Luger DWM commercial ID help
 

Hello all -- brand new to the forum and I would like to get help in identifying my newly-purchased pistol. I have been looking through the forum for hints, but I don't have much to go on. The serial number is 8344 and right below the serial on the frame and above the trigger guard is the only proof mark/date on the pistol (other than the "crown nitro" proofs.) I cannot get a good picture of the mark, but I did do a rather primitive drawing, which I will upload. I'm interested in the manufacture date and anything else interesting. Thanks to anyone who can help. Pete

Pete, welcome to the forum, but I am unsure what the marking is, it could be about 3 different markings.

The crown N is the commercial acceptance markings usually seen, the marking above could be a suffix letter or it could be an overstamp of something.


Ed

Looks like a lower case cusive 'k'. It is part of the serial #. Sounds like you have an Alphabet DWM commercial. #8344k was made in 1922. It was made for the commercial market. Should be a 30 cal. If it has a 'Germany' export stamp somewhere on it , it was destined for the US.

Hi Ed. Thx for the response and for moderating. I'm certain u get tired of all the newbies asking dumb Q's. Anyway, I did some more snooping on the net and think that my gun is a 1923 Commercial. Crown Nitro proofs, German written on extractor and safety, no date stamp, 3 3/4 inch (?) barrel. Just found the right combination of characteristics. I could be wrong and would welcome further education, but I'm cool with this. Thx again. Pete

Mike. Thx for chiming in! Yup. After u said it I can see where it IS a cursive "k". And it is 30 cal. I was close with guessing 1923. Mystery solved. Hey, do I need to add the "K" to the serial number in my FFL book? When looking at the serial, it isn't obvious that the "k" is a suffix. Opinions? Thx again. Pete

Mike. PS No export markings anywhere.

yes

there were over 2 million lugers made, so there are a lot of lugers with that same 4 digits (they were made in batches of 10k)

I am guessing you can't provide digital pictures?


Ed

Ed. Only have iPhone quality pix which I uploaded. Some parts look like they have been replaced (trigger, mag release, take down) , but all numbers match. After market magazine. I paid $650. Did I get an ok deal? Pete

Any nice looking luger is worth that :)

Thx, guys... u REALLY know your &%$#!!! I'll b back! Pete

Smokin' deal! If all the numbers match, why do you think the parts have been replaced?

Hi Ron. The color of the parts that I mentioned (above) are slightly lighter than the rest of the gun. Same with the sideplate. I guess only an in-person inspection by a knowledgable expert can tell for certain. I wuz just guessing!! I like it alot. Can't wait to by ammo and hit the range. Pete

Welcome, Pete, here's the good news: The color you describe--and it does show in your photos--is correct for your commercial. It's called "straw", and is applied to the parts by heat treating. Search the site for threads about this to learn more!

The side plate should be rust blued to match the rest of the pistol; however variations in the hardness/alloys of different areas of the gun are said to affect the tone of the rust bluing, and over time different components can become different shades or hues.

Here's the bad news: Though the 7.65 Luger is sweet to shoot, you'll find that the ammunition for this caliber is difficult to find, or expensive, or both.

David Parker

p.s. I agree with Ron about the smokiness of your deal!

David. Wow. Thx for that. I guess I got a pretty good deal. Someone at the gun show today said that I could "unscrew" the barrel and install a 9mm barrel. Can u provide any feedback on a caliber change? Pete

Changing barrels is not a job for amatuers. Contact our own LugerDoc regarding heavy gunsmithing. Really. dju

Believe your luger is a 1920 commercial and not a 1923 commercial. !923 commercials have five serial numbers. Nice looking luger good price! Enjoy Bill

Bill, You've got it backwards. The first commericals after WW1 continued using the 5 digit serialization that ended in the 75xxx range in 1914. When the numbers approached 100K in 1923, they switch to the military Alpha numeric system @ 2000i block rather than going to a 6 digit serial. The Alphabet commericals starting "i" suffix block corresponded to where 92,000 commericals, starting in 1900, would have already been made. TH

According to Jan Still's Weimar Lugers, 20 DWM (formerly 1923 commercial) production was from mid 1919 to mid 1921. Serial # range was from #75000 to #92000. Alphabet DWM (formerly 1920 commercial) production started at S#2000i mid 1921.

The old 1920 commercial - 1923 commercial designations are backwards and very confusing. In reality it is very simple and Jan Still's new designations make sence. I try to use the new designations as much as possible.

Commercial production started in 1900 with #1 and continued consecutively up to #92000 in mid 1921. At that point the commercial serial numbering system was changed to the military style with #2000i, which corresponds to #92000. It continued up to the v suffix in 1930.