is missing

Side plate may have an "8", but it is not original DWM manufacture.
By serial 8008, production was well established.

Your example has been significantly buffed and refinished, probably removed a few numbers.
The original side plate would have had a number along the bottom edge.
The take down lever should have a number on the bottom also.
The mid toggle link may have a number on the bottom inside, the breech block should also have a number; the number on the rear of the toggle may have been polished away- but I think I can still see residual numbers there.

And those residual numbers do not match. Looks like an 8 or a 3 followed by a 5.

Seeing as this seems to be a non- matching numbers gun I’m thinking of replacing the side plate with a authentic DWM plate that would at least give it a correct look.
Just out of curiosity what would a ballpark value on this Luger be?
I did field strip it and found a number 76 on the bottom of the barrel extension. Also the recoil spring is the early type not the coil spring.
Oh,and the grips were correctly numbered 08.

Curious
 

I'm really curious about the side plate- I've never seen any Luger with one like that. I hope someone on the forum has an answer, they probably will.

Be assured that if I do replace that plate I will keep this custom made one!

Ragner,

A regular P-08 side plate will fit an M1900, however, the trigger lever in the side plate is different and will not fit. In my opinion, if the "custom" side plate works OK leave it as is.

KFS

actually haven’t attempted to fire this piece yet, though cocking and dry firing produces a click. I’m going to have it inspected first.

Be careful dry firing it without a snap cap in it. The mechanism is fairly robust but the firing pin is probably at least 113 years old and could easily break that way. Also, before you shoot it, make sure you know which caliber it’s chambered for.

That’s a question that’s been going through my mind assumed it was 9mm simply cuz I found 5 box’s of 9mm Luger ammo in the gun safe with the piece but on reading and finding the different calibers produce had me wondering and making sure that when I have it inspected will be one of my first questions’ and yes know excess dry snapping’s not healthy for any firearm.

If you look in the stickys, there is a real simple way to tell whether the caliber is 7.65Para, or 9mm Para.

1900's were not normally made in anything besides 7.65mm - the 1906 was both calibers, but not the 1900.

It looks like a 7.65mm and would bet a nickle on it being that caliber. as said above, see FAQ (but if a normal #2 pencil fits easily, its a 9mm, a bit tight, its a 30 luger)

also - I didn't think 1900 - commercial grips were numbered....

Ed, some 1900 grips were numbered (at least 15191 is), but I have no idea when the practice started.
Lyn

The photo of the inside of your current "custom" side plate is cut like an original M1900 type (different from the PO8), the outside is definatly unique. TH

The machining of the inside suggests to me that it is an original side plate that has been ground flat on the outside with an added piece, perhaps hard soldered onto the original.

KFS

No.2 pencil test tells me it a 7.65, guess I have 250 rounds of 9mm Luger ammo to sell.☺️
Thx for the FAQ tip fellows.

Larry.

that would be one explanation but begs the question...Why?

More and better images of the side plate are needed to help solve this mystery.

here are my best close ups.

Those help. Here's some lightened versions.
Whoever made that side plate had skills and the proper tools.

thank you for brightening up the images, will save this to my Luger album.

Reading Karl’s post again and the thought occurred to me if in fact the face of the side plate contained a original number but was ground away is it possible the gunsmith restamped the number we see on the inside in order to assure to future owners it’s an original part!
Just fishing for answers here.

Ragnar,
It is not an "original" part, may have started life as one- but is no longer.
There is just no "explaining" the why it is the way it looks- and it really doesn't matter -
Someone modified it, or created a new one.

Accept it for what it is and move on! JMHO :)

03man
Of course your right but just love solving a good mystery if I can lol.
Guess it should be enough knowing it’s a M1900.....if in fact it is.
Would love to know the year of manufacture if anyone cares to throw out a guess.

It is definitely a 1900, more properly called "Old Model Parabellum"; I think someone already suggested 1901 as its mfg. time, but that may be on the other forum.

Wish to thank all here on the forum for their help,advice and expertise.

Larry.

Nah, that just means you have to get another in 9 mm!

Hmmm’!