[quote]Originally posted by Thor:
<strong>I assume this a military model as it has no sear safety. The right acceptance stamps are the Weimar Doves. The Serial is 89564 and the unit marking on the front grip strap is 18.R.10.15.
The "18" & "10" are medium height, the "R" is taller than those two numbered markings, and the "15" is a smaller height than the 18 and 10.
Is this an Infantry Regiment Luger? Any ideas? Caliber is 9mm and the chamber date is 1921, toggle code is DWM.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Jan Still's book "Weimar and Early Nazi Lugers" has quite a bit of information on your pistol beginning on page 26. Briefly, it's a "Weimar 5 Digit SN DWM Luger". Pistols without Navy or police markings almost always indicates Army issue. In your case there's no doubt because of the unit markings. (18th Reserve Infantry Regiment, 10th Company, 15th Weapon is how I read it.)
Proofs may consist of Dove, Dove/WaA4, E/ArA4 or Crown/scriptic G on right receiver, barrel and left breechblock. There should be a C/N on the left receiver as these are actually serialled as commercial pistols. According to Still, most of the more than 17,000 commercial Lugers in the serial number range of 74845 - 91989 were sold as commercial pistols. About 1500 were 9mm with a 4 inch barrel, dated, and intended for police or Army use. VERY FEW bear Weimar Army markings. (Emphasis mine.) The Basil police Lugers are from this series. Of serial numbers reported to Still at the time of publication (1993), only one Weimar Army serial number is listed: 86866 with unit marking 8/J.R.18.12.
Looks like you have a rather rare pistol on your hands. Congratulations.
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