need information on this luger please.

bigrybread · 05-20-2010, 09:39 PM

hello I recently inherited this luger and im trying to gather information on it as to whether or not I should shoot it or keep it locked up. as far as I can tell its got 1917 on the top part of the gun, on the under side of the barrel and in front of the trigger guard and once more on the left side of the barrel is 1815, and all over the gun in different areas is the number 15 as well. d.w.m is engraved on the top of the gun on the right side of the gun are 3 characters of some kind.

any information is much apprecaited thank you all so much for your time

alvin · 05-20-2010, 09:51 PM

How many years this gun has been locked without shooting in the past? Shoot it.

bigrybread · 05-20-2010, 10:04 PM

to my knowledge about 6 I believe but according to my grandma was well maintained by my grandfather. also the 1815 stamps have a very small a underneath them. will shooting it hurt the value of it if it even has a decent value???

alvin · 05-20-2010, 10:07 PM

It's not a factory original gun. In U.S., its value is limited to a few hundred dollars because of the volume. But a few hundred dollars do not come easy these days.... I have to say.

bigrybread · 05-20-2010, 10:13 PM

sweet i guess thats good news lol cause honestly i wanted to make it a routine shooter but was afraid i would hurt the value :P thank you very much for your information

Mauser720 · 05-20-2010, 11:07 PM

bigrybread -

Well, if the gun actually does have all matching numbers, then that greatly increases the value to a collector. And if one of these serially numbered parts were to break during firing, then the collector value will be reduced by about half.

And the parts do break from time to time. Somewhere on this Forum there is a survey about the parts that were broken by firing, and I think one of the things this survey documented was that extractors, for example, are one of the parts that are most frequently broken.

However, it does not make any difference which numbered part is broken. Break any one of them, and an all matching Luger's value to a collector will be cut in half.

You have probably heard the expression "risk tolerence" as it relates to investing in the stock market. Well, in the same way, an individual's "risk tolerence" will determine whether he intends to go ahead and shoot an all matching collectable Luger.

Another factor that can impact the Luger's collector value is whether it has been refinished. A Luger which has had its original finish replaced; i.e., "reblued", is also of less collector value than one which still has most or nearly all of it's original finish.

I mention this since in my opinion the barrel on your example seems to have an unusual color to it. I can not tell from your pictures whether it has been refinished, or perhaps touched up with "cold blue" or whatever.

Perhaps someone else with more experience can comment on whether the finish on your example is original.

Hope this helps.

rolandtg · 05-20-2010, 11:13 PM

A nice looking pistol. But definitely buffed & reblued.

DavidJayUden · 05-20-2010, 11:33 PM

I agree that it is refinished. Take care of it but enjoy...
dju

bigrybread · 05-21-2010, 02:23 AM

wow thank you all for your very helpful information and time looking at my piece. my last question is does anyone know a price range i could expect for a pistol like this?

bigrybread · 05-21-2010, 02:37 AM

c3006 · 05-21-2010, 07:11 AM

Welcome to the forum,I would guess the $650 range. mabe a little more or less depending on the market where you are. Best c

mrerick · 05-21-2010, 09:55 AM

Your gun has serial number "1815a". The "a" (which is in cursive script on the front part of the frame and trigger guard strap) is part of the serial number.

If all the small parts that have numbers have a "15", and the barrel and right side of the receiver are marked "1815" the parts should be original to the gun, and all matching.

If you remove the grips to check inside the gun, be very careful when removing them - particularly the left side. Remove the screw, and use a finger inside the magazine well to just slightly lift the grip, then slide it away from the top of the frame. Your left grip is already chipped (called the "million dollar chip" since so many guns lost value due to it breaking).

The crown over gothic "Fraktur" letters are inspection stamps added as the gun passed a series of inspections and pressure proofing. They are what you'd expect on a 1917 DWM (Deutsche Waffenfabrike und Munitionen - "German Weapon Fabrication and Munitions") the company that manufactured your gun in 1917. This was the Imperial era when the Kaiser ruled Germany.

Sometimes flash photographs change the appearance of the finish quite a bit. I'm no expert, but expect that your gun was refinished. I have a couple of refinished guns, and (while not as interesting to collectors) I really like them.

So, if you decide to fire your Luger, take the time to find a 9mm load that is not one of the high pressure loads commonly sold today. The Lugers were engineered before our era, and the high pressure loads are more likely to break them.

Others have said that the common white box Winchester 9mm 115gn you can find at WalMart is a good choice. I reload my own with about 11% less powder than the maximum recommended.

That said, it's fun to shoot a Luger. You'll get all kinds of attention at most ranges too!!!

Marc

bigrybread · 05-21-2010, 11:56 AM

lol i swear you guys on this site are about 10x more knowledgable then the manule or my local gun shop

excellent site and excellent members thank you all once again !

05-20-2010, 09:39 PM	#1
bigrybread User Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 6 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	need information on this luger please. hello I recently inherited this luger and im trying to gather information on it as to whether or not I should shoot it or keep it locked up. as far as I can tell its got 1917 on the top part of the gun, on the under side of the barrel and in front of the trigger guard and once more on the left side of the barrel is 1815, and all over the gun in different areas is the number 15 as well. d.w.m is engraved on the top of the gun on the right side of the gun are 3 characters of some kind. any information is much apprecaited thank you all so much for your time

05-20-2010, 11:07 PM	#6
Mauser720 User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 535 Thanks: 18 Thanked 49 Times in 33 Posts	bigrybread - Well, if the gun actually does have all matching numbers, then that greatly increases the value to a collector. And if one of these serially numbered parts were to break during firing, then the collector value will be reduced by about half. And the parts do break from time to time. Somewhere on this Forum there is a survey about the parts that were broken by firing, and I think one of the things this survey documented was that extractors, for example, are one of the parts that are most frequently broken. However, it does not make any difference which numbered part is broken. Break any one of them, and an all matching Luger's value to a collector will be cut in half. You have probably heard the expression "risk tolerence" as it relates to investing in the stock market. Well, in the same way, an individual's "risk tolerence" will determine whether he intends to go ahead and shoot an all matching collectable Luger. Another factor that can impact the Luger's collector value is whether it has been refinished. A Luger which has had its original finish replaced; i.e., "reblued", is also of less collector value than one which still has most or nearly all of it's original finish. I mention this since in my opinion the barrel on your example seems to have an unusual color to it. I can not tell from your pictures whether it has been refinished, or perhaps touched up with "cold blue" or whatever. Perhaps someone else with more experience can comment on whether the finish on your example is original. Hope this helps. __________________ Mauser720 - Ron "Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it."

05-21-2010, 07:11 AM	#11
c3006 User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: east tn Posts: 526 Thanks: 5 Thanked 12 Times in 5 Posts	Welcome to the forum,I would guess the $650 range. mabe a little more or less depending on the market where you are. Best c __________________ Men Accustomed unto thier arms and their liberties will never endure the yoke. James Harrington 1776

05-20-2010, 09:51 PM	#2
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	How many years this gun has been locked without shooting in the past? Shoot it.

05-20-2010, 10:04 PM	#3
bigrybread User Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 6 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	to my knowledge about 6 I believe but according to my grandma was well maintained by my grandfather. also the 1815 stamps have a very small a underneath them. will shooting it hurt the value of it if it even has a decent value???

05-20-2010, 10:07 PM	#4
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	It's not a factory original gun. In U.S., its value is limited to a few hundred dollars because of the volume. But a few hundred dollars do not come easy these days.... I have to say.

05-20-2010, 10:13 PM	#5
bigrybread User Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 6 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	sweet i guess thats good news lol cause honestly i wanted to make it a routine shooter but was afraid i would hurt the value :P thank you very much for your information

05-20-2010, 11:13 PM	#7
rolandtg User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Hill Country Posts: 476 Thanks: 374 Thanked 258 Times in 113 Posts	A nice looking pistol. But definitely buffed & reblued.

05-20-2010, 11:33 PM	#8
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	I agree that it is refinished. Take care of it but enjoy... dju

05-21-2010, 02:23 AM	#9
bigrybread User Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 6 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	wow thank you all for your very helpful information and time looking at my piece. my last question is does anyone know a price range i could expect for a pistol like this?

05-21-2010, 02:37 AM	#10
bigrybread User Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 6 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

05-21-2010, 09:55 AM	#12
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,907 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,108 Times in 1,509 Posts	Your gun has serial number "1815a". The "a" (which is in cursive script on the front part of the frame and trigger guard strap) is part of the serial number. If all the small parts that have numbers have a "15", and the barrel and right side of the receiver are marked "1815" the parts should be original to the gun, and all matching. If you remove the grips to check inside the gun, be very careful when removing them - particularly the left side. Remove the screw, and use a finger inside the magazine well to just slightly lift the grip, then slide it away from the top of the frame. Your left grip is already chipped (called the "million dollar chip" since so many guns lost value due to it breaking). The crown over gothic "Fraktur" letters are inspection stamps added as the gun passed a series of inspections and pressure proofing. They are what you'd expect on a 1917 DWM (Deutsche Waffenfabrike und Munitionen - "German Weapon Fabrication and Munitions") the company that manufactured your gun in 1917. This was the Imperial era when the Kaiser ruled Germany. Sometimes flash photographs change the appearance of the finish quite a bit. I'm no expert, but expect that your gun was refinished. I have a couple of refinished guns, and (while not as interesting to collectors) I really like them. So, if you decide to fire your Luger, take the time to find a 9mm load that is not one of the high pressure loads commonly sold today. The Lugers were engineered before our era, and the high pressure loads are more likely to break them. Others have said that the common white box Winchester 9mm 115gn you can find at WalMart is a good choice. I reload my own with about 11% less powder than the maximum recommended. That said, it's fun to shoot a Luger. You'll get all kinds of attention at most ranges too!!! Marc

05-21-2010, 11:56 AM	#13
bigrybread User Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 6 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	lol i swear you guys on this site are about 10x more knowledgable then the manule or my local gun shop excellent site and excellent members thank you all once again !