Commercial Luger from Dad
 

Hello- New to the forum - My Dad left me a Luger when he passed a few years ago. Just recently got it out,learned how to dismantle it on youtube and cleaned it up wel. Based on my reasearch, as best I can determine it is one of the so called 1920 Commercial models. Not sure of the manf. date but if someone could help, here are the details. Also, it is a 30 cal version-would have loved it were a 9mm however. Does anyone know if you can get 30 cal. snap caps?

-Ser. number under barrell- 6881 with what looks like a small letter L under the number.
-All matching parts with 81 stamped
-No Date stamped on the top of receiver
-Manf. is DVM
-Proof mark is upright crown/N in two places
- has a wooden butt plate and is either stamped-6860 or 5860 so I guess it has been replaced.
-The holster is marked WaA279- 41 stamped on back and has a NAZI emblem on it so I guess it was replaced with a WW2 Holster

Thanks for any comments--Ken

On further examination after looking at other models the alphebet could be an i.--Thanks Ken

No "Germany" stamped anywhere

Ken, congrats on your new to you Luger and welcome to the forum. Close up pics are nearly requisite if you are asking for helpful comments on your Luger.

welcome to the forum - without pictures, we are guessing, as suffix letters can be totally different to another person.

Just as people mistakenly say lugar or the toggle is hard to read (its DWM)

Thanks for the comments- I'll try to take some pics and post. I'm still ole school with a flip phone that does not take good pics. Sorry about the DVM description.

Ken, check out the FAQ section as there is ton of great info there that you will find helpful. I have only been an owner for a few months and I found the FAQs to be immensely valuable.

Thanks for the suggestion on the FAQ.s-Does anyone know if they make snapcaps for the 30 cal. luger round?- Dry firing is not good !!

.30 Luger snap caps are generally not available, but you can fashion some of your own by installing a piece of eraser instead of the primer.

Some mechanical pencils come with the exact size eraser for the primer pocket. It just needs to be cut to length. :thumbup:

new pics of Dad's Luger
 

OK folks attached are the pics I finally took of the Luger- Any reviews are certainly welcome as to date, model, condition etc. I like to take it out and shoot also. Is this OK being as old as it is?-Thanks Ken

Additional pic of upright crown/N
 

Additional pic.

It looks like a good shooter to me. Your serial # is 6881L. There are a number of other parts inside and outside with a serial number on them. It shows some rust pitting, and can't tell if it has be touched up with cold blue or not. I own one that is a bit older than this one, and shoot it on a regular basis.

Many folks with 30 Luger caliber Lugers use Fiocchi 93gr FMJ ammo with success. Winchester makes 30 Luger also, but is quite expensive. Before any range time, I highly recommend a breakdown for cleaning, inspection, and lubing. Youtube has some good videos for field stripping Lugers. Be very careful removing the left grip panel as it is easy to break on the safety lever.....just go slow and you will be fine.

Thanks for the comment- I've already broke it down using some youtube videos as a guide and clean it up. Do you have any idea as to the age or date of manufacture?--Thanks

Looks like a nice DWM Luger serial # 6881 l post WWI production. That loop below the number is an 'el' not 'eye' in lower German case. On the underside of the barrel are marks. If it is just the serial number, it is .30 caliber but if it has 8.82 then it is a 9mm parabellum. This forum has a pencil test to determine caliber.

http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthre...ghlight=pencil

The" i " series started in 1921(mine) so a WAG would be 1924-25, or there about. That is the best I can do.....perhaps someone else can nail down the manufacture date better.

No Swiss cross banner ?
I'm not sure it's a Swiss Commercial.
The 1920 Swiss commercial lugers were built on 1906 frames with a grip safety (I don't see a grip safety on this photo).

I have a Swiss 1920 commercial S/N 2011 "L" and I think it was assembled in 1921 w/ a German barrel (95 mm).

There is a very typical Swiss luger on this link today: Swiss Luger
I thought you might be interested in reading this web page:
http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthre...ferrerid=12799