Navy?? information needed
 

I have been offered a DWM Luger with a 1917 chamber date,O 1555 stamped in front gripstrap,with two crown M stamps on left receiver,one crown M underneath barrel...the gun has a 4" barrel and regular rear toggle...all numbers are matching...any info on what this is would be a help...I know the Gripstrap marks are Weimar property numbers for the naval base...but why the crown M stamps????....Thanks...Peter...

Hi Peter,

What you have is an Imperial navy pistol (In 1917, World War I was still raging and the kaiser was still in charge) that was converted to 4" to comply with the provisions of the Versailles treaty. The Imperial Proofs remain because there was no reason to remove them.

Hope you can score a properly marked tool and holster with the pistol!

Tom A.

Hi Tom....Thanks for the info...no tool...no holster....the crown M on the 4" barrel intrigues me...if the barrel had been replaced why would that be there???...Peter...

Peter, I don't think the barrel was replaced, but was cut down to be in compliance with the Versai, versailless, the treaty from WW1.

Check for a barrel band, if it has a band it is probably a replacement, if it is smooth on the outside of the barrel near the muzzle it is a cut job to comply with the Treaty.

Thor...yes there is a barrel band...and the barrel has a crown M on it...Peter

Peter, There were in fact some 9x100mm (4" barreled Navies) produced, but they would not have a chamber date and would be of the M08 or M14 commerical type in their own serial number range of about 1 to 150. Tom H.

Do I recall correctly, reading somewhere that cut-down barrels sometimes had barrel bands silver-soldered to them?

--Dwight

Thanks for the info Gentlemen...the barrel band is not silver soldered on...is numbered to the gun...I have made an offer on a collection that includes this one...will post pictures when I receive the gun...Peter...(serial number is #4086 no suffix)