1918 DWM Proof Marks.?

[hansfischer007]

My 1918 DWM came in today ....and its Great....All Matching....and I put approximately 25 rounds thru it at the indoor shooting range...good crisp trigger pull...and its a tack driver......Got a mystery (at least to me) that I need you guys input on....as I said...its all matching...DWM and date on the top....however on the top right side...there are no proof marks at all..????...and its totally un messed with ....so don't understand the lack of proof marks....ive looking at a couple of other 1918 DWMs and they all show proof marks.......so let me know your opinion......by the way....the grips show plenty of use......almost worn smooth on right side for trigger finger....its definitely a combat used pistol.....anyway....let me know what you think about the lack of proof marks......Thanks..Hans Fischer

[alanint]

Hans,

Photos would really help. If the pistol was accepted by the German military there SHOULD be proof marks were you indicate. Do the grips match the balance of the pistol by serial number?

[hansfischer007]

I checked the grips and they are not numbered...However they are well-worn and fit the frame snug....looks like they were the original grips....and as I said earlier...it has they have that "been there--- well used combat look"...altho the pistol is in good shape........original finish....it hasn't been buffed.....but there just no proof marks at all on the right side.......its marked on top.....1918 DWM and its an all matching...........I saw some photos of early commercial lugers that didn't have proof marks.?...so the mystery deepens I guess......could it be a 1918 Commercial model.????....anyway...I appreciate the help.....Hans Fischer

[Ron Wood]

Originally Posted by hansfischer007

could it be a 1918 Commercial model.????.....Hans Fischer

If it has a date on the chamber, it isn't a commercial.

[siegersallee]

Hans,

If you don't mind my asking where did you come by the 1918 DWM?
Would you give a price range?

Richard

[hansfischer007]

OK Guys...Hope these come thru ....The photo of the right grip just doesn't really show how worn it is......but this pistol has seen a lot of use.....anyway..let me know your thoughts......Thanks..Hans Fischer

[alanint]

The right side "scallop" above where the proofs should be is misshapen, leading me to believe this side of the pistol was "scrubbed" to eliminate the proofs, for some reason, then an old reblue to cover things up.
The proofs WERE there, but now they are gone.

[hansfischer007]

I took another photo of the right side....and can't see where it would be misshapen.?.....running my finger over it....I can feel the sharp edge....so its a mystery.......would anyone hazard a guess as to why proof marks would have been removed off a 1918 DWM.?...and all the other marks are still there.........its a good looking pistol....actually better than the photos show.........and Im quite happy with it....just have a "mystery" to figure out..........whoever owned this really put it to use........not just casual shooting......this looks like a pistol that went thru all the WW1 years.........I value everyones opinion and appreciate you taking the time to answer as always....Hans Fischer

[hansfischer007]

Got to thinking about absence of proof marks.....many years ago...back in the dark ages....approx.late 50s....I had a 1918 DWM and it also did not have proof marks on the right side..??/...so there must be a reason somewhere......and can't believe my luck to wind up with another 1918 DWM with no proofs again.....as the olde saying goes......"bet theres a story there somewhere"........guess we will never know........Hans Fischer

[lugersrkewl]

Hello , I have a 1918 dwm too. the proof marks should be crowned J S S and an eagle. I agree with alanint it does appear to have been buffed but very subtly. I do see some scallop deformation but its only if I squint and hold my tounge 33 degrees to the left. If thats not the case I wonder if it didnt make it to the inspectors but made it out of the factory. interesting thankyou for sharing this. one last thing is there an eagle on the barrel where one should be?

[hansfischer007]

I Love your descriptions..!!...and I guess it will remain a mystery....now as to your question about Eagle....dont see one...however underneath the barrel is what appears to be the letter M...underneath the serial #...this M also is on the front frame...right above the trigger guard....again ..underneath the serial #....does this have any significance...??....Im not sure what M would stand for.?...your help is appreciated.......Regards....Hans Fischer

[Ron Wood]

Originally Posted by hansfischer007

I Love your descriptions..!!...and I guess it will remain a mystery....now as to your question about Eagle....dont see one...however underneath the barrel is what appears to be the letter M...underneath the serial #...this M also is on the front frame...right above the trigger guard....again ..underneath the serial #....does this have any significance...??....Im not sure what M would stand for.?...your help is appreciated.......Regards....Hans Fischer

Is it an "M" or an "m"? If it is a lower case "m" it is part of the serial number.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by alanint

The right side "scallop" above where the proofs should be is misshapen...

Yes, it does appear to be extended...But I would be more concerned with the serial #'s on the opposite side; there does not appear to be any halos...and the font doesn't look quite right (that might be just me)...and the tooling marks on the receiver just behind the the 4-digit serial are distinct, but they disappear where the number is stamped...Looks like a scrub in that area too...Maybe...

And poorly fitting grips, as noted elsewhere...(Around top 'point' and mag button)...

[alanint]

Exactly, the scallop was "cleaned up" after being partly removed when the side of the upper receiver was machined down to remove the proofs. Unfortunately, the effort to restore the scallop resulted in a misshapen lower radius, which although slight, is noticeable.

There are also a couple of "ticks" in the metal where the deepest part of the proofs were not entirely machined away. Another indicator is that the ejector sits at, or slightly above the surface of the receiver, where they usually sit slightly below this surface.
This was neatly done, then reblued long ago. The purpose for all this effort is a mystery.

I own a beater Colt 1911 made in 1918. Someone ground off the "Model of 1911, US Army" from the slide and the "Property, US Army" from the frame, possibly thinking that the goverment could appear at any moment and reclaim their property. This may be the case with this pistol, perhaps kept and not turned in by a German soldier after WW1 who was seeking "plausible deniability" should he be caught with it?

[Edward Tinker]

First off, there were acceptance stamps and then there are proof markings, each done at different times, so it is unlikely that some are missing.

You can pick up Datig or Jones for very cheap, they tell all about suffix markings, or scores of folks on here.

In other words, if a suffix, any Luger books would have an explanation for them, and I think the FAQ does...

Take this new Luger and learn everything you can about it.

[tjordan]

I also have a 1918 DWM Luger with the same example all numbers match inside and out but there are no stampings on the right side as you discribed above . I did notice that when I remove the slide under the barrell it has a few markings that look like an N with a circle around it to the left of the N looks like a (z) and to the right a (1 ) and above the N right top is what looks like a J also.On the frame inside the gun where the pin comes out to remove the cover plate there is a flat piece on the frame with some additional markings that also have the N circled with a 3 below right of the N top left is a 5 which is the last digit of the serial looks like a T R botton left of the N and top Right looks like a Vf where the V has to line like a F on the right side. Hope this did not confuse any body

[tjordan]

That is great info much appreciated

[lugersrkewl]

if you figure out what all the other internal letters and numbers are let me know please

[wlyon]

All the internal marks are inspector marks. They are present on most lugers and really meaninless although I am sure some study them. Bill