Talk to me.....
 

Just want an idea of what I have here. I have no paperwork and nothing else but what is in the pictures. I would like to know what significance (if any) the small engraved emblems mean and how to figure out if it was used/carried by an officer in WW2. I know little to nothing about guns and only recently found out my father has this gun from my grandfather. I appreciate any help that can be given.

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Well sir, you have a very nice 1920 dwm, police luger, with looks like one matching mag, nice holster. Allso looks like most of the numbers are matching, very nice rig indeed.. Verry good pictures, Welcome to the forum.

Dan is right on. Your toggle train does not match the balance of the pistol. Curiously, your takedown lever matches the toggle train and your magazine has a similar ending pair of digits, so all these parts may have come off the same host pistol in order to create a functioning weapon.

I like the proofs on the right side of the receiver, the low block serial number "15" (can't tell which letter is below the serial on front of frame), the 1934 holster, and the matching mag. "SB" unit mark is Weimar police, I think, though I don't see a sear safety.

I bet that gun could tell quite the story.

Thanks for sharing...

I believe this to be a 1920 DWM Luger manufactured for the police. It is not an all matching piece since the toggle is from a different pistol since it is marked "32". The locking bolt is also marked "32" and the wooden base magazine bears the serial number 2032. The serial number of the remainder of the pistol is 15a (see bottom of the barrel and the front of the receiver) and the "15"mark shows up on several more parts. The aluminum based magazine is matched to the bulk of the pistol in the police fashion with the 15 serial number and the number 2, which indicates No. 2 of up to three magazines issued. The "S.B.12 333." on the front grip strap indicates Schutzpolizei Berlin (Schupo), if I have interpreted Mr. Maus's book correctly. I can't read the mark on the loading tool.

The DWM mark on the center toggle link is the trademark of the manufacturer. The marks on the right side of the receiver are the acceptance and proof marks (E/ArA4 and WaA4).

Neil

Thanks for the info. My grandfather fought in every major battle in ww2 and brought this home.

what unit(s) did your g-father serve in ??
 

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With the mis-matched parts, I'd (and I am nowhere near the experts on this forum), I'd offer $800 straight-up. It looks like the presettable shooter which I am looking for. Again, PM me.

-Eddie

Eddie, Don't you think you're getting ahead of yourself? The Gentleman came on asking for information about "my father has this gun from my grandfather. " Not I own this pistol and want to sell it!

Your post is inapropriate and off topic. If you have no pertinant information to contribute... please refrain from pestering him and annoying me.

Jerry Burney.. Moderator

So would this be a 9mm or were all post war lugers30 luger cal? Would this most likely have gone into WWII with the police or kept like it was and issued out? Hope these aren't dumb questions, but wondered.
Dave

doesnt the 8.85 on the barrel mean its a 9mm? whereas a 30 would be marked 7.65 or not at all?

correct

It most probably served in WW2 as a police gun and was in active service until captured or surrendered.

This gun has a lot of history.

Actually, the lack of sear and mag safeties indicates the gun was issued to one of the barracked Berlin Schupo Bereitschaften (riot police). Their Lugers were exempted from the order to add the safeties. These units were transferred to the Landespolizei and then to the military in 1934-35. The gun probably saw service in one of the police battalions or the Wehrmacht during WWII.

I couldn't see the markings in the picture, not so good of screen that I have. So, the police type lugers were kept 9mm and the export or weimar lugers were .30 cal? Is there a rule to the caliber?
Dave

all lugers started as 7.65 borschadt round. then they were produced as 9 mill for stopping power. then with the treaty after the war ( wwI) germany was limited to the number of weapons that had same caliber that army used so they started producing them in 7.65 again. this gun was reworked in 1920 for the police mebbe they switched from 30 to 9 at that point in time? then when they started rearming in the 30's they just started making 9mms -Im not sure about the police changing caliber I just post when I think Im half right and wait for the experts to correct me. if they dont then I must have got it close :)

As early as 1919, and during the '20's DWM produced 9mm with 4 inch barrels for the army, navy, and police. The Weimar proofs on this piece indicate new production during those years. ns, a and b.