Death’s Head Luger
 

First post here...thanks for adding me!
Help from the gurus needed! I have the opportunity to purchase a 1918 Deaths Head Luger with what looks to be acceptance stamps where it was used in WW2. This gun is all matching including two numbers matching magazines and leather holster. I have inspected this first hand. Any input on authenticity and price range for this?

According to more recent books, including the blue book of gun values, almost all are fakes. They are valued as normal Lugers. Beware.

Can you provide pics of both sides?

These are all the pics I have at this time.

It also has Post WWI commercial proofing from Suhl, an indication of re-working.

There May be some original DH lugers; but when buying one- I would assume it is a fake.
It is really near impossible to prove it original.

The gun looks a lot better than some of the fakes I have seen, so who knows? Also, the holster is only the third one I have seen with the "lazy S" DH. It has the earmarks of being authentic, but it can't be proven one way or the other.
Ron

Good photos, though. Not artistic, but showing all the detail needed for assistance. Whoever took them, well done.

I am suspicious, from bitter experience, of any Imperial Luger with one matching magazine, let alone two. A closed 4 is incorrect on any P04 (Navy Luger) and I believe it may also be so on any Imperial P08.
Norm

Those 2 wood bottom magazines scare the bejezous out of me. No suffix, +, and of entirely different wood and finish although (supposedly ) issued together? Or are we to believe that the wood-bottomed magazines were issued with the gun at time of re-work?
dju

I don't think those are the issued mags at least in original condition as issued. As you point out, the i suffix is missing. There is a police starburst(?) mark on one, but I don't see a #1 or #2.

Now here is one to really avoid. I know nothing about DH lugers. I will never buy one. What makes a correct DH? The one the individual owns I guess. I put these right up with a Russian. Again what is a correct one? When in doubt avoid. Bill

JUST MY THEROY; There probably were a small number of "Death's Head" lugers to begin with, possibly used by para-military after WW1, but like the German sniper badge of WW2, it has been faked so often and by so many it devalues all such items to the point of insignificance...A sad commentary on human greed.

Questions-

Why would it be C/N proofed? It was military accepted and proofed by DWM in 1918.

I tend to agree with k98mike, used and marked by a post war paramilitary group. Freikorps or some other smaller group during the hectic times in Weimar Germany. Perhaps similar to the EWB markings.

G2

It was re-proved after rework in post WWI germany, the proof markings are from Suhl.
It was re-proved because it was re-worked.

Photo cred goes to me!

Thanks Don.

G2

A reproof would only be needed if any critical component was replaced: barrel, receiver or breech block.

It may have started as an artillery and needed re-barreled for Versailles, but I can’t see the artillery sight notch if it was.

See the first picture, no artillery cut.

I believe the pistol was re-proof fired at least twice.
The C/N of Suhl is over a Weimar era firing proof on the left chamber.

The barrel was replaced at some point, as it is a Simson barrel.

Who knows what else could have been replaced when it received the Suhl re-proof.