New Luger owner
 

Hey folks,

Just wanted to say hi and introduce myself. I've never been a Luger person but like a lot of people a family member passed and I ended up with one. My main pistol interests are with 1911A1's and P38's. But they are growing on me and I find myself browsing Lugers on Gunbroker!

I'll post pics soon and see what you guys think. It is a bit of a mystery to me as I can not find solid info on it. Might be one of those "sneak" pistols you people talk about.

Thanks,
Eric

We'd love to see it. Post away! And welcome aboard.
dju

Eric,

Welcome to the forum. I look forward to your pictures, and feel sure that this forum can supply you with a lot of info on your Luger.

Alright guys. Check it out. Full rig. L.P.288 on front strap and back of holster. 288 also appears on the bottom of both magazines and take down tool. One mag is marked 1 and the other is marked 2. Waffenamt on right side is WaA66. No manufacture mark on toggle and no markings on chamber. N proof on left side of frame and under the barrel. SN is 6740 with a small "t" under sn on frame and barrel. Every part that has 40 stamped on it. SN is on the back of the grip plates too. Back of holster has Schambach & Co Berlin 1929, with a small sunburst under the year.

Here is what I have uncovered so far. Having a T in the sn with no manufacturer makes it a "sneak" from the late 20's or early 30's. L.P. is a Prussian Police mark for the air survaillence unit at Pommern. So I'm thinking this is the 288th full set up issued in 1929 or 1930. Your thoughts and comments will be greatly appreciated.

Be patient. We are summoning the "big guns" on this one...
dju

Fantastic complete rig. However, it belonged to the Landjägerei (rural constablulary) of the Prussian administrative district of Potsdam. It was issued to them in 1929. The pistol was one of those originally manufactured for the Rif revolutionaries in Morocco but never delivered because of political concerns. An outstanding acquisition.

Thanks David!

The info I have so far is mainly speculation. I've seen one other like this and the owner has about the same amount of info I do. I really want to pinpoint the maker and year of this little fella. I thought it was WWII at first but now I know better.

Perfect matching police rig~

From what I can see in the photos your pistol is in very good condition. That it is also such a relatively scare variant makes the luck here extraordinary.

I would think DWM the manufacturer, but I am not familiar with this variant. I hope experienced collectors will comment on manufacturer, and why the manufacturer is not marked on the toggle as it normally is.

More pictures would be welcome, closer and of the right side of the pistol especially. Personally I also always enjoy seeing the markings on the inside of the grips but care must be used in removing them to prevent chipping.

Take it out in some better light, maybe natural and in the shade, and snap some photos at all angles

Thanks guys. especially Don. That info is a big help.

I would assume the maker is DWM but then again I have been wrong about this pistol at every turn. I have a lot of respect for you Luger collectors. Some of these things are difficult to identify. P38's, 1911A1's, those are easy compared to a Luger.

Glad you guys like it. Keep any and all info or comments coming. I will gladly post any Luger pics you request.

Here you go 4 Scale

Hmm, somewhat odd - It looks to be cut for the magazine safety (as well as having the Schiwy sear safety) but there's no hole behind the trigger... :confused:

But the grip has the cut for it...The hole's just not there...

The hole is higher up, under the side plate.

Yes, it was made by DWM, and re-worked/modified/enhanced by the German police when in their "custody".

This included adding the sear and magazine safeties in about 1932, likely grooving the firing pin, and numbering the rear toggle axle. The Mag safety was removed about 1935-6.

Ah! :thumbup:

Too bad the safety itself is missing. It would be worth sniffing one out... ;)

There is a hole under the side plate. Good work gentlemen.

Now do I try to find a magazine safety or enjoy it as is?

I would look for the magazine safety but only install it for display. :thumbup:

I routinely remove magazine safeties on all my pistols. But the police Lugers [some of them] had that modification and it is part of that particular variations characteristics. And the magazine safety is not easy to find (the piece itself). Many were just cut/ground in half and the stub left in place; other Lugers had the slot welded closed and refinished.

A complete police Luger with both intact safeties is seldom encountered, or at least that is the impression I get from previous posts here. :rolleyes:

I have probably bought my last Luger (thanks to Cuomo) but if I could find a decent RC/VoPo refurbished police Luger with both safeties intact I would be sorely tempted...especially if it was for a 'shooter' price... :p

Is all four numbers stamped on the grips typical for police lugers?

Highly unlikely. All of the Lugers I have observed in this category also have the sear safety removed.

Enjoy it as is. You have a very rare complete Landjägerei rig that is all original and in the condition it was in in service from 1937. Adding a mag safety would be a post-war alteration.