DWM commercial value?
 

Last week I spotted a commercial DWM luger for 600$ thought the condition was a little rough for what he was asking for it. I'm now having second thoughts about the matter. I need a little help estimating the value because I'm still a nocice. This will be my second luger. I got lucky the first time with a super buy, this time I want to buy based on skill!!

Here are the details, I would appreciate some feed back from the experts. I will have a chance at this luger tommorow.

Details:

Cal. 9mm and standard army barrel and frame configuration. No import marks.

DWM on toggel.

all matching numbers

serial # is no prefix or suffice 77xx and something. I cant remember the last two digits

Has wood bottom mag with proofs (not matching but close to serial #).

Has crown over N proofs, (has no "made in Germany" or "Germany".

Grips- dirty, but will clean up, no damadge.

Condition- 70% original blue and 50% straw, some very light pitting (very small area). looks all original to me.

Thanks to any and all for their estimation of value.

Beamersquared

The serial number is too low for a 9mm commercial. Questions: Stock lug or no stock lug? Is there a Crown/N proof on the left receiver and is it vertical or "lazy"? Does the barrel serial number match the frame?

Ron

The cal. may be .30 cal I may have just assumed it was 9mm, the barrel had matching ser. # to frame also crown N proof on it. I cannot remember which way the crown N proof was on the frame. Also now that I think about it the ser. # had some sort of letter under it in script, but I may be mistaken, wish I would have looked closer now!! No cameras allowed at gun shows around here!!

Beamer

You're confusing me. If there's a script letter under the serial number on the barrel, then the same letter should appear under the number on the frame... or it's a mismatched gun. The C/N proofs make it sound like a common 1920 Commercial, also called an "Alphabet" Luger by Jan Still. It's most likely a .30 caliber. I saw one on Auction Arms last week in pristine condition go in the $600 range. I didn't check the final price but an hour before it closed, the bid was $576 and the pistol was worth every penny. The pistol you describe would be closer to $500 IMO.

I suspect the script letter was under the frame serial number. When you get a chance to look at it tomorrow, I also think you will find that it has the vertical Crown/N, and is a .30 cal. Doubs' assesment that it is a 1920's Alphabet commercial is probably right on the money. And speaking of money, the $600 price tag is a bit high for the condition you described, gotta go with Doubs' opinion here too.

Sorry for the confusion Ron / Doubs, this is what happens when you dont pay attention to every little detail. Today I will check for lazy N proof and from what I saw in the proof marks section of the forum a lazy N proof signifies a commercial DWM dated 1908 - 1914 and a upright crown N proof whould be a 1920 or after commercial luger. Just curious if the gun is a lazy N variation what would that due to the value.

Beamer

If it has a lazy Crown/N proof, it would indicate a "forced" match of the upper and lower parts of the gun. The serial number of the Luger you are looking at is not consistent with a 1908-1914 commercial piece. If it is a lazy Crown/N, the value is that of a shooter.