DWM Luger
 

Hello,


I am wondering what is the manufacturing year of the Luger that I just got. It is a DWM Commercial 9 mm luger with 4 " barrel. In the side of the gun and under the barrel there is commercial proof mark N with crown (sheet 1 mark 4 in Technical Information)


The serial number is 74431 and it is stamped in the barrel and in the front of the frame. Several parts are stamped with number 31.


The gun has a light brown holster with the year 1915 in side also marking J.R.111 which might indicate to infantry regiment 111 (in Finland). There is one magazine with wooden bottom plate and no number.


Thank you


Tero

Re: DWM Luger
 

The unnumbered wood bottom magazine is the correct issue mag for your Model 1923 commerical luger. Production of these actually stated in 1919 at about S/N 73500, where the preWW1 commericals left off, and continued upto 99,999 where the so called 20 commericals began, using the military style serialization (up to 4 numeric digits and a suffix letter. Due to Versailles Tready restictions, most of these left German with 7.65x95mm barrels, many of which were later changed by the importers to longer 7.65 or 9mm, based on customer's orders. See "Lugers at Random" pages 200 thru 205.

Tom already answered your questions but since we haven't seen you post
 

before today, Welcome Tero...


Please take time to open your own profile ( see the link at the top of the discussion page "Edit your profile") so your posting ID is locked and no one can post with your name.


One again, welcome and come back often...


-John

Re: DWM Luger
 

Tom,

Are you sure this is a 1923 commercial and not a 1914 commercial? The 9mm, would fit the 1914, and also according to the technical sheet he is referring to a Horizontal Crown N, not a vertical crown N. With the horizontal crown N, it sounds like a 1914 commercial to me, right at the very end of production.

Re: DWM Luger
 

I would have to agree that the pistol was made at the end of the 1914 Commercial production. Has anyone ever seen any explaination as to how or where Harry Jones arrived at the 1923 Commercial designation on a pistol first put into production in 1919 and which ended in 1921? The letter suffix four digit pistols starting in the i suffix block followed the five digit pistols, yet they were designated 1920 Commercials.

Re: DWM Luger
 

Johnny, it does seem backwards, at best. I also have wondered how we got the 23's before we got the 20's..must be some rationale.