1917 DWM Navy Luger I Have
 

I am a gun dealer in VT and I picked up a 1917 Navy Luger that I have now listed on gunbroker.com for sale starting at $1.00 with no reserve. I put as much info about the gun as I think I know but I do not know if I was missing some important info that I should add to the listing. I never knew there was a Luger forum until today and from what I have seen everyone here seems very nice. Here is a link if you care to look at the pistol and maybe I can get more info on it. Thanks for your time and consideration. Cheers, Jim. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=227601389

Hi James, Welcome to this forum. We have actually been discussing your gun on Jan Still's forum (see link). It's actually a 1906 1st altered Navy with a 1917 Navy top half. The 1906 model has a longer frame than the 1917, and you can see that the receiver on your gun is set back a little from the front of the frame. Also, no 1917 Navy has a grip safety. Regards, Norm
http://luger.gunboards.com/showthread.php?t=26752

Norm -

I asked over there, but what was altered about the safety??? Is this combination of upper & lower safe to shoot???

Hi Rich, When this gun was made it was on safe with the lever raised (like the photo of a gun with an un-altered safety). Apparently it was found that the gun could slip out of safe when inserted in a holster. Most of the early guns were recalled and had their safeties reversed.
As to whether this mixed gun would be safe to shoot, the seller has apparently shot it and lived to tell the tale. Regards, Norm

I was thinking more along the lines of the takedown lever being in a different position...Or was the difference in frame length *ahead* of the takedown lever??? It's hard (for me) to tell from the pics...I've never seen an early 1906 up close...

Hi Rich, The long frame is 1mm longer than the short frame ahead of the take-down lever. I think you can see the difference in these two photos (long frame first). Regards, Norm

Thanks Norme! Out of curiosity, was there a logical reason why the frame was shortened 1mm at the front???