DWM Swiss commercial
 

This is a 1900/06 DWM dated 1920, cal. 7,65 Parabellum, with all matching numbers, in excellent conditions, probably built for the Swiss commercial market. At the moment owned by another “serious” Luger collector. Two things above all intrigue me most about this gun: 1) Although it was built under the conditions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles on post war Germany this Luger has got a 150mm barrel, probably only because was supposed to be for the Swiss market? 2) The serial number is displayed on the side in the “military” style but it’s correctly proof-marked with C/N.
I assume is one of those Lugers made from military surplus and stock of parts that DWM had at the end of WWI. Maybe this 150mm barrel could be an interesting collectible piece? Would be nice to know somebody’s else opinion, not about price but about its historical meaning.

If original, I'd think so. Commercial Lugers made in the 20s have lots of variations, either built as such at the factory, or later customized for their clientele by the resellers...

BTW, when picking a bbl length for a n '06 AE, I decided on this lenght exactly, bought a later-styled bbl., and turned it down to present this configuration, same as your posting. Tom Heller just sent me the front sight needed to complete the job, and I'm expecting the extension with new bbl. installed any minute now. Will be eager to check out how it handles soon!

D.P.

What is the frame serial number, with it's letter suffix? What are the marks under the barrel? Can you show pictures, particularly including the witness mark?

--Dwight

Models 1906 with Swiss cross were offered in the 1930's for the Swiss market without barrel (because of the restrictions imposed on Germany after World War I).

Can you show us numbering and proofs on the barrel?

Alexander

That's interesting.
I'm quite interested in that gun, here you cannot find so many in such a good condition, and I'd like to know more about it. I think next week I'll try to go back to the owner to have another look at it.

the sun rays on the chamber marking are light. might indicate gun has been refurnished.

Perhaps you are right, the cross looks quite neat, as well as the DWM monogram markings, so what do you mean by "refurnished"?

here is another one: Swiss 1906 Commercial, 7,65mm, 120mm barrel, SN 2922i. Probably delivered after 1930 without barrel. Unusual is, that there are no German proofs (C/N), only the Swiss Bernerprobe/Beschussprobe is on the barrel. The front toogle is not numbered and on the breechblock you can find a number 12 on an unusual place (is it the SN?). The gun was reblued somewhen (the blank spot under the safety lever is blue). The magazin is Swiss origin.

Any explanations for the lack of German proofs or other comments are welcome

Alexander

The "P" stamped on the barrel is also stamped on one of my mags!

The marking on the barrel is actually an intertwined "BP" for Bernerprobe or Beschussprobe. I suspect your magazine is a plastic based magazine for the 1929 Swiss and the script "P" indicates the manufacturer Paillard (I don't think that is spelled correctly but is is something like that :)).

The i-suffix DWM alphabet commercial pistols were made in 1921. A few long-frame, grip-safety examples are known. Most have the Swiss cross-in-starburst chamber mark, conventional wisdom has them marketed in Switzerland. A couple are known without chamber marks, these would be simply called commercial.

By 1930 DWM was out of the Luger manufacturing business.

Judging by the witness mark in the photo above, this pistol assuredly left DWM with a barrel intact. The present barrel was installed in Switzerland, proofed with the Swiss Bernerprobe.

The absence of the German c/N commercial proof is puzzling. It would be interesting to see very close-up pictures of both the right and left sides of the receiver, and the left breechblock and center toggle.

--Dwight

I thought DWM produced until 1930 and in an Akah catalogue from 1932 the Model 1906 with Swiss Cross is offered only without barrel.

On the other hand you are right, SN 2922i is an early one. The witness mark made me also a little bit suspicious. But if the gun was rebarreled, the first barrel could have been also a Swiss one, who knows.

Alexander

by the way: Sturgess shows in his great book (Vol. 2) a 1906, Swiss Cross, 7,65mm, SN 2989i with the Abercrombie&Fitch adress and with no proof on the lefthand side of the gun.

Alexander

By 1932 Mauser was marketing Lugers made from the leftover stock shipped from DWM in 1930. It would be interesting to know details from the Akah catalog.

--Dwight

@Dwight: see No.7871a (Haupt-Katalog "Akah" No.150, 1932, page 103)

Alexander