Production date help
 

Hello all, I’m trying to determine the production date of a commercial DWM ser#78963. Its all matching throughout, has brown bakelit grips and a bakelit magazine not serial numbered. I'm pretty sure the grips and mags are original to the gun as both are well worn. The mag to the right is the bakelit, the other in the magazine well looks identical but has had the base replaced with brown plastic.

Hello,

Why do you think this is a 1940? DWM was long out of business by 1940.
The grip panels are walnut, not bakelite or plastic.
The mag bottoms are also wood, not bakelite or plastic.

It looks like a 1920 or 1921 Commercial Luger - 9mm?
What does the top of the gun look like?

- Geo

Yes, please show us the top of the gun. Also, geo is right; DWM ceased production in 1930, I believe

I read a post somewhere on here when I searched bakelit. The only thing I'm sure of is serial numbers match, it's a 7.65 and the grips are of a brown material not wood. Could possibly be plastic but from reading here, the plastic grips were black. Thy look to be period to the gun because of the condition. The diamond pattern is nearly worn smooth on the right grip and look to have never been removed. There is nothing on top other than the DWM logo.

What's printed under the safety lever ?

Gesichert

Sorry guys- feel like an idiot, these grips are wood, just so worn smooth in places appear synthetic as does the mag base. Still trying to determine date

Show a photo of the crown/N on the left side of the receiver. It it's vertical the pistol is a 1923 commercial.

Thank you George, it is vertical.

I have had grips that appeared to be wood and were plastic, but from the rear it's obvious.

DWM Parabellum sn 78963 was produced soon after the end of WWI, well before 1921.

--Dwight

Yeah 100 years of oil soaked wood can look really polished. Those grips may well be original.

Regarding the dates - I was figuring it to be a 1920-1921 based on the serial number.
But how can it be a 1923 model if it was made before 1921?

- Geo

Obsolete collector terminology. Better to call them post-war commercials, or five-digit commercials (distinct from the four-digit-plus-letter "Alphabet commercials" produced from 1921).

--Dwight

Was assuming the 1923 date based on what George stated about the crown/n on the left on receiver being vertical. I suppose I need to invest in a few more ref books.