1913 DWM
 

Gentlemen,
First hello! Thank you for letting come here.
I would like to know any information and possible worth of this pistol.

Toggle Insciption,- DWM 45
Chamber Inscription,- 1913
Toggle Knob,- squared and Knurled
Grip safty,- no
Stock lug, - no
Caliber, - 9mm
Grip type,- walnut, checkered
Thumb safty,- rearward safe, GESICHERT
Markings,- all matching parts marked 45 includeing grips.
left side of chamber has 2045
right side of chamber has #16 proof marks(from this sites markings page)
Barrel has #14 proof mark, 2045, a ,8,82
MADE IN GERMANY stamped on left side of reciever just below s/n on left of chamber.
Front of reciever has 2045 , a
Right side of reciever just above trigger has a mark I cannot tell what it is.
Left edge of extractor has #14 proof
I measure a 3 15/16 tappered barrel
Sights are a fixed rear and dove tailed front
Magazine bottom plug is wood and magazine has no markings at all.

Gun retains 98% blue
At least 75% straw
Bore is excelent
Grips are worn but in good shape, no missing wood.

Any info on this gun will be appreciated! Thank you!

Welcome Richard!

I have time a for a couple of quick comments:
Toggle shows the manufacturer DWM, 45 is last two of the serial number
1913, should be year of manufacturer
My friends Luke and Ron will be interested, as it does not have a stock lug and believe it never did.
The 8,82 is measurement of the land to land for rifling

Take a close look, is it proof #16? It makes a big difference.

Can you provide scans or pictures?

Ed

I probably am wrong on the proof but it was the only one that comes close to looking like what I see. I have a digital camara and will try to post pic's.

http://boards.rennlist.com/lfupload/rab1913a.JPG

http://boards.rennlist.com/lfupload/rab1913b.JPG

http://boards.rennlist.com/lfupload/rab1913c.JPG

Good to go, GREAT PICS!

Those are DWM Army test proof on the far right and the rest are German army Inspection Stamps.

Very nice example, I like it a lot! I "think" the Made in Germany means it was imported, probably after the war, but I am not sure.

The pictures are very good. The Luger is a 1920's rework of a 1913 Military and marked for commercial sale outside of Germany. The crispness of the receiver serial number and the proof marks would indicate that pistol was in pretty good shape when it was reworked. Possibly the rework only consisted of the stamp MADE IN GERMANY before being released for sale.

According to Costanzo, the receiver proof on your Luger is a 1913 DWM proof, so Ed gave you the correct info. You are correct that the proofs do look like #16 and not like #15. The "Markings" guidelines in the Technical Information section are not necessarily comprehensive in content. The proof #15 is only one of the correct proofs for DWM from 1915-1918 so other variations in DWM proofs, including earlier Lugers like yours, will be found.

The mark above the trigger on the right side of the frame is an Erfurt proof placed there when the hold-open device was added after the pistol was manufactured. This is an authorized modification and in no way detracts from the value of the piece.

Amazeing the storys these things can tell with a little research. Thank you for telling me what I have, I otherwise would have had no idea.

Anyway/where I can get a ball park figure on the worth of this piece?

Hello Ron,

Is it odd that this DWM pistol had an Erfurt proof added with the hold-open modification ? Did DWM not do this modification, themselves ?

Or was Erfurt a designated subcontractor to do this work ?

Regards,

Pete... <img border="0" alt="[typing]" title="" src="graemlins/yltype.gif" />

Erfurt, as the military arsenal, performed the hold-open modification on all Lugers. A bit like what we call "depot level maintenance" today. Erfurt Arsenal was a government entity and therefore would not be considered a "subcontractor".

Nimrod,
It would appear from your photos that your 1913 retains its original finish. It would have to be examined first-hand by an experienced individual to determine if this is true. An original 1913 Military in 98% condition will be in the ballpark of $1100 plus or minus. The MADE IN GERMANY marking will usually devalue the piece somewhat since it is not an "as issued" marking.

Ok, I paid $500 for the piece and wanted to make sure it was worth atleast that much. Thank you.