Just your opinion on a P.08 DWM 1915 please

Sergio Natali · 09-27-2013, 05:08 AM

I'm tempted to get this P.08 but I'm not quite sure to do the right thing, since recently I've also found a W+F 1906/29 Military Black Grips in very good conditions like most of the Swiss.
In my collection I already have a W+F 1906/29 but mine is a Brown Grips "commercial" version.

Back to the DWM 1915:

PRO: it's in original finish and appears to be all matching grips includes, is a collectable Luger, totally original conditions, apart from the aluminium base magazine obviously wrong it's in good conditions, it's marked S.P XXX which if I'm not wrong should mean "Schiutzpolizei Postdam", would be the only "non military" P.08 in my collection.

CONS: it's been rechambered (like all the 9 Para here in Italy), being an Imperial P.08 it's not really rare at all.

alvin · 09-27-2013, 05:41 AM

There are a few questionable areas on the picture. First, the finish on safety lever and trigger does not look being original. They are not crisp on picture. For a gun with so much finish, they are supposed to be very crisp. Second, the color tone of the gun looks very black..... supposedly, it should be a blue not blue, grey not grey, hard to describe color, taken pictures under good light, that should be the color. WWI era gun pressed into police service,,,, if saying refinished at rework time, I would not be surprised.

I saw a 1914 listed on www.am-firearms.com. The gun definitely look original. For comparison purpose, I will copy their pictures here:

alanint · 09-27-2013, 06:38 AM

At this point, I'm guessing it is more the lighting used in the photo rather than an incorrect finish. I guess you have to ask yourself if you would rather deepen your representative 1906/29 collection by adding a new variation or purchase a police variation, which you do not have in your collection. The rechambering would be an issue to collectors here in the US, but perhaps not so much in Italy, as that is the paradigm.

I personally would prefer to add the police variation, since I would look for as many types as posibble for my collection. I also feel the police has more "history" to it.

John Sabato · 09-27-2013, 08:26 AM

Sig. Natali,

Rechambering from 9x19 to 9x21 because it is the "law" in Italy that private citizens cannot own guns in current, or old but official military calibers, as Doug states above, is the paradigm... it sure beats the paradigm in England where a painful deactivation process neuters the gun to be a paperweight instead of a firearm.

If I lived in Italy permanently, (and I was stationed there with the U.S. Army for almost 7 years, 1976-1981, and 1986-1988), I would not hesitate to put this fine example in my collection if the price was right.

That is my $0.02

Norme · 09-27-2013, 09:44 AM

Hi Sergio, While it's certainly possible that the finish on the 1915 DWM is original, I'm surprised that a gun that spent over three years in the German army and then saw service with the police, shows so little holster wear. I advise you to insist on a hands on inspection before committing yourself. If the finish is indeed original, the receiver rails should be "in the white", and the barrel serial numbers should exhibit visible halos.
Regards, Norm

09-27-2013, 05:08 AM	#1
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	Just your opinion on a P.08 DWM 1915 please I'm tempted to get this P.08 but I'm not quite sure to do the right thing, since recently I've also found a W+F 1906/29 Military Black Grips in very good conditions like most of the Swiss. In my collection I already have a W+F 1906/29 but mine is a Brown Grips "commercial" version. Back to the DWM 1915: PRO: it's in original finish and appears to be all matching grips includes, is a collectable Luger, totally original conditions, apart from the aluminium base magazine obviously wrong it's in good conditions, it's marked S.P XXX which if I'm not wrong should mean "Schiutzpolizei Postdam", would be the only "non military" P.08 in my collection. CONS: it's been rechambered (like all the 9 Para here in Italy), being an Imperial P.08 it's not really rare at all. Attached Thumbnails __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

09-27-2013, 05:41 AM	#2
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	There are a few questionable areas on the picture. First, the finish on safety lever and trigger does not look being original. They are not crisp on picture. For a gun with so much finish, they are supposed to be very crisp. Second, the color tone of the gun looks very black..... supposedly, it should be a blue not blue, grey not grey, hard to describe color, taken pictures under good light, that should be the color. WWI era gun pressed into police service,,,, if saying refinished at rework time, I would not be surprised. I saw a 1914 listed on www.am-firearms.com. The gun definitely look original. For comparison purpose, I will copy their pictures here: Attached Thumbnails

09-27-2013, 08:26 AM	#4
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,153 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	Sig. Natali, Rechambering from 9x19 to 9x21 because it is the "law" in Italy that private citizens cannot own guns in current, or old but official military calibers, as Doug states above, is the paradigm... it sure beats the paradigm in England where a painful deactivation process neuters the gun to be a paperweight instead of a firearm. If I lived in Italy permanently, (and I was stationed there with the U.S. Army for almost 7 years, 1976-1981, and 1986-1988), I would not hesitate to put this fine example in my collection if the price was right. That is my $0.02 __________________ 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..."*

09-27-2013, 06:38 AM	#3
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	At this point, I'm guessing it is more the lighting used in the photo rather than an incorrect finish. I guess you have to ask yourself if you would rather deepen your representative 1906/29 collection by adding a new variation or purchase a police variation, which you do not have in your collection. The rechambering would be an issue to collectors here in the US, but perhaps not so much in Italy, as that is the paradigm. I personally would prefer to add the police variation, since I would look for as many types as posibble for my collection. I also feel the police has more "history" to it.

09-27-2013, 09:44 AM	#5
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 225 Thanked 2,603 Times in 933 Posts	Hi Sergio, While it's certainly possible that the finish on the 1915 DWM is original, I'm surprised that a gun that spent over three years in the German army and then saw service with the police, shows so little holster wear. I advise you to insist on a hands on inspection before committing yourself. If the finish is indeed original, the receiver rails should be "in the white", and the barrel serial numbers should exhibit visible halos. Regards, Norm