Early DWM P 08 - collectible or what?
 

We've been having a discussion on what lugers are collectibles and which are not.

This is a recent purchase of mine, it is not pristine, having been re-finished sometime in its life; and it has been modified from its original factory condition.

This 1908-09 produced DWM military luger was made without a stock lug or hold open, and with acceptance markings and proof on the left chamber side. These first military P 08s had no chamber date, and small size font for the numbers on the barrel and frame, and no barrel gage marking. They were also numbered in the commercial or hidden style as seen on this example.

Its first modification was in about 1913-14 was the addition of the hold open at Erfurt, the hold open is numbered to match; the added pin and acceptance marking are seen on the right side. The second mod. was likely during a re-furb or repair, when the serial number was added, as was the norm in later military lugers, to the left chamber over the existing markings.

As kurusu noted, the sear bar escaped modification throughout the life of this example.

Refinish does not appear to be hot blue, neither is it a recent rust blue; I have no idea when it was done in the last 108 or so years.
There are no import markings to be seen.

I have added the period correct magazine, with the number on the tail, similar to the way Navy mags are numbered.

Collectable or not, the old soldier needed a home and it now resides in my safe.

In deference to its age and matching condition, it likely will not see any range time, though I have no doubt it would function just fine. I have "shooters" for shooting and this one will join the ranks of "my" collectibles!:evilgrin:

To me it's a collectible. although I wouldn't pass shooting at least one magazine just to see if it was working fine.
But I wouldn't make it a shooter.

Noticed that the sear bar wasn't altered.

Thanks k,

the unmodified sear bar was a plus, kind of strange it made it all that time without being modified. Another little mystery.:confused:

It would certainly make me happy to have this Luger in my collection...

Yes, you hear banter about 'rework' or arsenal repair - this seems like a good example of that (many claimed, probably aren't).

In the vein of collectible or not; I have a a couple that some folks would not collect - a K Date that was professionally restored (Thor) - it belonged to a good friend of mine. And I bought a 1925 Simson that has been reblued - but hey, its a 1925...

To me, collectible is in the eye of the beholder, but if its rare or unusual then its collectible.

I have a 1915 DWM, not exactly a collector grade even though all matching and that I don't use as a shooter, that also has an unaltered sear bar. A friend of mine has a 1913 DWM with the holdopen added that also has the sear bar in original condition.

I guess there were many that escaped this improvement.

Like Ed, I had bought a 1928 vintage Simson & Co. Luger which had been improperly re-blued. I had Thor restore it to the proper appearance. It's in my collection. While I'm sure someone would not want to acquire it for the price of an original Simson, it's rare enough for me to have spent the money on restoring it, and it sure looks nice now...

Also, for me at least, I am far more patient with mods. made at the original factory or wartime arsenals than I am with Uncle Billy Bob's handiwork. So a hold-open was added or a safety altered? No big deal. (Unless I'm trying to buy it, then it may be used against the asking price...)
dju

Absolutely I agree, in another thread the other day we were talking about collectibles and shooters, and although I'm a bit strict in my choices on what to me is a collectible and what is not, in my small collection I've got a British Contract M1911 cal. .455 Webley, surely reblued and messed about, I'm not happy with it as on my part it was a big mistake getting it in the first place, still things like that unfortunately may happen to everyone. :rolleyes:

Best.

Sergio,

I, also, have a British contract Colt 1911(1914) in Webley 455 Auto. I acquired it many years ago. It has been "improved" with nickle and gold plating. It is pretty, but I wish that it was still all original, but it is not. So goes the World. I will keep it, and shoot it occasionally with my "soft" reloads.

Don, in my world, this is almost NIB. Very nice. Congratulations!