Buying Shooter Lugers Can Be an Adventure
 

Came across an attractive shooter Luger on Gun Broker, at a potentially attractive price. Sell had seventeen photos of the pistol. Luger was a 1915 DWM, looked to be mostly matching. Had been nicely reblued after a heavy buffing. The buffing had removed the military inspection, acceptance, and firing proof from the right side of the barrel extension, made the 1915 chamber date faint, and partially removed the DWM trademark on the toggle.

Based on seller photos my thinking was it was likely an Erfurt gun with a DWM toggle train. Not perfect for a shooter, but acceptable. So I bid and won the gun, have it in hand, and am seeing things I missed.

No rear sight on toggle train. The pistol is completely matching except for the barrel. Now I’m thinking it’s a 1915 DWM Artillery with the original barrel replaced with a four inch barrel. Poor bore.

Here are some photos:

http://s295.photobucket.com/user/Kyr...0reblue?sort=9

"potentially attractive price..."

The bait is dangling I am a trout.....

Yep, time to find an Arty barrel, with rear sight.

An Erfurt frame would have a crown/* proof on the front of the trigger guard.

Alas, this is one of those "sometimes we get the bear and sometimes the bears get us" tales. When the gavel went down I was in for a bit over $900. Knowing what I know now, too much by a third.

The lesson here for me (and anyone who can learn from another's mistakes) is to look at each picture carefully, and carefully consider what cannot be seen in any picture.

Yes sir, my thoughts exactly :cheers:

Returnable , perhaps on the basis of the missing sight ?
What was the policy on the listing?

Not really an option in my mind. The rear sight was clearly missing in at least one of the seller's photos and I should have noticed. My mistake, no fault of the seller.

I believe used firearms are very much a caveat emptor situation.

"I believe used firearms are very much a caveat emptor situation. " So it goes. You get what you get. You are a good sport.

Kyrie, (and all others as well)

Please upload photos directly to the forum using the "go advanced" feature... and Manage Attachments. Posting photos on an exterior website causes problems because some members cannot access those types of websites from a work or government location... and secondly, those sites often "reorganize" and URL's change and then the photo is no longer available making the posting useless...

Buying online can be risky. While photos are worth "a thousand words" sometimes they don't tell the whole story. Touching and feeling the gun for a complete inspection is so much better. Of course that is obvious, but not always possible or practical. So we take our chances.

OP, thanks for sharing your unfortunate experience. It is a stark reminder that we need to be careful out there.

Range Report
 

Just back from the local pistol range. Mostly went to work a bit with a Glock mdl 20, but also took along the DWM 1915 and the DWM Commercial.

I'm of the age where I'm so far sighted I cannot see either the front or rear sights of a Luger, so I was not troubled by not having a rear sight on the 1915. I just used the two black blurs that were the toggle knobs and the blur that was front sight base.

Worked surprisingly well. At 21 feet found I could shoot five leaf clovers with each five round magazine. Had feeding problems, which went away when I switched from the vintage magazine to a new Mec-Gar.

Nice shooter :)

I'd look for an artillery barrel with site and convert it back. Depending on what this cost, could be a very good buy at $900 + barrel replacement. Note that returning it because of no rear site is nuts, as it never did have a rear site.

Diver ,
After reading your post I reread the op. So the lack of rear sight is due the fact that we ate talking about a mismatched artillery. I get it. Nuts on me.

You can shoot a cloverleaf pattern at 7 yards without a rear sight? That's about 5/8" group.
What do you need sights for? You're more accurate than most people shooting with sights!

- Geo

I think buying any Luger without a physical inspection is an adventure. I've been both pleasantly and unpleasantly surprised when the won item arrived at my FFL.

I find adventures enjoyable. If you are selective regarding cost and what you bid on, the risk can be controlled down to an acceptable level.

"I think buying any Luger without a physical inspection is an adventure. I've been both pleasantly and unpleasantly surprised when the won item arrived at my FFL. "

Much like buying M1 Garands thru the CMP program. You fill out the paperwork, include payment, drop in the mail, and then wait (in child-like excitement) to see what the mail man brings you.
dju