Assistance with Chamber Marking 1916 DWM
 

I am not very well versed in Lugers but came across this one and wondered if anyone could assist me with what Preis above the 1916 on the chamber and JR on the left of the date and 159 on the right of the date means?

Any assistance is appreciated.

Here's a photo: https://imgur.com/a/mETG9rO

Well it says "Prize", Infantry Regiment 159.

Maybe a luger given as a shooting award?

Google says 'price'...

Neither makes sense... :(

I like my answer better,
it does make sense if the luger were given as a "prize" or "award".:evilgrin:

One of the German guys can "interpret". :cheers:

Actually Google is probably "wrong", my Cassel's says "prise = prize"; double checked English "prize = prise".

I appreciate the replies. I came up with price also but really makes no sense. We will see if someone comes up with anything else.


Ed

To come up with anything else, we'll need some clear pics of this pistol. None here, I think, is clairvoyant.

The inscription is "PREIS"... :D

Here's what Bing Translator has to say -

Translations of "preis"

NOUN
price - preis, kurs
prize - preis, gewinn, auszeichnung
rate - rate, bewertung, preis, tarif, satz, geschwindigkeit, zinssatz
cost - kosten, preis, kostet, aufwand, gebühr, gekostet
award - award, auszeichnung, preis, vergabe, ausgezeichnet, vergeben, verleihung
value - wert, werts, wertes, preis

Sounds like tomato, tomato; and always " i before e". ;)

Preis:

achievement award; token of appreciaton; honour; accolade; honor; prize; prices; price

Preis: a German officers personal pistol, like Colonel Preis. 8-/

Thank you all!

I think Don Voigt is right on the mark....correct translation and good meaning of the words.

I believe it is a name. I knew at least one "Preis" in the army.
Where when or why it is on the pistol will remain a mystery.

It's a marksman's Prize. No question.

Thank you all for your ideas. I am still torn as to if I should buy it, it is in excellent condition, appears to be all matching and comes with it's (or period correct) holster and takedown too and an extra magazine. I think it's a little steep at $1,800, but maybe not.

Any other markings

Subtract the value of the holster (perhaps $300 if in good condition), the value of the tool (approx $100) and the value of the extra mag (approx $150) and you see what I think is a pretty good deal on this set. A nice Luger for about $1300-1400. JMHO

Since it is chamber dated, it is obliviously started its life as government property and the Imperial military was not giving away pistols as prizes

It was marked after the war when there were a huge number of these surplus Lugers in storage, but also in former military member's homes. Many took their side arms home when the War suddenly ended, so there were a lot of these unaccountable weapons available during the Weimar Period.