29DWM sn# 5307u L.Me.429
 

Want to say hello. as this is my first post!! I have been thrown into this Luger hobby by accident helping out an older gentleman(76 yrs). It has been a journey and so much to learn I'm dizzy, especially regarding the "history" surrounding the 29DWM's.
I believe to have the unit marking deciphered but havent seen it talked about. Interested in any history related to the police unit this gun came from and if any other guns from this unit are around?

Welcome to the forum sam50, I have no doubt one or more of the more knowledgeable members will have the information you are looking for. Again, welcome.

Lon

Hi Sam and welcome. Do post some pictures of your Luger.

Landespolizei Merseburg, nice. In my looking at Lugers, I see far fewer Landespolizei marked pistols than those marded to the Schupo of the same district.

This is to be expected due to the rural nature of the Landespolizei and fewer policemen so designated.

I have a S. Me. marked pistol, from the Schupo of Merseburg.

Always looking for new, more , or unusual marked police pistols.

Welcome
 

Welcome to the forum.
Your Police pistol is from the District of Merseburg.
Here are some that I have. The Luger is all matching along with the mags, tool and holster. The Bayonet is marked L.Me 68.

Nice looking police Luger Bill, it reminds me of one I saw years ago.

very cool to see these pics especially a gun from the same unit!! Thanks for the input guys.

is it correct to call this luger a 29dwm based on serial # and dwm on toggle? some were produced blank and some had dwm????

It is most correct to call this pistol an Alphabet Commercial, as it falls within the range of DWM commercial production between 1921-1929, serial numbered with letter suffixes i through early v (though excluding j). The term "29 DWM" was devised to differentiate DWM commercial production in the s, t, and u suffix ranges, presumably made in 1929, destined for police and military use.

It has always been recognized that there are regular commercial pistols, without police or army characteristics, within this range. More recent reexamination of DWM production within the context of the Versailles Treaty and the operation and departure of the Interallied Military Control Commission, reveals that DWM production of the s, t, and u suffix range pistols began in 1927.

Regarding the blank toggle pistols in this range, the parts manufacture for these guns was originally destined for a contract purchase by Berber rebels in north Africa. The contract was illegal under the Versailles Treaty, and the toggle mark was omitted from this production to give DWM "plausible deniability". The contract was never delivered, and these pistols ended up being sold to the German police.

--Dwight

Thank you for the re-affirmation of all the info i have had to process. This new hobby can be confusing