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Ron Smith · 07-05-2011, 10:44 AM

Hi Jordan,

Your Luger is one of an approx. 10,000 Luger contract placed with DWM by the Army, Circa 1921. Some of these Lugers were taken from the run of Alphabet Commercial (aka 1920 Commercial) Lugers. All Army contract 1921 Lugers are in the No Suffix, A and B Suffix serial number ranges.

Dwm diverted and re-worked some of the Commercial Lugers in inventory. Re-barreled to 9MM, re-numbered in military style, and the date stamped on the chamber. The 8 was added to those already in inventory to avoid duplication of serial numbers as new pistols were produced.

Yours was most likely among the first completed commercials diverted to the contract. I have seen 3 or 4 other 1921 Army Lugers with the 8 added, I have owned 2 of them.

Sear Safeties are only found on Police Contract Lugers, not Army Lugers.

The 18th Infantry Regiment was part of the 6th Reichswehr Infantry Division. The Staff was billeted at Paderborn with the 13th Company. In 1941 the 18th Regiment was re-assigned as part of the 7th Driving Battalion, 1942-43 it was again re-asigned as 5th Company (EAST) 722nd Saftey Device Battalion, 1944 it was re-instated as the 18th Grenadier Regiment.

Ron

07-05-2011, 10:44 AM	#23
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Hi Jordan, Your Luger is one of an approx. 10,000 Luger contract placed with DWM by the Army, Circa 1921. Some of these Lugers were taken from the run of Alphabet Commercial (aka 1920 Commercial) Lugers. All Army contract 1921 Lugers are in the No Suffix, A and B Suffix serial number ranges. Dwm diverted and re-worked some of the Commercial Lugers in inventory. Re-barreled to 9MM, re-numbered in military style, and the date stamped on the chamber. The 8 was added to those already in inventory to avoid duplication of serial numbers as new pistols were produced. Yours was most likely among the first completed commercials diverted to the contract. I have seen 3 or 4 other 1921 Army Lugers with the 8 added, I have owned 2 of them. Sear Safeties are only found on Police Contract Lugers, not Army Lugers. The 18th Infantry Regiment was part of the 6th Reichswehr Infantry Division. The Staff was billeted at Paderborn with the 13th Company. In 1941 the 18th Regiment was re-assigned as part of the 7th Driving Battalion, 1942-43 it was again re-asigned as 5th Company (EAST) 722nd Saftey Device Battalion, 1944 it was re-instated as the 18th Grenadier Regiment. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...