Newbie needs some help

kenv1950 · 04-12-2014, 08:22 PM

Bought a luger from a friend.... Not knowing anything about them...I've had guns for over 50yrs. but this is the first luger...It has all the right markings(DWM) made in Germany--ser. no. 85xx..matching numbers..wheating is perfect. condition 99%...WELL I went and bought some 9MM and its not. It seems to be 7MM....What do I have ?????

Ron Wood · 04-12-2014, 09:14 PM

My crystal ball (I don't have photos of your Luger and my Ouija board is out for an upgrade) tells me that it probably is a 1920s Commercial in 7.65mm (.30 cal. Luger). Check to see if there isn't a small cursive letter under the 85xx serial number on the frame. Anyway, a 99% original finish Luger is a keeper, depending on price. To beat a dead horse, photos are needed for evaluation...photos...photos...photos...etc.

kenv1950 · 04-12-2014, 09:21 PM

Under ser. no. kinda looks like small written k but not sure...no date... on the side there is a crown with an (N) under it

Ron Wood · 04-12-2014, 10:32 PM

Good job! My crystal ball is growing clearer. Without photos, I am 98% sure that your 99% condition Luger is a 7.65mm 1920s Commercial.

sheepherder · 04-12-2014, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Wood

Good job! My crystal ball is growing clearer. Without photos, I am 98% sure that your 99% condition Luger is a 7.65mm 1920s Commercial.

To satisfy Ron's other 2%, take a No 2 pencil, eraser end first, and push it gently into the muzzle and see how far it goes in...Just to the metal means 30 cal Luger; all the way in means 9mm...

Some of us prefer the 30 cal; if you look in the For Sale sub-forum here you'll see a couple places that sell the 30 cal ammunition [Fiocchi]...

But if your plan is to shoot 50 or 100 rds a week, you're best off selling it and getting a 9mm...Cheaper/easier to find ammunition...

Pics are needed...How long is the barrel (from bolt face to muzzle)??? Is there a grip safety??? What's the magazine look like??? Did anyone mention pictures???

mrerick · 04-12-2014, 11:10 PM

These DWM alphabet commercial Lugers are from the Weimar era of Germany, with yours made about 1923. I have one made just 25,000 or so after yours, in the "m" block.

The "k" is a suffix and part of your Luger's serial number.

Marc

kenv1950 · 04-13-2014, 09:16 AM

barrel looks like 33/4 crisp and clean....mag. has wooden base...thumb safety on left...7.65mm...don't plan on shooting it much, except a couple rounds to make sure it functions like it should...condition is to nice to use it...when I'm done with researching it, it's going in my safe....don't care about value, just like to know some history, I'm finding Lugers are a tough one to research.....I'll take all the advice I can get...Thanks

sheepherder · 04-13-2014, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenv1950

barrel looks like 33/4 crisp and clean...

I'm old school; not too familiar with Urban Slang...What's 33/4???

DavidJayUden · 04-13-2014, 10:38 AM

3.75" OAL is my guess.

sheepherder · 04-13-2014, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidJayUden

3.75" OAL is my guess.

Nothing separates us like the language, eh wot???

Yeah, that would be consistent with 30 caliber.

(I had first thought maybe it was like "What's the 4/11, dude???")

Edward Tinker · 04-13-2014, 10:44 AM

my guess is that they have no desire to add photos - so they can't be helped much more than they have been

kenv1950 · 04-13-2014, 12:20 PM

3 and 3/4 inch

Ron Wood · 04-13-2014, 02:38 PM

Got it. Thanks Ken.

04-12-2014, 08:22 PM	#1
kenv1950 User Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 9 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Newbie needs some help Bought a luger from a friend.... Not knowing anything about them...I've had guns for over 50yrs. but this is the first luger...It has all the right markings(DWM) made in Germany--ser. no. 85xx..matching numbers..wheating is perfect. condition 99%...WELL I went and bought some 9MM and its not. It seems to be 7MM....What do I have ?????

04-12-2014, 09:14 PM	#2
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 6,988 Thanks: 1,067 Thanked 5,099 Times in 1,676 Posts	My crystal ball (I don't have photos of your Luger and my Ouija board is out for an upgrade) tells me that it probably is a 1920s Commercial in 7.65mm (.30 cal. Luger). Check to see if there isn't a small cursive letter under the 85xx serial number on the frame. Anyway, a 99% original finish Luger is a keeper, depending on price. To beat a dead horse, photos are needed for evaluation...photos...photos...photos...etc. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

04-12-2014, 09:21 PM	#3
kenv1950 User Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 9 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Letter Under ser. no. kinda looks like small written k but not sure...no date... on the side there is a crown with an (N) under it

04-12-2014, 10:32 PM	#4
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 6,988 Thanks: 1,067 Thanked 5,099 Times in 1,676 Posts	Good job! My crystal ball is growing clearer. Without photos, I am 98% sure that your 99% condition Luger is a 7.65mm 1920s Commercial. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

04-12-2014, 11:10 PM	#6
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,900 Thanks: 1,372 Thanked 3,094 Times in 1,503 Posts	These DWM alphabet commercial Lugers are from the Weimar era of Germany, with yours made about 1923. I have one made just 25,000 or so after yours, in the "m" block. The "k" is a suffix and part of your Luger's serial number. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

04-13-2014, 09:16 AM	#7
kenv1950 User Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 9 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	barrel looks like 33/4 crisp and clean....mag. has wooden base...thumb safety on left...7.65mm...don't plan on shooting it much, except a couple rounds to make sure it functions like it should...condition is to nice to use it...when I'm done with researching it, it's going in my safe....don't care about value, just like to know some history, I'm finding Lugers are a tough one to research.....I'll take all the advice I can get...Thanks

04-13-2014, 10:38 AM	#9
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	3.75" OAL is my guess.

04-13-2014, 10:44 AM	#11
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,915 Thanks: 1,989 Thanked 4,506 Times in 2,080 Posts	my guess is that they have no desire to add photos - so they can't be helped much more than they have been __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

04-13-2014, 12:20 PM	#12
kenv1950 User Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 9 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	3 and 3/4 inch

04-13-2014, 02:38 PM	#13
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 6,988 Thanks: 1,067 Thanked 5,099 Times in 1,676 Posts	Got it. Thanks Ken. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction