1917 DWM Luger
 

I am new to the whole Luger thing. I happened to be in a gun shop yesterday and stumbled across a 1917 DWM Luger. All the parts that I could see have matching numbers. I couldn't check the firing pin or the inside of the grips. The pistol looks to be in great shape and comes with 2 magazines and a leather holster that is stamped 1917. I didn't check for serial numbers on the magazines at the time because I didn't know that was a thing.

Any idea what it might be worth? I know I don't have any pictures of it. With this Covid thing they were only letting 10 people in the store at a time, took too long to get in and I had to get moving. From what I can tell it is a really clean pistol especially being 103 years old. I just need a range on what I should be paying for it so I can decide if I am going to get it. They have it on a 5 day free hold for me.

Thanks for any input.

You are asking a lot without photos and more info. Including asking price.
Let's assume that internal numbers and magazine numbers don't match, maybe $1000-$1500.
Everything, including the magazines, matches, good shape, good bore, functional, maybe as high as $2500.
dju

What's the barrel length?

It is the short barrel...4inch? It isn't the Artillery model

David I know I was asking a lot without pictures. I just didn't think to get any when I was there. Things were a bit crazy in the shop as it was. I specifically didn't include what they are asking because I didn't want to get a bunch of that is too much or that is cheap. I just wanted to get an idea on price range.

I am no expert my any means on older guns but I can say that I can tell when one is in poor condition vs one that is in really nice condition. I would say this one is in really nice condition. It functions and the bore looks good. Like I said ever number that I could see on the outside matches.

Thanks for the replies fellas

If it looks really nice, be sure it isn't a re-blue, as that would drop the price quite a bit, and make it a shooter, not a collector.

Huntingnut,

David replied and asked what was the asking price
George asked the barrel length

You answered the barrel length
but ignored the asking price
People try to help and ask question to try and help you

Kiwi

I did reply to David...I said I didn't want to say the price because I didn't want to have people saying it was too much. I wanted to know about a price range. I know I don't have a lot of information, I really wish I did. Things were crazy in the shop as they were only allowing 10 people in at a time. I went in to pick up a different gun and as I was about done I saw the luger. Again things had been crazy with me already waiting an hour to get in the door. Then I had to do paperwork for the shotgun I was getting and wait. I was about done when I saw it and looked it over quick and decided to put it on hold as I needed to get home to take care of other things as it was over an hour drive. I wish I had gotten some pictures.

They want $1700 for it.

$1700 may be too much or not enough; impossible to day without a
lot more info. Caution dictates that it is on the high side. JMHO.

A price range without any more info would be $1000 to $3000.

Don

I am calling the shop in a minute to ask about the grip and magazine serial number. I might even be able to get the one guy I talked with to send me some pictures. I know I really wish I had more information at this time.

All

I talked to the shop this morning. One of the magazines is worn but the numbers that can be made out (last one is really tough) match. The other magazine they can't find numbers on.

They understood what I was trying to do in terms of getting an idea on price and they were nice enough to extend my free hold on it (with all the Covid stuff going on) so I am headed down to take some pictures. I will get a bunch and upload them when I get home. I wont be able to take the grips off though.

Here are the pictures. Sorry but I tool like 30 pictures so I could get you all as much as I could

Here are some more

Ok that is all the pictures I have. Hopefully that is all everyone needs because I can't get more pictures.

I couldn't find serial numbers on the magazines. There was some number that partially matched kind of scratched into the one magazine.

The left grip did not have a serial number that we could find. The right one did have the 58 stamped in it. The grips match though in terms of color and wear. Not sure why the left didn't have a number that we could find.

All the other numbers do match. They were super cool about me taking it all apart at the counter. I actually even took apart the one that was made in 1918 to see if it had all matching stuff in case it did. Neither of the hand grips had numbers on them for that one and the magazines were pretty beat up.

The gun and holster look to be in their original finish. The barrel clearly needs a cleaning. Otherwise for the pistol and holster at $1700, that seems to be a pretty fair shake IMO.

HerrKaiser

Thanks. I have been doing a lot of research. Watched several videos on how to take it apart before I went to the shop. Asked them if it was cool for me to take it apart to see all the parts. Surprisingly I remembered it all and had no issues.

From what I could find it seems like it is worth the money. I just need some confirmation in case I am missing something.

Thanks for the reply.

Seems like an honest gun that hasn't been messed with. I'd either buy it as-is, or leave them an offer and walk.
dju

Not enough pics of the holster to say for sure but from what I CAN see it looks pretty good.

It looks to be an honest 1917 Luger. The finish appears to be original. I can't tell if the bore is just nasty, or corroded. With the holster and mags, I don't believe that $1700 is out of line.

For $1700 I would jump on it like a duck on a June bug...or at least I would have when I still could afford it.
Ron