New toy, 1917 DWM LP-08

DavidJayUden · 01-07-2009, 10:35 PM

I just drug home another Artillery Luger. Sort of interesting story. Talking to the ex-owner on the phone he indicated that his dad brought it back from France in the first World War. As the conversation progressed he went on to say that either he or his brother (I knew problems here coming now) got some old ammo, and that there were "a couple" of bullets in the barrel. I knew that one could be pushed out, but that more than one meant trouble. He admitted that the barrel was bulged. Still, I had to go see it.
Upon arrival he produced, from his bedroom drawer, 1917 DWM Artillery Luger serial #302. It was in a very nice brown FFischer 1916 holster that also had ink stamping RA IV, but lacked all of the straps and stock. The barrel was indeed plugged and ringed in 2 places in about the middle barely visible but perceptable to the touch. All numbers matched excepting the un-numbered wood bottom blued magazine. Condition was excellent with bluing wear on the muzzle, but none on the grip straps. Not perfect but very nice.
Not being one to leave something alone, I bought it, got it home and tore into it. The bullets were pretty close to the muzzle so I was able to center punch a dimple in the nose of the front bullet, then slowly and carefully drilled a hole thru the bullets. After making an adequate drift, I drove three (!) bullets forward and out the barrel. Pushing a tight patch thru the bore you can feel reduced drag as it passes the bulge.
Now it was range time, and against my better judgement and all survival instincts, I armored up and let 'er rip. A bit anticlimactic I might add, because it works like a charm and puts them where it is pointed.
Now I've got to figure out what to do with it.
Anyway here a a few photos.
Thanks for looking.
DJU

Sieger · 01-07-2009, 11:35 PM

Hi:

Did you ask the fool how he managed to get three bullets stuck in the barrel?

Sieger

DavidJayUden · 01-08-2009, 08:06 AM

Well, he was a very old man toting an oxygen tank around his home. He had said that he wasn't sure if he, or his (now deceased) brother did it when they were kids, so that tells me that he did it. (Couldn't blame the dog, I guess.) Well anyway, it didn't seem appropriate to give him a lot of crap over a brain fart that happened so many years ago.
Especially considering that I've done dumber things in my lifetime, but that's another story.
And I got it for the right money. Had it not been damaged I may not have gotten a shot at it or been able to afford it.
DJU

alanint · 01-08-2009, 08:37 AM

Firing the original bullets, or any bullet, which have been stored near penetrating oil for any length of time will produce these results. The oil gets in and ruins the powder charge and not necessarily the primer.
A couple of kids firing an unfamiliar gun at nothing in particular out on the back forty can be forgiven for not realizing that the bullets were not exiting the barrel.

I have a friend in Colombia who carried a snub nose .38 for protection, which he kept liberally oiled in that hot, humid climate. Someone tore the watch off his wrist at a traffic light one day. He jumped out and proceeded to fire three shots into the fleeing felon's back. Piff, Piff, Piff, jamb.
When the felon did not even slow down my friend looked at his gun and could see the nose of the first bullet just protruding from the gun's muzzle. The third bullet jammed the gun by coming to rest bridging the cylinder-barrel gap. This probably saved my friend from a arduous legal battle if not a prison sentence in this particular case.
Moral of the story. Lubricants and ammunition do not mix. Never have your carry ammo anywhere near the gun if you are wiping it down with a lubricant and replace your carry or home defense ammo at least every six months.

petie3 · 03-22-2009, 12:56 PM

Or you can apply the military's final touch to their ammo. Clear nailpolish at the crimp line and on the primer will waterproof the ammo for years. If you are in a damp climate it will permit you to liberally lubricate the firearm and still be certain it shoots when needed.

sheepherder · 03-22-2009, 02:01 PM

just asking out of curiosity...Have you looked into having the bulge "rolled"???

Piet · 03-22-2009, 02:38 PM

Surely a lovely experience. I like a practical man. I must say I would have fastened the Luger on some chair or something, and pulled the trigger with a 3 meter cord from behind a wall!
Piet

01-07-2009, 10:35 PM	#1
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	New toy, 1917 DWM LP-08 I just drug home another Artillery Luger. Sort of interesting story. Talking to the ex-owner on the phone he indicated that his dad brought it back from France in the first World War. As the conversation progressed he went on to say that either he or his brother (I knew problems here coming now) got some old ammo, and that there were "a couple" of bullets in the barrel. I knew that one could be pushed out, but that more than one meant trouble. He admitted that the barrel was bulged. Still, I had to go see it. Upon arrival he produced, from his bedroom drawer, 1917 DWM Artillery Luger serial #302. It was in a very nice brown FFischer 1916 holster that also had ink stamping RA IV, but lacked all of the straps and stock. The barrel was indeed plugged and ringed in 2 places in about the middle barely visible but perceptable to the touch. All numbers matched excepting the un-numbered wood bottom blued magazine. Condition was excellent with bluing wear on the muzzle, but none on the grip straps. Not perfect but very nice. Not being one to leave something alone, I bought it, got it home and tore into it. The bullets were pretty close to the muzzle so I was able to center punch a dimple in the nose of the front bullet, then slowly and carefully drilled a hole thru the bullets. After making an adequate drift, I drove three (!) bullets forward and out the barrel. Pushing a tight patch thru the bore you can feel reduced drag as it passes the bulge. Now it was range time, and against my better judgement and all survival instincts, I armored up and let 'er rip. A bit anticlimactic I might add, because it works like a charm and puts them where it is pointed. Now I've got to figure out what to do with it. Anyway here a a few photos. Thanks for looking. DJU Attached Thumbnails

01-07-2009, 11:35 PM	#2
Sieger User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,575 Thanks: 2,124 Thanked 400 Times in 249 Posts	Hi: Did you ask the fool how he managed to get three bullets stuck in the barrel? Sieger

01-08-2009, 08:06 AM	#3
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	new toy... Well, he was a very old man toting an oxygen tank around his home. He had said that he wasn't sure if he, or his (now deceased) brother did it when they were kids, so that tells me that he did it. (Couldn't blame the dog, I guess.) Well anyway, it didn't seem appropriate to give him a lot of crap over a brain fart that happened so many years ago. Especially considering that I've done dumber things in my lifetime, but that's another story. And I got it for the right money. Had it not been damaged I may not have gotten a shot at it or been able to afford it. DJU

01-08-2009, 08:37 AM	#4
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Firing the original bullets, or any bullet, which have been stored near penetrating oil for any length of time will produce these results. The oil gets in and ruins the powder charge and not necessarily the primer. A couple of kids firing an unfamiliar gun at nothing in particular out on the back forty can be forgiven for not realizing that the bullets were not exiting the barrel. I have a friend in Colombia who carried a snub nose .38 for protection, which he kept liberally oiled in that hot, humid climate. Someone tore the watch off his wrist at a traffic light one day. He jumped out and proceeded to fire three shots into the fleeing felon's back. Piff, Piff, Piff, jamb. When the felon did not even slow down my friend looked at his gun and could see the nose of the first bullet just protruding from the gun's muzzle. The third bullet jammed the gun by coming to rest bridging the cylinder-barrel gap. This probably saved my friend from a arduous legal battle if not a prison sentence in this particular case. Moral of the story. Lubricants and ammunition do not mix. Never have your carry ammo anywhere near the gun if you are wiping it down with a lubricant and replace your carry or home defense ammo at least every six months.

03-22-2009, 12:56 PM	#5
petie3 User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Redlands CA Posts: 13 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Or you can apply the military's final touch to their ammo. Clear nailpolish at the crimp line and on the primer will waterproof the ammo for years. If you are in a damp climate it will permit you to liberally lubricate the firearm and still be certain it shoots when needed.

03-22-2009, 02:01 PM	#6
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,182 Thanks: 1,398 Thanked 4,440 Times in 2,328 Posts	just asking out of curiosity...Have you looked into having the bulge "rolled"???

03-22-2009, 02:38 PM	#7
Piet User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South Africa Posts: 143 Thanks: 155 Thanked 35 Times in 22 Posts	Surely a lovely experience. I like a practical man. I must say I would have fastened the Luger on some chair or something, and pulled the trigger with a 3 meter cord from behind a wall! Piet