Got this today at a show
 

Ok I got this gun pretty cheap today at a gun show, can you guys tell me about it? The person that sold it said it is a 1920 gun. I love Lugers and would love to know more about this model, It has 1920 on the top and 20s written on the side

Pictures

I can see that it has been refinished. Apparently a police gun with both the sear and mag. safety? Can't tell much else from the dark photos.
dju

More info, And updated pics. I think it is made by DWM

This is a DWM 1920s Police Reissue that has since been heavily buffed and reblued. Please post photos of the top of the chamber and the proofs on the right side og the chamber area.

Yup; police Luger, both safeties; mag safety mutilated. The 1920 on the chamber is a gov't property mark, no relation to year. Serial number looks like 6720 (can't see if there's a suffix). Yes to DWM toggle, I don't know enough to say if the frame is matching.

Refinished it's worth about $700 - $900 to Joe Average-gun-show-browser-with-cash. Most collectors don''t bother with refinished Lugers, except as 'shooters'.

A good 'shooter' for a start to your collection... :evilgrin:

That's fine, I got it mostly as a shooter, more then a collector:) What caliber is this? Is it the 9mm or the 7.65mm (can I use a .32 in it) What ammo can I use in it? We put 9mm in the mag and it fed properly, but we haven't fired it or chambered the live 9mm rounds ( for safety)

To determine if it's a 1920 production date, we need to see the proofs on the right side.

Ron

John, It should be 9MM and most likely is..take a # 2 pencil and if the eraser and metal part fit into the barrel it's 9MM. If the pencil fits but the metal part does not it's a .30 Luger and NO you cannot use .32 in it. ONLY .9MM or .30 Luger. Determine the calibur before you attempt to fire any rounds.
The magazines will accomodate either 9MM or .30. The base of the cartridge on both are the same.

Were there any 1920 + 1920 chamber stampings??? That would be...weird... :D

Here is the proofs on the right side! It is an eagle with writings underneath that I cant distinguish (there are 3 of them, each one more faint then the other)

see #31...

http://www.lugerforum.com/lugermarkings/proof-3.html

Yes, thats it exactly! thanks a lot for all your help! My uncle (who is big into guns) says it is a 9mm as well, just by seeing it.

yes, there are 1920/1920 and also 1920/1921 and 1920

the 1920 by itself is the date, but see the FAQ for 1920 property markings.

I would not call it a 1920 'reissue' as that is a misnomer, but call it a new made 1920 DWM that went into police service, likely in 1920, but perhaps later.

The sear and magazine safety were added in the 1930's.

Any markings on the front of the frame? These might be unit markings, such as L.Sta.112

The last two of the serial number is on many areas (see FAQ) and the front of the frame will have either a suffix letter or no suffix and is considered part of its actual serial number.

Ed

...???...So how do you tell a single-stamp 1920 date from a 1920 property stamp???

Do you have one of each side-by-side somewhere???

(BTW: Searching the FAQ for "1920 property markings" does not turn up anything)

In addition to Ed's explaination... A 1920 property stamp is usually sloppy looking compared to a very neat, straight, and centered 1920 date. There are also a few commercials that ended up with property stamps.