Value of DWM "American Eagle" Artillery
 

I'm a new member to the forum and I need some help in identifing (and value)of a DWM American Eagle artillery model. Here is the info: Serial # 31,5xx, cal 7.65 , 8" artillery barrel serial# matchs frame and witness marks straight. Stamped "GERMANY" in front of frame.Weapon has a grip safety and a gold bead type of sight marked "KING" Proof marks appear to be "crown or star over N" Would rate at 95% Any help would be deeply appreciated. Thank you. Rod

Welcome to the Lugerforum Rod.

Photos would be very helpful in determining the type of Luger you have... and a value without photos would not be very accurate. Please try to post photos of both sides and the top of the gun for a more accurate evaluation. If you need help with this, there is a photo upload tutorial at the top of the Site Help & Feedback forum... and if that doesn't work for you, then ask for help.

The "GERMANY" stamp indicates that it was a commercial pistol intended for export to an English speaking country... most likely the USA.

I have never personally heard of a DWM American Eagle artillery model, and never one with a grip safety... perhaps someone else could comment about that... but it seems as if this was a commercial pistol manufactured sometime after World War 1 but before WW2 for the American market. The gold bead front sight would be an aftermarket sight and not orginal to the pistol that was added by the vendor here in the USA or by some previous owner.

Does the gun have any other accessories? Does the magazine or magazines have a matching number on the bottom to the serial number of the gun? Is there a holster or shoulder stock? If so, how are they marked?

Is there a letter character underneath the serial number on the front of the grip frame?

Check back in a day or so and give those who love to research these things time to do that and then comment.

Once again, welcome to the Lugerforum.

Rod, check your private messages. You can do this by hitting the "my profile" button at the top of your screen.

Rod,

I am sure George gave you a great analysis by private message. But since you asked your question on the Forum I thought I might provide a few observations and give others the opportunity to chime in.

A serial number of 31,5xx places your Luger fairly early in the 1906 American Eagle production, certainly well before the advent of the artillery model in 1913. Also, the serial number is a bit high for the known examples of 1906 Lugers manufactured with a stock lug, so that makes the connection to an artillery style Luger even a bit more difficult. Does your Luger have the artillery type rear sight on the barrel and is there a stock lug? John has correctly stated that the King sight is an aftermarket item, but period correct and a neat addition. It is possible that this was a special order Luger with a custom barrel length, possibly part of a multi-barrel length set. That is a long shot and depending upon the answers to the questions I posed, it seems more likely to be a gunsmith customization of a 1906 American Eagle. I would really like to see pictures since it sounds like a very interesting and neat piece.