1917 Dwm
 

First time here. Was pointed to this site from another forum. I know absolutley nothing about Lugers. This one was given to me by my mother and it was owned by my stepfather before he passed away. All the numbers match (that I can find). I cannot find any number on the grips or magazine, but I'm not sure I know where to look. I am not a collector nor do I have any intention of selling it, but would just like to know what I have. Looks as if my stepfather scratched his SS or DL # around the trigger guard. Not very deep, but very evident. Any help would be appreciated. I will try to post pictures, but not sure if it will work. http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/gjeans/Luger011.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/gjeans/Luger001.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/gjeans/Luger003.jpg

Gene, welcome to the forum.

Give us a bit more info; serial number, suffix, any marks on the front of the gripstrap?

Do all of the last 2 numbers match each other that you can see?


Right now I can see it is a 1917 DWM.



Ed

The absense of a stock lug would usually indicate a frame manufactured before 1914, so that combined with the 1917 receiver would suggest that some parts on this pistol were mismatched somewhere along the line. More pictures, as Ed suggested, with one showing the lower rear grip strap would help further identify what vintage pistol you have.
Lyn

Thanks for the replies. I will try to get more pictures with a better camera. The serial number is 6814 (if I remember the first two nos. correctly). All the numbers do match and I am almost positive the frame has the same number. There are many other smaller proof marks that I did not take pictures of last night. The ammunition that is in the magazine is also a little confusing since there is no caliber designation on the headstamp. Will get my macro camera out and see if I can get some better pictures. Thanks again.

If I'm not mistaken, the photos seem to show that the stock lug has been removed on this pistol, which indeed appears to be a matching 1917 DWM (you got your 1 and 4 mixed, serial number ends with ..41). It is not uncommon to see removed stock lugs on pistols that made it to the US, had to do with some misinterpretation of local legislation, I believe. Although there have been reports of lugers that had their stock lugs removed in Germany as well. The serial number should be present on the front of the frame, most likely with a small script letter underneath it, which is part of the serial number.

I would suggest unloading the magazine. Keeping it loaded for extended periods of time is not very good for the spring itself.

If the ammo is of pre-1945 vintage, it would be interesting to know the text on the headstamp (bottom) of the rounds.

Furthermore, I would advise not to store the pistol in the holster anymore. Holsters are moisture traps and will harm the finish, as is visible on your gun. The gun needs some thorough oiling :)

Here are a few more pictures. I will take a look at the drop down for details. It does look as if something has been ground off the back of the grip frame.

The ammunition is interesting in that there is no caliber marked. The headstamp is an F, an N, and 51, 120 degrees apart. There are also 3 small triangles, also 120 degrees apart. I don't have a holster for the pistol, but do keep it in a foam lined case. Perhaps I should take it out of that. I will take care of that tonight.

Thank you for your help, gentlemen. I will post these pictures and will look for the drop down.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/...Luger001-1.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/...Luger003-1.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/gjeans/Luger007.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/gjeans/Luger008.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/...Luger011-1.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/gjeans/Luger013.jpg

Gene,
The serial number of your Luger is 6841d, the lower case letter on the frame is part of the serial number. As G. van Vlimmeren noted, the stock lug on your Luger has been ground down and is indeed the consequence of a misinterpretation of the restriction on adding a shoulder stock to a handgun. It is still a neat gun and I am glad you can keep it in the family. Storing the gun in a foam lined case will not hurt your Luger as long as the foam is not damp and the gun has been well oiled. I kept my Lugers in foam lined cases for years when I was moving about and none of them were adversely affected.

Gene
I would certaintly not argue with Ron. However I have found that if you live in a wet climate with high humidities you are better off not using cases for storage. Bill

True

Thank you, gentlemen

I cleaned and oiled it last night and stored it open in my safe. I have never shot the pistol, but may try a couple of rounds this week end for functionality.

My son and I went to the indoor range today so I took the Luger along. Only fired 4 rounds loaded two at a time in the magazine because I don't want to damage the mag. It fed and functioned perfectly and was amazingly accurate. Much more so than I had expected.

So far the most accurate 9mm I have ever fired other than a PO8 was a HK P7

It still is. Swiss Army Lugers have a slight edge over their successor, the SIG P49, mostly owing to the performance of the 7.65mm Para round fired by the former. A commercial SIG SP47/8 in the same chambering will shoot just as well as a Swiss Luger. Back in the day, all serious Swiss competitors chose 7.65mm over 9mm for that very reason.

My articles on the SIG P210 can be found here:
http://larvatus.livejournal.com/tag/p210