What did I get?

trunnals · 01-17-2016, 08:22 PM

Bought this today at a gun shop. Marked as a 1920 DWM Luger.

I am a rookie when it comes to Lugers, but I noticed a few things.

The serial number is 4723, and 23 appears stamped on many areas of the gun. The only parts without the 23 are the grips and the sear bar, which has a crossed out 19 and 23 next to it.

This model has the sear safety, I have heard this is a police requirement, but I do not have much knowledge otherwise.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Excited to reload for it and shoot it!!

I cannot get a tiny enough image to upload, so here is a link to my google drive with a bunch of images!

https://drive.google.com/folderview?...UE&usp=sharing

Ron Wood · 01-17-2016, 08:47 PM

Looks like a dandy gun for the money. You have a piece from the very first German Army contract. Its collector nomenclature is "1908 First Issue" and probably made in early 1909. Is there a small letter under the serial number on the front of the frame? If so, that is part of the serial number.
As you have already determined, it was later modified for police use, so in addition to having the sear safety added some of the parts were changed and/or renumbered.
Congratulations on your fist Luger!

trunnals · 01-17-2016, 08:53 PM

Thank you! This is actually my second luger, my first was a parts gun. Let's call this my first REAL Luger

No numbers under the serial, just a DWM proof mark, along with two other, what I assume to be, proof marks or maybe gothic characters.

trunnals · 01-17-2016, 08:54 PM

I have pictures under the google drive link I put in my original post. Kept them higher resolution by leaving them on there

Edward Tinker · 01-17-2016, 08:59 PM

Interesting - if the part had been modified at the police armory, it would have been replaced. So, normally I would say its been replaced post war - I have never seen one 'struck' out like this - also, the sear lever is not shown, so assume its marked correctly, its the sear that is numbered; twice?

trunnals · 01-17-2016, 09:07 PM

This is the side of mine:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0Z...ew?usp=sharing

Curss · 01-18-2016, 08:34 AM

My first Luger actually is a parts gun too (an Erfurt 1914). My second one I gave to my brother when I aquired my .30 Luger. Welcome to the forum!

trunnals · 01-18-2016, 08:37 AM

Thanks for the welcome! Glad to be here!

DonVoigt · 01-18-2016, 10:29 AM

Welcome, you are at a good place.

But please, post your pictures on this forums server. Many of us will not go to third party sites to
see pictures for a couple of reasons, one- it is an extra step and helps us old guys get confused, and second-bad things can reside at hosting sites, like annoying pop ups.

Thus many of us are in the dark and can't comment on your luger.

trunnals · 01-18-2016, 10:31 AM

Sorry, unfortunately with the site's restriction of ~156KB, I am unable to post because most of my images are 7-10MB

trunnals · 01-18-2016, 10:32 AM

Google drive is a legit and trusted source to host pictures on, hence, why I used this and not a 3rd party source such as photobucket, where you would receive ads/crap

DonVoigt · 01-18-2016, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trunnals

Sorry, unfortunately with the site's restriction of ~156KB, I am unable to post because most of my images are 7-10MB

Well,
you could resize them, but whatever trips your hammer.

I resize most everything I post, that way folks here can see them and comment, and they will be available as long as the site is.

Links to external sources do disappear; I see your post that "google" is trusted, but still not convenient, JMHO.

Just trying to help you get the most info available on your questions.

trunnals · 01-18-2016, 05:21 PM

Thanks you! I appreciate it!

saxman · 03-13-2016, 12:19 PM

Man. You stole it. Congrats on a good buy. That is one to preserve.

Sergio Natali · 03-13-2016, 01:50 PM

trunnals

Congratulations on your fist Luger!

Sonofeugene · 03-13-2016, 03:19 PM

Why reload for it? Just use WWB. And if you do reload, I suggest not testing a load in the Luger. If it turns out to be too hot, you could break something.

01-17-2016, 08:22 PM	#1
trunnals User Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	What did I get? Bought this today at a gun shop. Marked as a 1920 DWM Luger. I am a rookie when it comes to Lugers, but I noticed a few things. The serial number is 4723, and 23 appears stamped on many areas of the gun. The only parts without the 23 are the grips and the sear bar, which has a crossed out 19 and 23 next to it. This model has the sear safety, I have heard this is a police requirement, but I do not have much knowledge otherwise. Thanks in advance for the help! Excited to reload for it and shoot it!! I cannot get a tiny enough image to upload, so here is a link to my google drive with a bunch of images! https://drive.google.com/folderview?...UE&usp=sharing Last edited by trunnals; 04-25-2016 at 09:58 PM.

01-17-2016, 08:47 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: 7,022 Thanks: 1,090 Thanked 5,178 Times in 1,703 Posts	Looks like a dandy gun for the money. You have a piece from the very first German Army contract. Its collector nomenclature is "1908 First Issue" and probably made in early 1909. Is there a small letter under the serial number on the front of the frame? If so, that is part of the serial number. As you have already determined, it was later modified for police use, so in addition to having the sear safety added some of the parts were changed and/or renumbered. Congratulations on your fist Luger! __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

01-17-2016, 08:59 PM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,933 Thanks: 2,032 Thanked 4,530 Times in 2,092 Posts	Interesting - if the part had been modified at the police armory, it would have been replaced. So, normally I would say its been replaced post war - I have never seen one 'struck' out like this - also, the sear lever is not shown, so assume its marked correctly, its the sear that is numbered; twice? Attached Thumbnails __________________ 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

01-18-2016, 08:34 AM	#7
Curss User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 303 Thanks: 304 Thanked 98 Times in 75 Posts	My first Luger actually is a parts gun too (an Erfurt 1914). My second one I gave to my brother when I aquired my .30 Luger. Welcome to the forum! __________________ -Chris

01-18-2016, 10:29 AM	#9
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,441 Thanked 4,350 Times in 2,040 Posts	Welcome, you are at a good place. But please, post your pictures on this forums server. Many of us will not go to third party sites to see pictures for a couple of reasons, one- it is an extra step and helps us old guys get confused, and second-bad things can reside at hosting sites, like annoying pop ups. Thus many of us are in the dark and can't comment on your luger. __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

01-17-2016, 08:53 PM	#3
trunnals User Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thank you! This is actually my second luger, my first was a parts gun. Let's call this my first REAL Luger No numbers under the serial, just a DWM proof mark, along with two other, what I assume to be, proof marks or maybe gothic characters.

01-17-2016, 08:54 PM	#4
trunnals User Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I have pictures under the google drive link I put in my original post. Kept them higher resolution by leaving them on there

01-17-2016, 09:07 PM	#6
trunnals User Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	This is the side of mine: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0Z...ew?usp=sharing

01-18-2016, 08:37 AM	#8
trunnals User Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thanks for the welcome! Glad to be here!

01-18-2016, 10:31 AM	#10
trunnals User Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Sorry, unfortunately with the site's restriction of ~156KB, I am unable to post because most of my images are 7-10MB

01-18-2016, 10:32 AM	#11
trunnals User Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Google drive is a legit and trusted source to host pictures on, hence, why I used this and not a 3rd party source such as photobucket, where you would receive ads/crap

01-18-2016, 05:21 PM	#13
trunnals User Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thanks you! I appreciate it!

03-13-2016, 12:19 PM	#14
saxman User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 301 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Man. You stole it. Congrats on a good buy. That is one to preserve. __________________ You can lead 'em to the water, but you can't make 'em drink.

03-13-2016, 01:50 PM	#15
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	trunnals Congratulations on your fist Luger! __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

03-13-2016, 03:19 PM	#16
Sonofeugene User Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 157 Thanks: 1 Thanked 118 Times in 64 Posts	Why reload for it? Just use WWB. And if you do reload, I suggest not testing a load in the Luger. If it turns out to be too hot, you could break something.