1914 DWM Luger Proof Marks

rdesi54 · 09-16-2014, 01:24 PM

Looking for info on the proof marks on this DWM 9mm Luger. It is dated 1914, has a 4 digit serial number with an odd shaped u beneath the serial number. I have run across one other DWM Luger with the same markings but no info with it, just a pic. I am sure the grips are not originals. It must have been re-worked at an arsenal somewhere along the line as some parts do not match the last 2 digits of the serial number. It would be interesting to obtain some info on this gun, when it could have been produced, if it could have been used during WW1 and WW2 and what the proof marks mean. I am not looking to sell this one just interested in info! My dad picked this up during WW2 and it has been passed down to me.

I have taken it in to the local gun store, they looked it over and said it was in great shape for firing. I hadn't shot the gun for several decades, so we took it out and ran 50 rounds thru it, works very well and is very accurate for being around 100 years old!

Any info will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

drbuster · 09-16-2014, 01:50 PM

Rick, you appear to have a mixture of a 1914 imperial proofed DWM receiver and toggle train, a barrel from the Nazi era (re-barrel) and a Mauser frame (note the Mauser hump). The barrel with the Nazi proof was probably added during the Third Reich period but the rest is just conjecture. These re-works, or "hodge-podge" lugers are generally looked upon as shooters with little collector interest. No one can say exactly when the various parts came together. Value of something like this, retail, would be about $800-$1000 but if you had to sell to a dealer, you'd be lucky to get $500-$600 for it. The grips could had been added by a GI at the end of WW2 and the swastika is a fantasy addition.

rdesi54 · 09-16-2014, 03:07 PM

Thank You drbuster! this is more info than I could find searching the web! The serial number on bottom of barrel matches the frame, but underneath this number is 8,84. Any idea of what this means? I also noticed the proof marks on the side rail look similar to the Spandau proofs??

John Sabato · 09-16-2014, 03:51 PM

8.84 is the barrel groove diameter in millimeters. They range from 8.81 to 8.85

alanint · 09-16-2014, 10:52 PM

Also, don't short-change that "swastika fantasy item".

It looks like an authentic NASDAP, (Nazi Party) badge in gold. If the pin back has just been pressed into the wood and not cut off, the badge itself has some collector value.

Lugerdoc · 09-17-2014, 11:10 AM

I agree with the above info. The crown over a letter markings on the right side of your receiver were applied when inspected at various stages of production. The DWM eagle closest to the barrel, is the 1914 test fire proof. A similar eagle would have also originally appeared on the barrel, where the Nazi eagle now appears. TH

rdesi54 · 09-17-2014, 11:40 AM

Thank You all for this info - much more than I knew about the gun several days ago! Even though it is not such a valuable Luger - it does look ok, Good conversation and a Fun Shooter!. ! Showed it to a neighbor the other day, he had only seen 1 other Luger in his 70 yrs on earth.

rhuff · 09-17-2014, 03:55 PM

It is good to have collector status lugers and a shooter catagory also. Some folks get great pleasure from collecting and studying Lugers, and others get their kicks from taking them to the range. A group for all luger lovers.

rdesi54 · 09-17-2014, 05:35 PM

The Nazi symbol in the grip under magnification looks like some real quality work. I don't know anything about these buttons. I guess the only way to find out if the pin was still on the back would be to remove it from the grip. That I wont do as would probably damage the grip some. It does look kind of nice but not OEM

And Thanks once again for all your input. Its amazing the knowledge out there on these Lugers!

Dave Sanders · 09-17-2014, 07:53 PM

The badge looks to be a standard party badge. The golden party badges are more ornate and bigger, IMO.
Dave

Sergio Natali · 09-18-2014, 03:03 AM

Hi Rick

I think that your Luger seems a very interesting specimen, and even if it is a bit of a mix betwen a collectible and a shooter, it is quite a nice gun to keep.

As far as I'm concerned in my small collection I keep guns that I've never used at the range, where I prefer to go at least once a week for some IDPA with modern guns (mainly GLOCK, and CZ) that unike Lugers are just tools not items of veneration.

As an additional warning be careful as all these one century old Lugers should never be fired with modern high speed and high power ammunition because their steel might have become a bit structurally unsound.

Safe shooting.

Sergio

rdesi54 · 09-20-2014, 01:42 PM

Hi Sergio - Thought about that last night! Even though it still fires and is very accurate, it is very old. So it's probably best that it stays as a nice conversation piece vs a shooter!

Thanks for your comments!

09-16-2014, 01:24 PM	#1
rdesi54 User Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: PNW Posts: 5 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	1914 DWM Luger Proof Marks Looking for info on the proof marks on this DWM 9mm Luger. It is dated 1914, has a 4 digit serial number with an odd shaped u beneath the serial number. I have run across one other DWM Luger with the same markings but no info with it, just a pic. I am sure the grips are not originals. It must have been re-worked at an arsenal somewhere along the line as some parts do not match the last 2 digits of the serial number. It would be interesting to obtain some info on this gun, when it could have been produced, if it could have been used during WW1 and WW2 and what the proof marks mean. I am not looking to sell this one just interested in info! My dad picked this up during WW2 and it has been passed down to me. I have taken it in to the local gun store, they looked it over and said it was in great shape for firing. I hadn't shot the gun for several decades, so we took it out and ran 50 rounds thru it, works very well and is very accurate for being around 100 years old! Any info will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! Attached Thumbnails Last edited by rdesi54; 09-17-2014 at 12:39 AM.

09-16-2014, 03:51 PM	#4
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	8.84 is the barrel groove diameter in millimeters. They range from 8.81 to 8.85 __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

09-17-2014, 11:10 AM	#6
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	I agree with the above info. The crown over a letter markings on the right side of your receiver were applied when inspected at various stages of production. The DWM eagle closest to the barrel, is the 1914 test fire proof. A similar eagle would have also originally appeared on the barrel, where the Nazi eagle now appears. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

09-18-2014, 03:03 AM	#11
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,082 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	Hi Rick I think that your Luger seems a very interesting specimen, and even if it is a bit of a mix betwen a collectible and a shooter, it is quite a nice gun to keep. As far as I'm concerned in my small collection I keep guns that I've never used at the range, where I prefer to go at least once a week for some IDPA with modern guns (mainly GLOCK, and CZ) that unike Lugers are just tools not items of veneration. As an additional warning be careful as all these one century old Lugers should never be fired with modern high speed and high power ammunition because their steel might have become a bit structurally unsound. Safe shooting. Sergio __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

09-16-2014, 01:50 PM	#2
drbuster User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: San Mateo, California Posts: 1,432 Thanks: 2 Thanked 71 Times in 56 Posts	Rick, you appear to have a mixture of a 1914 imperial proofed DWM receiver and toggle train, a barrel from the Nazi era (re-barrel) and a Mauser frame (note the Mauser hump). The barrel with the Nazi proof was probably added during the Third Reich period but the rest is just conjecture. These re-works, or "hodge-podge" lugers are generally looked upon as shooters with little collector interest. No one can say exactly when the various parts came together. Value of something like this, retail, would be about $800-$1000 but if you had to sell to a dealer, you'd be lucky to get $500-$600 for it. The grips could had been added by a GI at the end of WW2 and the swastika is a fantasy addition.

09-16-2014, 03:07 PM	#3
rdesi54 User Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: PNW Posts: 5 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank You drbuster! this is more info than I could find searching the web! The serial number on bottom of barrel matches the frame, but underneath this number is 8,84. Any idea of what this means? I also noticed the proof marks on the side rail look similar to the Spandau proofs??

09-16-2014, 10:52 PM	#5
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Also, don't short-change that "swastika fantasy item". It looks like an authentic NASDAP, (Nazi Party) badge in gold. If the pin back has just been pressed into the wood and not cut off, the badge itself has some collector value.

09-17-2014, 11:40 AM	#7
rdesi54 User Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: PNW Posts: 5 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank You all for this info - much more than I knew about the gun several days ago! Even though it is not such a valuable Luger - it does look ok, Good conversation and a Fun Shooter!. ! Showed it to a neighbor the other day, he had only seen 1 other Luger in his 70 yrs on earth.

09-17-2014, 03:55 PM	#8
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,272 Thanks: 2,692 Thanked 959 Times in 705 Posts	It is good to have collector status lugers and a shooter catagory also. Some folks get great pleasure from collecting and studying Lugers, and others get their kicks from taking them to the range. A group for all luger lovers.

09-17-2014, 05:35 PM	#9
rdesi54 User Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: PNW Posts: 5 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The Nazi symbol in the grip under magnification looks like some real quality work. I don't know anything about these buttons. I guess the only way to find out if the pin was still on the back would be to remove it from the grip. That I wont do as would probably damage the grip some. It does look kind of nice but not OEM And Thanks once again for all your input. Its amazing the knowledge out there on these Lugers!

09-17-2014, 07:53 PM	#10
Dave Sanders User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Hamer, Idaho Posts: 273 Thanks: 19 Thanked 39 Times in 20 Posts	The badge looks to be a standard party badge. The golden party badges are more ornate and bigger, IMO. Dave

09-20-2014, 01:42 PM	#12
rdesi54 User Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: PNW Posts: 5 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi Sergio - Thought about that last night! Even though it still fires and is very accurate, it is very old. So it's probably best that it stays as a nice conversation piece vs a shooter! Thanks for your comments!