1917/1920 DWM Shooter
 

This gun is part of three RIAC lots I won about four years ago, my second time to win something at one of them. Hammer price $750. It was born an LP.08, as evidenced by the typical relief for the tangent sight at the front of the receiver. It was property stamped with the 1920 above the 1917 manufacture date. The 100mm replacement barrel has the Nazi proof on its right side, back close to the flange. The barrel has the matching serial number, 5850 r, stamped on, but in a slightly different font. It has 5 marks stamped on the right side of the receiver. The take-down lever's number, 50, matches the rest--but it is an incorrect, Erfurt-proofed part, which I have had listed for a while in both WTB and WTS sections, in hopes of buying or swapping for one from DWM.

I re-did the straw color on the appropriate parts over last weekend, and applied the grips I bought from Ollie on eBay, which had enough meat left on them to completely re-do the checkered pattern. They fit nice and snugly and cover the frame pretty darned well, although they are not as thick as original--which can be felt in the hand.

Looks pretty good, for a shooter- how does it shoot?

I have fed it W.W.B, Fiocchi, S&B, and maybe some Privi without issues. It probably shoots better than I do. I'm a novice pistol shooter and at this point I have perhaps six-inch groups at 15 yards, standing. I have a set of sandbags, and have been meaning to get some steadier shots, which would tell better about whatever I was shooting. But I love that it chugs right along!

Would anyone have conjecture about how it came to have a Nazi barrel? Just because it's a shooter doesn't mean it has no story to tell, sordid though it might turn out to be.

I will post close-ups of markings soon as I can.

You know, most mismatched and battered pistols have much more history Than a pristine never used one.

Nice looking shooter Luger. The re-strawing really makes a nice improvement to it's overall cosmetics. The grips turned out well also. I would have no problem having that Luger, or your 1900 in my safe. I enjoy shooters.

Very nice pistol, good finish to start with, and the grips/re-straw dress it up. Pictures are good, I enjoy the backdrop and arrangement. As far as the late barrel proofs, my guess is was reworked for WWII military service.

The German army never had an excess of any type of war equipment. While Panzer/Motorized divisions were famous, roughly 2/3 of German combat units relied primarily on horses for transport. When you're so stretched that you must use horse teams instead of vehicles, it is easy to imagine that gun rework was prevalent. For me mis-matched military guns tell a story of those times just as interesting as fully matched pieces.

I agree, this is absolutely true and not only for Lugers.


Sergio

You should see my Ithaca (with Remington frame) 1911A1. It looks like it went through WWII, Korea and Vietnam. :D
It was rebuilt in Augusta Arsenal, so no later then 1955.

In fact you can see it. Sorry for highjacking the thread.:p
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Certain battered pistols are tasteful and rare. A big old C&R dealer sold this one. Let's see what the dealer say in advertisement:

"China Broomhandle .30 Luger caliber pistol. Very unusual Chinese broomhandle variation we have not seen in 40 years of handling Mausers and Mauser copies. Reasonably well made gun. Not crude like many others! The metal is prabably “soft” and not up to high pressure so DO NOT SHOOT this gun! Very interesting pistol."


Gun like this, is actually not easy to come. The big dealer only saw one in 40 years. There are a few others that I know in museums and in private collections. About 2000 were made in 1920s. A typo in ad, the caliber should be .30 Mauser, not .30 Luger.

http://archives.collectorsfirearms.c...product=pr6832

Nice looking pistol. Has just enough wear to tell some stories!!!

Interesting gun and nice pictures, :thumbup: I used to collect 1911, now I've got only two of them left.
Augusta Arsenal was one of the I think 14 arsenals where they reworked many M1911A1.
Although a bit less valuable than a M1911A1 in original configuration, these guns are absolutely legitimate U.S. service pistols.


Rgds


Sergio

I always tend to initially "distrust" old war horses in "mint" conditions, unless they are Swiss.


Sergio

Swiss "old war horses" never went to war.:rolleyes:

This particular "old war horse" never went to war either, at least an "official" war. It was used in the attempts made by die hard counter revolutionary monarchists to overthrow the Republic.

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