1914 Arty...
 

...might be worth emailing the seller :

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976576419.htm

Pete,
I sent him a message. I wonder what date is on the chamber? Many more questions.
Big Norm

Also sent him a couple messages no answer yet

Relax folks,
The piece is already sold. I called 0800 his time and someone from Georgia beat me to it. It was a 1914 chamber date. Once again the early bird got the worm. Derek, was that you?
Tom

Correction, it was somebody from Virginia.

George,
Nice work! Now that must mean you have a extra one hanging around. Remember I asked you at SOS. What time did you call him?
Tom

George,
assuming that you are the one who bought the gun, howsabout some more pictures? I am curious about the serial number and if the holster is a 1914 or even a legit original holster. What is the serial number on the stock? Oh Geez! I had a gajillion questions to ask. I wish that I could have seen it first hand.
Big Norm

Tom, I called him at 7 AM his time, he was on his way to a Rotary breakfast. The pistol has a mismatched side plate and the stock/holster is one of the so called Persian jobs.

The pistol does have one very unique characteristic that the seller did not mention in his posting. I will post more when I have the gun to hand.

George,
I was shooting trap at 7 AM his time. Loooks like I'll have to adjust my priorities in the future.
I won't steal your thunder but he did mention the grip markings and attempted to explain what you had told him. It was over my head so I'll wait for your presentation. I'm happy a Forum member ended up with it.
Tom

Tom, better off shooting trap at 0700 than shooting craps. I used to accompany my first sergeant (Liston A Jackson) on pay day when he would shoot craps. Never could understand the game, just carried a Walther PP and the money. I stayed sober and he paid me $100 and kept me off the duty roster.

THe pistol arrived today. It rates about 97% in the blue and white in most of the straw. The serial number is 1203 and the side plate belonged to a DWM numbered 8883. Too bad. The stock holster seems to actually be a Persian as it is Farsi marked and walnut and the leather and leather work is fairly fine as opposed to the Paki sh!t purported to be Persian.

The seller's father was PFC George Milliken of F Company, 121st Infantry, convalesced to the rear after his unit was overrun at the "Bulge". He apparently picked the pistol up during his convalescence.

Oh yes, the final part of the story...the right grip is branded "EWB".

George are the grips numbered ?

George, Wasn't the EWB a civilian Police group formed after the Great war, sort of between the war and the Weimar Republic? Jerry Burney

Jerry, it was a sort of militia made up of civilians who were concerned about the rebellions and unrest throughout Germany in the years between 1918 and 1922. It was known as the Einwohnerwehr and were locally formed organizations made up of responsible citizens who would stand up against the rowdys and reds who were terrorizing Germany right after the war. These Einwohnerwehr were sponsored by the local governments and should not be confused with Freikorps units which were also forming at this time.

The EWB marking indicates Einwohnerwehr Bayern or Bavarian Militia. As far as I know the EWBs (Bavarians) were the only such marked weapons. Bavarians have always been "conflicted" by an identity issue. Mr Still covers this subject in his book "Weimar Lugers".

Super cool stuff.

George, Nothing like a nice Artillery for that job! Must have been a very interesting era. Thanks! Jerry