Factory New 1920 DWM Commercial

Friscobay · 01-02-2011, 05:26 PM

Just acquired a factory new Luger DWM 1920 Commercial in 7.65 mm Parabellum with the 3 3/4" barrel and the rear V cut fixed and front dovetailed sight with stock lug that is in the serial number 17XXO range.

The DWM monogram markings appear on the 1st toggle link and the extractor is marked Geladen with the GERMANY export stamp on the bottom of the frame.

Serial numbers are in the commercial hidden style and displayed on the bottom of the side plate, the bottom of the locking bolt, the sear bar safety, the rear toggle link, the front of the frame, under the barrel, and on the side of the trigger and has all matching numbers. Proof marks are Crown over N and are on the bottom of the barrel and the left of the frame.

This Luger is from an estate in San Francisco that was found in storage still covered in cosmoline. The Luger appears to be Factory New and in 100% UNFIRED CONDITION.

It was in a MIL-B-40028A storage bag with the following
hand written information:

1920 Commercial
30 Cal. German Luger
Ser. # 17XXO
All Matching "New Cond."
Code 83700
"Very Rare"
DO NOT SELL

I am interested in learning the year of manufacture and the
current market value of this piece.

Thank you very much for your help,
Friscobay

sheepherder · 01-02-2011, 05:50 PM

We need pictures...many many pictures...

MFC · 01-02-2011, 07:46 PM

Hi Dennis,
The newer and more correct classification for your Luger is Alphabet DWM commercial (per Jan Still's Weimar Lugers). S# 17XXo was made mid to late 1925. Tens of thousands were made for export to the US, so not rare at all, except for the condition.
Pictures please!!

mrerick · 01-02-2011, 08:13 PM

Hi Dennis, and welcome to the forum!

An Alphabet Commercial Luger should be in the rust blued finish and have fire strawed parts like the trigger, safety lever and ejector.

Generally collectors value these less than military proofed Lugers. About a year ago, I got a rather nice one for $675 with original magazine.

Finish and mechanical condition will determine the value of the one you describe. It's hard to judge this from photographs, and impossible to approach an estimate without them.

Take your pictures with indirect light (in the shade outdoors) and use a tripod and the self timer on your camera to eliminate camera movement. If you take closeup pictures, use the closeup setting of the camera (usually a "flower" symbol).

Welcome to the addiction!

Marc

Friscobay · 01-02-2011, 09:02 PM

The Luger was purchased through GunBroker.

Please open item # 207436419 for photos.

This is my first Luger.

Thank you,
Dennis

DavidJayUden · 01-02-2011, 09:34 PM

It seems exceptionally nice to me. I'll be interested to hear if others find fault with it. The price is high for that model, but the gun is certainly not average. But break a part shooting it and the value falls by 50%.
A very nice first Luger, take care of it.
Welcome.
dju

lfid · 01-02-2011, 10:11 PM

awesome !!!

defines what new mint really means for a 192x commercial

imho value $1500 if all matches and bore is new condition

I think this part says it all ... "DO NOT SELL"

thanks for sharing
Bill

mrerick · 01-03-2011, 09:40 AM

Nice Luger!

Here's the link to the Gunbroker listing:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=207436419

John Sabato · 01-03-2011, 09:46 AM

A very nice commercial... in unusually nice condition. Congrats on the acquisistion of this piece. It will only increase in value in this condition. Welcome to the Lugerforum.

rivieraranch · 01-03-2011, 07:36 PM

From The
Gunbroker Listing

"We pulled it from storage while going through an estate still covered in cosmoline."

Did they mean that the whole estate was covered in cosmoline?

Friscobay · 01-04-2011, 11:13 AM

Yes, I think so. However, I was only lucky enough to get the Luger.

Friscobay · 01-04-2011, 06:24 PM

I have added the pictures in the "All Albums" section.

Thank you everyone for all your help. Really enjoy the forum.

Mike B · 01-05-2011, 12:55 AM

Friscobay,
You have an exceptionally nice Luger. I am certainly not trying to say "yea, but look what I have". My purpose in showing (again) my American Eagle Safe & Loaded is first, seeing yours brough mine back to mind and second, I am honestly very proud of this Luger and want to show it to whoever might have missed it sometime back. In my opinion this is as close as one can come to saying he has a 99% Luger.

Mike

Friscobay · 01-06-2011, 10:56 AM

Hi MIke,

Thank you for posting the photos of your Safe and Loaded. I would have missed seeing them
otherwise. Also found and read the original posting for your very interesting, one-of-a-kind luger.
Thank you very much,
Dennis

Mike B · 01-06-2011, 02:00 PM

Greetings Ben,
You are correct that it is similar but his does not have the American Eagle. In my opinion, that makes it somewhat more desirable.

Mike

01-02-2011, 05:26 PM	#1
Friscobay User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: West Coast Posts: 5 Thanks: 9 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Factory New 1920 DWM Commercial Just acquired a factory new Luger DWM 1920 Commercial in 7.65 mm Parabellum with the 3 3/4" barrel and the rear V cut fixed and front dovetailed sight with stock lug that is in the serial number 17XXO range. The DWM monogram markings appear on the 1st toggle link and the extractor is marked Geladen with the GERMANY export stamp on the bottom of the frame. Serial numbers are in the commercial hidden style and displayed on the bottom of the side plate, the bottom of the locking bolt, the sear bar safety, the rear toggle link, the front of the frame, under the barrel, and on the side of the trigger and has all matching numbers. Proof marks are Crown over N and are on the bottom of the barrel and the left of the frame. This Luger is from an estate in San Francisco that was found in storage still covered in cosmoline. The Luger appears to be Factory New and in 100% UNFIRED CONDITION. It was in a MIL-B-40028A storage bag with the following hand written information: 1920 Commercial 30 Cal. German Luger Ser. # 17XXO All Matching "New Cond." Code 83700 "Very Rare" DO NOT SELL I am interested in learning the year of manufacture and the current market value of this piece. Thank you very much for your help, Friscobay

01-02-2011, 05:50 PM	#2
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,197 Thanks: 1,416 Thanked 4,462 Times in 2,336 Posts	We need pictures...many many pictures... __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

01-02-2011, 07:46 PM	#3
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Hi Dennis, The newer and more correct classification for your Luger is Alphabet DWM commercial (per Jan Still's Weimar Lugers). S# 17XXo was made mid to late 1925. Tens of thousands were made for export to the US, so not rare at all, except for the condition. Pictures please!! __________________ Mike C.

01-02-2011, 08:13 PM	#4
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,920 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,135 Times in 1,518 Posts	Hi Dennis, and welcome to the forum! An Alphabet Commercial Luger should be in the rust blued finish and have fire strawed parts like the trigger, safety lever and ejector. Generally collectors value these less than military proofed Lugers. About a year ago, I got a rather nice one for $675 with original magazine. Finish and mechanical condition will determine the value of the one you describe. It's hard to judge this from photographs, and impossible to approach an estimate without them. Take your pictures with indirect light (in the shade outdoors) and use a tripod and the self timer on your camera to eliminate camera movement. If you take closeup pictures, use the closeup setting of the camera (usually a "flower" symbol). Welcome to the addiction! Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

01-02-2011, 09:02 PM	#5
Friscobay User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: West Coast Posts: 5 Thanks: 9 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Factory New 1920 DWM Commercial The Luger was purchased through GunBroker. Please open item # 207436419 for photos. This is my first Luger. Thank you, Dennis

01-02-2011, 09:34 PM	#6
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	It seems exceptionally nice to me. I'll be interested to hear if others find fault with it. The price is high for that model, but the gun is certainly not average. But break a part shooting it and the value falls by 50%. A very nice first Luger, take care of it. Welcome. dju

01-02-2011, 10:11 PM	#7
lfid Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wichita, KS USA Posts: 453 Thanks: 573 Thanked 96 Times in 53 Posts	awesome !!! defines what new mint really means for a 192x commercial imho value $1500 if all matches and bore is new condition I think this part says it all ... "DO NOT SELL" thanks for sharing Bill

01-03-2011, 09:40 AM	#8
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,920 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,135 Times in 1,518 Posts	Nice Luger! Here's the link to the Gunbroker listing: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=207436419 __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

01-03-2011, 09:46 AM	#9
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	A very nice commercial... in unusually nice condition. Congrats on the acquisistion of this piece. It will only increase in value in this condition. Welcome to the Lugerforum. __________________ 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..."*

01-03-2011, 07:36 PM	#10
rivieraranch User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 101 Thanks: 4 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	From The Gunbroker Listing "We pulled it from storage while going through an estate still covered in cosmoline." Did they mean that the whole estate was covered in cosmoline?

01-04-2011, 11:13 AM	#11
Friscobay User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: West Coast Posts: 5 Thanks: 9 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Yes, I think so. However, I was only lucky enough to get the Luger. __________________ pulled from storage still covered in cosmoline

01-04-2011, 06:24 PM	#12
Friscobay User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: West Coast Posts: 5 Thanks: 9 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I have added the pictures in the "All Albums" section. Thank you everyone for all your help. Really enjoy the forum. __________________ pulled from storage still covered in cosmoline

01-05-2011, 12:55 AM	#13
Mike B Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 979 Thanks: 1 Thanked 272 Times in 100 Posts	Here is another "Like New" Alphabet commercial Friscobay, You have an exceptionally nice Luger. I am certainly not trying to say "yea, but look what I have". My purpose in showing (again) my American Eagle Safe & Loaded is first, seeing yours brough mine back to mind and second, I am honestly very proud of this Luger and want to show it to whoever might have missed it sometime back. In my opinion this is as close as one can come to saying he has a 99% Luger. Mike Attached Thumbnails Attached Images

01-06-2011, 10:56 AM	#14
Friscobay User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: West Coast Posts: 5 Thanks: 9 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi MIke, Thank you for posting the photos of your Safe and Loaded. I would have missed seeing them otherwise. Also found and read the original posting for your very interesting, one-of-a-kind luger. Thank you very much, Dennis __________________ pulled from storage still covered in cosmoline

01-06-2011, 02:00 PM	#15
Mike B Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Louisiana Posts: 979 Thanks: 1 Thanked 272 Times in 100 Posts	Similar Greetings Ben, You are correct that it is similar but his does not have the American Eagle. In my opinion, that makes it somewhat more desirable. Mike