Help identifying my Luger
 

I have just aquired a Luger, it's my first. Can some one help with the year of manufacture. The date is worn off the top of the pistol, only "19__" remains visible. DWM on toggle with "19" stamped next to DWM, also on the rear of toggle and on the extractor in front of toggle. A 19 is also stamped on the locking bolt lever. Serial number 2819 in front of frame under the barrel and a scrolled "L" under the serial number. 2819 is also on the barrel and on the left side of the frame. Gesichert is under the safety lever. Can anyone help tell me the year?

one more item
 

On the front of the grip frame is stamped with "142.R.5.47"

Hi Ken,

I can't help with the date, but the grip starp mark is 142nd Infantry Regiment 5th Company weapon # 47. This is a WWI Imperial mark so your Luger would be 1918 or earlier production. The other 19's stamp on the pistol are the last two digits of the serial number Indicating matched parts.

Ron

Please post clear pictures of left side, inside rear well, and top of gun--there are clues we can use to help you with your dating.

Vern

Ken, welcome to the forum. I have combined (mergered) the two threads into one. As Ron said, it is better to have answers just in one place.



Ed

pics of Luger
 

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last pic

Ken,
The suffix is a "b" not an "l". The "l" doesn't have a little tail on the right side.
Mike C.

Hello Ken

The relieved sear bar suggests that your gun was made between 1916 and 1918, so a three year span.

It will be difficult to get closer on the year estimate.

Its always hard to tell what a gun like this has gone through over the years, there has been an attempt to modify the appearance at some point, but for some reason they stopped. If you look at the very front of the frame you will see that metal has been removed from the frame so that it fit flush with the upper receive, because of this I am not sure that the upper and lower halves of your gun originaly matted to each other. It may be that your upper is post WWI and that someone removed the last two digits of the date stamp to make the gun look totally imperial.

It will be interesting to hear what the other collectors think.

thanks for posting

Vern

more info
 

I talked to the previous owner and he told me that there had been some rust and pitting near the date and over the years someone had tried to clean the rust and pitting off. So they used a file or diamond stone, and took some of the numbers with the rust. I would have left the pitting.