Recently acquired Artillery Luger?

barr44 · 06-02-2008, 08:15 PM

I have recently acquired a 1917 DWM artillery luger. The pistol is in good shape with the bore being very good, deep grooves and shiny lands. The gun probably retains about 85% of the original bluing with some brown patina in areas. All of the parts no. match except for the sideplate which looks to be of the same age as the rest of the gun but has an off number on the bottom edge like you find on the commercial guns. The takedown lever is strawed but un-numbered. The magazine is of the correct tin-plated with the wooden bottom but it's no. doesn't match the number of the gun. I'm assuming that the takedown lever and sideplate have been replaced at some time. The grips are not numbered but they do have waffen marks, looks to be 655. Could the grips be original to the gun or more likely have been changed at a later date?
If this gun were used by the army in WWII, would they have put the acceptance marks of the time on it? The only acceptance marks on the gun itself are those from the WWI time frame.
As always, I would appreciate any info which you folks would care to extend to me. It seems that the more I learn about these guns the less I seem to know!
Thanks, barr.

Edward Tinker · 06-02-2008, 09:10 PM

barr, if there was a "reason" to accept it, then it was accepted; i.e. repair, rework or used bu a unit that required required it.

Many Imperial and Weimar era guns never received any acceptance or proof markings.

Ed

06-02-2008, 08:15 PM	#1
barr44 User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: york co., va Posts: 151 Thanks: 27 Thanked 35 Times in 21 Posts	Recently acquired Artillery Luger? I have recently acquired a 1917 DWM artillery luger. The pistol is in good shape with the bore being very good, deep grooves and shiny lands. The gun probably retains about 85% of the original bluing with some brown patina in areas. All of the parts no. match except for the sideplate which looks to be of the same age as the rest of the gun but has an off number on the bottom edge like you find on the commercial guns. The takedown lever is strawed but un-numbered. The magazine is of the correct tin-plated with the wooden bottom but it's no. doesn't match the number of the gun. I'm assuming that the takedown lever and sideplate have been replaced at some time. The grips are not numbered but they do have waffen marks, looks to be 655. Could the grips be original to the gun or more likely have been changed at a later date? If this gun were used by the army in WWII, would they have put the acceptance marks of the time on it? The only acceptance marks on the gun itself are those from the WWI time frame. As always, I would appreciate any info which you folks would care to extend to me. It seems that the more I learn about these guns the less I seem to know! Thanks, barr.

06-02-2008, 09:10 PM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,917 Thanks: 1,997 Thanked 4,508 Times in 2,082 Posts	barr, if there was a "reason" to accept it, then it was accepted; i.e. repair, rework or used bu a unit that required required it. Many Imperial and Weimar era guns never received any acceptance or proof markings. Ed __________________ 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