First Acquisition Prompts Me to Join Forum
 

Greetings. This is my first post to the forum and I hope to learn a ton of information from you folks. I joined because I recently purchased a 1916 DWM P.08 that, I believe, is in very good condition. From what I can tell, it's a pretty "run of the mill" early 1916 military issue P.08, if any P.08 can be called that. There's nothing special about it other than condition. Except for the magazines, all parts match, the nitre bluing remains strong and the straw color looks very good. The bore is very nice, with strong lands. There is no unit mark. It came with a holster, but I'm pretty certain it is either a Browning Hi-Power holster or a reproduction. The Nazi party eagle is someone's embellishment. I paid a little more than I wanted to, but what's a few hundred dollars??!!

Is there anything in particular I should know or note, look for, etc.? Thank you!

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Crap - I mistakenly posted this in the Admin forum. I was reading the rules, and thought I was back in the P.08 forum. Mods, if you can move, please do. Otherwise, please delete and I'll repost. Sorry about that.

Welcome to the forum -and don't you think twice about posting in the wrong forum with your first post...

I moved it into the correct forum for you.. ;)

Best,

John Dunkle

Thank you!

The grip, both front and back side, are important area to check.

Hi Andy, I too would like to welcome you to the forum and posting those excellent photographs. Your gun looks like an honest un-messed with gun, since it has a relieved sear bar it was probably manufactured late in1916.
Regards, Norm

The grips are nearly perfect. The left grip does not have the "million dollar chip", and I watched about 234 youtube videos before I attempted to remove them.

Thanks. Any idea of a ballpark value for something like this? I paid $1,400.

No. I don't mean wood panels. I mean the front and back grip strap (the steel). On this gun, the grip should have less than perfect blue.. Have pictures?

If you mean the backstrap and the forestrap, the only picture I have is the one I posted. Do you mean under the grips? If so, I will take some pictures tonight.

I think that at $1400 you did fine.
You need to get yourself a wood bottom magazine (for lookin', not shootin'), and then we need to hear from the holster guys, Bill, Jerry or others, to determine what that holster is for. I would agree that it has been embellished and was originally for another gun, almost looks like the later soft-sided P-38 holsters, but not quite. Any markings?
Welcome, and thanks for sharing.
dju

There are no marks on the holster, so it's definitely not German. I've seen holsters that look exactly like this offered with Hi-Powers, which is why I was thinking that. I also considered whether it could be a P-38 holster, but, again, no proofs, etc. Most of the holsters I've seen for Lugers and P-38s have the magazine pouch on the end, not the front. A friend says that he seems to remember seeing this exact holster in a book which stated that they were imported from Russia in the 90s, so maybe this is a Russian holster that was made to hold captured pistols?

Hi Andy, and welcome to the forum.

You did fine in your purchase. You are right in the mid market pricing for this.

Your metal based magazine is not contemporary with your Luger, and comes from a later period after 1933.

It is a nice 1916 Luger. As Norm mentioned, the relieved sear bar happened later in 1916. It was a design refinement that allows the toggle to be cycled when the safety is on.

Don't store your Luger in the holster, as this can cause finish damage and pitting.

Thank you. I hadn't thought about the holster issue, but it makes sense as I'm sure there are oils, tanning chemicals, etc. that will react with the bluing/metal. I got two non-matching mags, both with metal bottoms. I will look for a proper magazine.

Would like to see a photo of the back of the holster ie the belt loop or loops. My first guess is a Astra 600 holster. Excellent photos!! Welcome to the Forum and the crazy world of luger collecting. Bill

Welcome to the Forum and good job on the excellent photos!

Nice Luger and great photos. A lot of GI's embellished captured holsters with German insignia so the holster and insignia may be original to the pistol.....at least original to the GI who captured it.

Andy your photographs are superb. They are crucial for an accurate assesment or appraisal! I don't believe I have ever seen better close-ups including perfect lighting without shadows! Lugers have 41 parts and I think you captured them all! I look foward to lugering with you~ Great first!! PS You will always remember your first!! Eric

Looks to me like a solid $1400-$1500 gun, so you did just fine. A really nice first Luger.
It looks completely original so far - do you have any pics of the inside?

Not yet. I am still learning how to take these apart. Once I get some time this weekend to play with it, I will take some pictures of the guts.