Newbie needs some help
 

Bought a luger from a friend.... Not knowing anything about them...I've had guns for over 50yrs. but this is the first luger...It has all the right markings(DWM) made in Germany--ser. no. 85xx..matching numbers..wheating is perfect. condition 99%...WELL I went and bought some 9MM and its not. It seems to be 7MM....What do I have ?????

My crystal ball (I don't have photos of your Luger and my Ouija board is out for an upgrade) tells me that it probably is a 1920s Commercial in 7.65mm (.30 cal. Luger). Check to see if there isn't a small cursive letter under the 85xx serial number on the frame. Anyway, a 99% original finish Luger is a keeper, depending on price. To beat a dead horse, photos are needed for evaluation...photos...photos...photos...etc.

Letter
 

Under ser. no. kinda looks like small written k but not sure...no date... on the side there is a crown with an (N) under it

Good job! My crystal ball is growing clearer. Without photos, I am 98% sure that your 99% condition Luger is a 7.65mm 1920s Commercial.

To satisfy Ron's other 2%, take a No 2 pencil, eraser end first, and push it gently into the muzzle and see how far it goes in...Just to the metal means 30 cal Luger; all the way in means 9mm...

Some of us prefer the 30 cal; if you look in the For Sale sub-forum here you'll see a couple places that sell the 30 cal ammunition [Fiocchi]...

But if your plan is to shoot 50 or 100 rds a week, you're best off selling it and getting a 9mm...Cheaper/easier to find ammunition...

Pics are needed...How long is the barrel (from bolt face to muzzle)??? Is there a grip safety??? What's the magazine look like??? Did anyone mention pictures???

These DWM alphabet commercial Lugers are from the Weimar era of Germany, with yours made about 1923. I have one made just 25,000 or so after yours, in the "m" block.

The "k" is a suffix and part of your Luger's serial number.

Marc

barrel looks like 33/4 crisp and clean....mag. has wooden base...thumb safety on left...7.65mm...don't plan on shooting it much, except a couple rounds to make sure it functions like it should...condition is to nice to use it...when I'm done with researching it, it's going in my safe....don't care about value, just like to know some history, I'm finding Lugers are a tough one to research.....I'll take all the advice I can get...Thanks

I'm old school; not too familiar with Urban Slang...What's 33/4??? :confused: :rolleyes: :)

3.75" OAL is my guess.

Nothing separates us like the language, eh wot??? :D

Yeah, that would be consistent with 30 caliber.

(I had first thought maybe it was like "What's the 4/11, dude???") :)

my guess is that they have no desire to add photos - so they can't be helped much more than they have been ;)

3 and 3/4 inch

Got it. Thanks Ken.