Dwm 1908
 

New to the collection, I'm a Mauser guy but went in a different direction with this.

:atwhore:

Looks like a very nice restoration... But many more pictures would be needed for me to check mark a poll

Here are more pictures...

So far so good. Please continue.

Looks good so far, as well, unless a really old redo with halos added.

More...

Pristine 1908 commercial that I don't blame jagervw adding to his Mauser collection. These are often found in good condition but this one is near the top. I don't know why some folks are fast to use the "restoration" label.

I agree Herb, it is a beauty.

How do you spot a restoration!!! Who besides Ted are responsible for the so many restorations?

"How do you spot a restoration" Eric, the answer to that would fill a book. And judging by the evidence, over the last century there have been any number of craftsmen capable of near-original-quality refinishing. (I do not use the word "restoration," because I think that is a comparitively recent collector concept.)

--Dwight

You do have a point. I guess its like buying a used car. The originals command more with the original paint unless it ratty and require some restoration! My friend Ted is an expert and you would swear its a virgin! I agree refinished is proper if otherwse original and properly marked.

I share the previous comments, congratulations, it's a lovely Luger to have

Well, if it is a restoration they did a poor job on the safety and TD levers, thus I would be thinking it has a better chance being original.

Herb, things looked too nice in the two pictures, so I asked for more pictures.

The right hand side in the first pictures were small and they looked very smooth - in this area by the rear part of the toggle / the care was not to make it clean as a whistle. I understand it is an earlier commercial P08, so perhaps it was sanded better. But that is WHY I asked for better pictures.

Some folks are awfully quick to point out very nice guns that are over 100 years old - its strawing is very nice. Not that it is not possible, but things usually fade over 100 years. And yes, the bad guys have been restoring since the 50's and 60's. Lets say 1962 - that is 50 years ago.

may i ask how we know the date of 1908? does the serial number tell us that? these commercial ones are confusing for me.

also is the gun in 30 cal or 9mm? barrel looks fat so maybe 9mm.

Ben,
The gun is known to collectors as a "Model 1908". That is the year that the German Army adopted the Luger as its standard sidearm. Two very quickly notable characteristics are that it lacks a grip safety and stock lug, features that were present on the German Navy Lugers but were eliminated by the Army for their contract as cost cutting measures. The Commercial Lugers in that time frame also were produced without the lug and grip safety so they are categorized as "1908". It is difficult to see the first digit of the serial number but it appears to be a "5" which probably places its manufacture in late 1909. The gun is 9mm.

I too own a real nice 1908. These were manufactored by DWM for commercial sales in Germany and elseware. They were the basis for all later German military Luger pistols according to Kenyan page 117. Many survived in nice condition as they never saw military use!~~#59106

Just a comparison

I see that many are clean like this, no offense was meant, but many war time guns they are a bit rougher IMO

I would also point out that it was never retrofitted for a hold open.

Were they sold with a manuel being commercial?