1915 DWM 2 matching mags info request
 

I recently picked this up and would like a little more info on in....serial block number c 8090....matching magazines, holster and takedown tool i have as well . any info would be great thanks guys!

what do the markings mean on the slide ? any idea of value?

If original finish and matching a big dealer like Simpson asks about $4K for the rig

The markings on the side are inspector and acceptance/proof stamps. Your main magazine's wooden base has a crack in it! Please don't attempt to load this mag. Have it repaired and don't ever use it.
I would not fire this pistol. especially if the finish is original, as it appears. WW1 all matching Luger rigs are very scarse and it would be a shame to break a matched part.

Contact G.T. here on the site for expert magazine repair.

Absolutely stunning.
I don't recall seeing straw coloring that strong on a WW1 gun. Can we please see photos of the numbers under the barrel and on the front of the frame/trigger guard, top looking down, etc? Close up photos are appreciated.
dju

Welcome to the Lugerforum.

Let me start this by saying that this is INDEED a beautiful specimen of a WW1 Luger... I hate to be a party-pooper, but without a first hand examination of the gun, or much better quality photographs, it is my OPINION that this gun is very likely to have been refinished.

CAREFULLY refinished, I would submit, but refinished none-the-less. I base this opinion on the apparent complete lack of machine marks within the ears... the area is just too clean for a military gun, and the GESICHERT area does not look as pristine as the rest of the finish.

Please post much clearer focus photos taken in natural light to highlight the condition for a better evaluation.

Please post a picture of the serial number on the bottom of the barrel.
Bob

If it was refinished, then it was a complete makeover, since the grips and both mags look almost pristine.

The complete package is what made me think it was an un-messed with pistol.

I agree Doug... could very likely be a "restoration"... time will tell, but I don't want to give false hope based on just the current photos that this gun is a safe queen that is worth a lot more to collectors than a refinished piece.

Looks good to me. More and better photos are in order to really validate it. From what I can see it is one of those rare survivors that always generates "it looks too good to be true". If you grab the photos and do a little color correction to compensate for the background and under exposure you can see that the finish is slightly less pristine than it appears but it is still outstanding. The magazines are really fine. I think that some clear photos shot on a neutral background in natural light will remove all doubt (or not :)).

An update, I have independently confirmed that is is definitely NOT one of Thor's restorations... He has only restored about a dozen 1915 Lugers and this is not one of them.

That is not to say that it could not have been done by one of the other Luger Restoration Craftsmen.

I look forward to additional photographs... This gun is a real reflection of the machinist's art back in 1915! Especially during war time.

ill post more pics as soon as i can ....me and my father bought it from a family friend whos had t for over 50 years ....the pics do look a little better then the actual condition ......straw is good but wearing on the trigger and safety and the dwm has a little holster wear in the usual places.....i have posted my other one on here a 37 s42 and this one is in a little better shape and less holster wear.....

heres more pics i took outside in natrual light

the second one blurred a bit i apologize but with the bottom of the barrel you can see the faded straw a little on the take down lever (i think thats what its called ha)

Still looks good to me.

Look good, original to me.....for what its worth.

How about some shots of the top down showing the top fo the toggle, DWM, etc? And the numbers on the front of the frame?
The more photos that you post the more realistic it looks.
Very nice.
dju

NICE Photography! I concur... it does look original now...

Notice the front sight appears to be fire blued. Just an observation, not many would go to that much trouble. Some early DWMs have this, I would ask the Dr Of Lugerology (Ron Wood) to comment on this feature. :biggulp: