1920 non-comercial?

[Highlander]

Trying to figure out what I have here. 1920 marked receiver ring. 9mm caliber. All matching serial numbers. No Nazi proof marks. Other than three proof marks on the right side and caliber marking under the barrel, there are no other markings other than a stylized "N" and last two numbers of serial number.. DWM is sharp does not appear to be refinished. Were all Lugers used by the Germans uring WW-II Nazi marked?

[mrerick]

You may have a Weimar property marked Luger. That or a 1920 manufactured DWM Luger receiver. The 1920 is in the more rearward position of a Weimar manufactured DWM luger.

It is not usual to see the front of frame serial numbers offset to the side. They were centered. The typeface of the dies is not standard to DWM either.

This may have been scrubbed and renumbered.

DWM was no longer in business when the Nazis came to power.

I can't see the top of the receiver well enough in your photo to see if it was manipulated.

My initial impression is that someone assembled this from parts of different guns, and renumbered the frame to look like it matched the upper receiver.

Get good sharp well lit (natural light - not flash) photos of the other markings on the barrel, receiver and proof symbols and it will be possible to tell more.

[sheepherder]

Is that a star I see on the sear???

Where is the 'stylized N'??? Can you post a pic of it???

[alanint]

The receiver numbers appear to be pantographed and not stamped. I believe you can still see the remnants of the original numbers under the number "4" and between the 4 and 7.

The grips have a very large "Million Dollar Chip".

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by alanint

The receiver numbers appear to be pantographed and not stamped. I believe you can still see the remnants of the original numbers under the number "4" and between the 4 and 7...

And if you look at the barrel, you can clearly see an "n" suffix, which the frame does not show...

[Highlander]

Here are a couple more pictures

[alanint]

The upper reciever appears to be all matching, (although the "double strike" on the barrel witness mark is a concern), as well as some of the small parts.

The frame is clearly not matching. The "4" looks stamped, but the 7 and 3 are clearly pantographed and are not the same font as the balance of the pistol.

As Richard pointed out, it is also missing the letter suffix, which alone would make it a non-matching gun. While it generally looks nice and possiby expertly restored, it is a non-matching and worse still, a possibly renumbered pistol in my eyes.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by Highlander

Here are a couple more pictures

Now that is interesting...besides having criss-crossed witness marks, the land dimension is off center...And there is a period instead of a comma in the dimension...

And if you look at the lower part of the pic, you can see that the barrel extension protrudes past the frame...I would say that is also curious...

But it's a nice looking Luger.

[DavidJayUden]

Nicely reblued. Fix the grip and you've got a great shooter.
dju

[ithacaartist]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

...And if you look at the lower part of the pic, you can see that the barrel extension protrudes past the frame...also curious...

But it's a nice looking Luger.

The frame shave, perpetrated before re-numbering, would account for this, IMHO. Another indicator of material's being removed from the frame's front can be found at the juncture of the flat area where the frame's numbers are stamped, and the curve that goes down to the trigger guard. It should be tangential, with no "edge" visible between the the two areas, a smooth transition.

I'm wondering, since the "edge" occurs on my 1917/1920 DWM. I think it was re-worked in the 20s because it started out life as an Arty (A relief notch on the barrel extension of a DWM means this, yes?) , and now has a 4" bbl numbered to match in a slightly different font. The barrel extension is also slightly proud from of the frame. How accurate are my deductions concerning these indicators?

[sheepherder]

Ya know, I was just thinkin'...

I've spent more time checking these pics/thread than I spend checking my credit card statements...

A sure sign that I'm spending way too much time here...

[ithacaartist]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

Ya know, I was just thinkin'...

I've spent more time checking these pics/thread than I spend checking my credit card statements...

A sure sign that I'm spending way too much time here...

Me too, but it works out better than using the cards!