DWM Identification
 

Just bought this DWM 9mm that I haven’t been smart enough to identify. Never owned a Luger before. This is marked “DWM” on the toggle but my research leads me to believe the magazine (122/37) is made by Mauser? What’s puzzling to me is that it has the correct serial number. All numbers I can find are matching but haven’t been brave enough to disassemble the gun. There is no serial number on the front toggle that I can see. From markings on the grip part of frame it looks like a police issue. You can also see the sear safety in one of the photos. Gun has a 4” barrel, a stock lug and no grip safety. Safety is engaged in the down position. Any advice is much appreciated.

What I am seeing is a late DWM (actually very close to Mauser taking over or did) police luger - it has a sear safety and a disconnected magazine safety (expected). Its Waa marking on the right shows it was accepted by the army (correct) and accepted into the police. The front grip strap markings are police.

The magazine is force matched and is a mauser period magazine.

I was told this was. WWI vintage but sounds like it’s maybe from the late 30’s? I’m guessing I overpaid at $1,000. But it’s interesting and is a sweet shooter.

Not in my area. You have an honest Luger; not refinished, not abused; being a police Luger is a bit of a plus IMO. Looks good. You'd have paid that from a dealer plus additional fees (again, in my area). :D

I'd have detail stripped (and cleaned) it immediately. There are some things that can break that you can't see (firing pin spring guide; firing pin tip; chipped extractor). And some things get gummed up and don't work right (sear pin/spring; thumb safety). Always good to know what to expect. :)

Welcome.
The letter below the numbers is also part of the serial number; so the magazine has the same number/different letter and is not a match. As pointed out it is a later vintage magazine.

That’s an interesting observation. It doesn’t seem logical that someone would create a matching serial number and, at the same time, a different letter. What do you make of the “3” above the serial number? Would have expected a 1 or a 2 or maybe a +.

During police work or rework they probably ground the numbers but not the suffix letter off a later and restamped it to match. Police issued these with matching magazines that were not original or necessarily correct to the original gun. IMHO you did not overpay.
dju

What do you make of the “3” above the serial number? This indicates the 3rd spare magazine. Police were issued 3 magazines.


A + was for an extra/spare ARMY magazine.

BTW, you can barely pick up a mismatched luger for $1,000 - one matching mag on a police gun adds several hundred at a minimum. Although the 'spotty' rust takes away value, I think with oil and rubbing with a cloth or 0000 steel wool (nothing more harsh) and it'll clean up well.

Check on youtube for disassembly videos - then take your time, ensure you are careful, don't force the grips or the take down lever. Read the FAQ here, read the disassembly instructions here, Buy books, etc.

Your late 1920s Magnaberg police luger was assembled at BKIW from left over WW1 DWM parts. The magazine was added later, probably in the DDR, and reserialized to the the pistol. TH

Nice pictures!

Is there no date stamp on top of the chamber ?
I can only make out some scratches, so I wondered if the date was buffed off ?

Could we please see a better view in good light of the top of the chamber area? Thanks.

Thanks to all for the info and advice. Attached are a couple photos of the top of the chamber. No date. Doesn’t appear to me that anything was buffed off...

The chamber area is not ground or buffed IMHO. Since it was made up from parts, the receiver was probably unmarked during assembly and never got date stamped.

they were not made from older parts - the 1929 era lugers might have been DWM parts, but I highly doubt they were WW1 parts by this time.

The last date you see on a DWM is 1921 - possibly 1922

Mauser first dated them in the K and G dates

The gun was issued to the Landjägerei (rural constabulary) of the Prussian administrative district of Magdeburg during the rearming of this force in 1929.