DWM 1918 M. Felzien
 

Greetings everyone,

This is my first post, but I've been lurking around and reading as much as I can before I posted.

I recently purchased a DWM 1918 all matching numbers 8809. The magazine number also matches. I've been enjoying shooting it on the weekends, but I'm feeling horrible guilt as to perhaps it should be in a museum. I also had a question about the British import stamp on the barrel, could someone tell me something about when it was likely stamped, and perhaps some discussion on the testing to 13 ton (what pressure is that in psi? seen several discussions that are all wrong).

I also, have to a concern of the scraping on the back of the gun, what is this from. I have more questions as time goes on, just wanted to say thank you to everyone and post some pictures.

M. Felzien
:cheers: It's always Oktoberfest somewhere :cheers:

It is not a museum quality luger. The British proofs are probably from being captured during the war. The British proofed all or most of these. The mag has been boosted ie numbers changed to match the luger. Still a nice old luger and if all numbers match I for one would not shoot it. These old parts do break and then the value goes way down. Your gun your decision. Some one else will have to respond to the case. Thanks for sharing and welcome to the Forum.

That's the first time I have ever seen a "halo" around the "DWM" toggle stamp. Is that just a trick of light? Oil? or has the bluing been removed?

I believe it has been altered in the past (bluing removed) to emphasis the lettering (done by a gunsmith). The strawing is good. I will post additional pictures.

The scraping on the back is not from the pistol functioning, but from some external source-perhaps a holster.

I'd like to see more pictures of the box, and its label, please.

Thanks Bill,

I agree on the magazine. It looks like a "6" has been changed to a "0", but the dealer assured me it was original matching. I will be careful with it but I think I will be in the market soon for a mixed-match, and using that would make me feel a bit safer. (I suppose it's hard to just buy one :biggulp:. Thanks.

Welcome Michael, you've picked up quite early on the addictive nature of Luge-itis!

BTW, the full serial number includes the letter-suffix "i".

I'm trying to read the label on the case, looks like some limited edition "Hans Taucher" related
reproduction.

Can we get a good picture of the label, or does someone already know the origin of the case?

Nice Luger, probably not a shooter, but as a collectible there are some red flags as already evidenced by Bill.
If it's all matching is allright although I cannot really explain that wide "halo" around the "DWM" toggle stamp.
Welcome to this Forum of Luger enthusiasts!

Attachment 53566
Attachment 53567

Toggle action shot and strawing.

HERE is a link to a short clip showing the toggle action on the gun:

DWM 1918 Toggle Action

These guys in th uk make them
http://cmrfirearms.com/shop/product_...3b387d31d35a4f

All these precious English wood boxes and beautiful accessories... then they deactivate all the firearms...

Handguns where banned in the UK in 97 due to one disturbed fool by the name of Thomas Hamilton, he walked into a primary school in dunblane Scotland and shot 16 small children and their teacher, so the government's knee-jerk reaction still stands to this day, and will never change! They are even considering banning airguns, and the only way you can own an airsoft or modern replica is if you are a registered reinactor. But it's perfectly legal to go out and buy a crossbow ???

Hope they don't come begging for American handout guns again like the did in the 2nd WW.

Why would the come begging for guns when they are illegal in their country??:confused:

Happened in both WW1 and 2. We sent sporting arms by the shipload to the UK so they could protect themselves from their neighbors.
At some point it would be tempting to "not answer that call".
dju

Yes David is right, it happened twice at the beginning of both the World Wars!

All right, I see where your coming from! Your talking about the uk government asking for arms! Well your quite right there! Why give them arms if the won't let there own people defend themselfs, if you go onto any deact website in the uk you will still find lend lease smith & wessons and Thompsons being sold.