New member needs help on I.D. and age of early P-08
 

Hi all, Iwould like to say in advance thank you to all involved, this trully is a great site. I have inherited my fathers Luger and I am looking for as much info on the history of this P-08 as I can get. I'm not new to guns but I am new to Lugers. Any help on age, proofs, history, shoot or not shoot ( I do my own reloads ) would be greatfully appreciated. I am a WW2 history buff and also own a 1943 Ford GPW. Cheers, Andy

Had some trouble with some of the pics, seems they are to large..will see if I can resize. All parts match, has a "Schiwy" sear safety ?? toggle locks back on empty magazine ( # matching, mag stamped also with # 2 ) knurled knob on take-down lever is broken off but functions. have given a light cleaning and oil since pics. will try to get left side pics in just a few...

Andrew:

Is the toggle on the top of the gun marked with the script "DWM"? or is it "Erfurt"?

Clark

Toggle is stamped DWM, I'm trying to figure out the "adding pics" so please bear with me, a computer genious I'm not......

My first guess is a 1908 Military serial #2677e dated 1911, but appears to have a stock lug in photo 1. The problem with this id is that 1908s have no stock lug.

I can see the first "1" in the original date in picture 4. The rest of the date is either worn off, is not visible in the photo or was partially scrubbed.

If it does have a sear safety, then that would denote Weimar reissue in 20's for police use. We would need to see photos of the left side.

Is the magazine numbered? Any unit markings on front grip strap?

Thank you Clark, yes it does have the stock lug. The magazine is #2677 with a # 2 above the serial #. The date does appear to have been removed with only a " hint" left, only a shadow really. I have tried looking at different angles with with no luck. I took some more pics and will try to upload these.

OK. Looks like a 1914 Military dated 1915-1918, probably converted for police use in the 20's by the Weimar police. Perhaps another member can discern the manufacturer year / original chamber date from the serial. Nice pistol!

Hi Andrew, Welcome to the forum. Let us know if your gun has a hold open device fitted. This will help narrow down the date somewhat. Regards, Norm

Hi Norm, Yes it does have a hold open device. No unit markings on the grip strap. I took some more pics but I'm having trouble on how to add more pics to this thread any advice ? Cheers, Andy

Close-ups 0f the acceptance marks on the right receiver could help narrow it down too.

FN

Hi Andrew, Since your gun has an e suffix it could date from 1915 through 1918. I don't think we can narrow it down further. It's too bad about that scrubbed chamber date, it looks like a nice gun otherwise. Regards, Norm

Thanks FN, I have more pics I'm just having trouble adding them.... Cheers, Andy

User banned

Ok, I think I got it figured out. Checked out the resize pic thread and gave it a try, great info ! here are some more pics. any additional info would be great. Cheers, Andy

According to 'Central Powers Pistols" TSS acceptance was all of 1917, and 1918.


FN

Hi Andy, Your gun is a WWI Military Luger that was adapted for police use after 1918. It was fitted with the distinctive sear and magazine safeties that the police required. Most of these guns had the magazine safety removed later, and yours is no exception. I have no idea why the chamber date was removed. Regards, Norm

Yes, it does have a hold open device.

What Catfishhandguns, FNorm and Norme said are right on, everything points to an Imperial luger later modified for police use (the sear and magazine safety. The lower case e is of course just a part of the serial number. The 8.83 on the barrel indicates 9/mm . I can't think of a luger of this vintage with the stock lug )(after early 1913) that doesn't have a hold open

Andy, The matching magazine you show in the pistol is the spare..it has a 2 which indicates this. The first mag would have a 1.

Jerry Burney

Thanks everybody for the great information, any idea of an approx value for insurance ? also any thoughts on limited shooting ? Cheers, Andy