1915 DWM questions....

tubsee · 01-04-2015, 10:43 PM

I was fortunate to pick up a 1915 DWM Luger this weekend. Sort of an impulse purchase as the previous owner could not offer many details until I was at his home. Now that it is mine I an trying to educate myself on this Luger. I think I have a Luger that may have been picked us by the British. The has the words "NOT ENGLISH MAKE' stamped on the gun. I welcome any comments or feedback. Does this help or hurt the value? The metal parts are all matching. The magazine appears the correct style but the numbers on the bottom have been worn off completely. I do not think the grips are original. Thanks in advance.

DavidJayUden · 01-04-2015, 11:20 PM

Looks like a nice, and interesting Luger. The books guys can tell you more about all the markings, so any close-up photos will help them out. IF it was a war souvenir and taken to G. Britain, and marked accordingly, probably won't help its value, but let's decode all the other marks and see what we have then.
Why do you think the grips are a mismatch?
Congratulations!
dju

alvin · 01-04-2015, 11:41 PM

NOT ENGLISH MAKE hurts the value IMO. But slightly better than how many tons per square inch marking. It's like seeing "John Public from England visited here in 1868" on antique building stones. But it's already there, then, just leave it there.

tubsee · 01-05-2015, 07:53 AM

One of the grips does not have any numbers stamped. The other has numbers that do not match the gun. Should the grips have 42 stamped on them?

alanint · 01-05-2015, 08:12 AM

The grips should have matching numbers on them. I also agree that the British markings, (always excessive, in my opinion), hurt its collector value.

Your holster is for a post WW2 German P38.

Lugerdoc · 01-05-2015, 09:15 AM

The fine checkering on your left side grip, would appear to be that used by DWM prior to 1914 and if your mag wood bottom is completely unmarked, it is most likely a commercial replacement. All foreign made pistols legally sold in Britian were required to go thru the British proof house for safety sake. TH

01-04-2015, 10:43 PM	#1
tubsee User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Metairie, La Posts: 12 Thanks: 2 Thanked 7 Times in 2 Posts	1915 DWM questions.... I was fortunate to pick up a 1915 DWM Luger this weekend. Sort of an impulse purchase as the previous owner could not offer many details until I was at his home. Now that it is mine I an trying to educate myself on this Luger. I think I have a Luger that may have been picked us by the British. The has the words "NOT ENGLISH MAKE' stamped on the gun. I welcome any comments or feedback. Does this help or hurt the value? The metal parts are all matching. The magazine appears the correct style but the numbers on the bottom have been worn off completely. I do not think the grips are original. Thanks in advance. Attached Thumbnails

01-05-2015, 09:15 AM	#6
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 737 Times in 484 Posts	The fine checkering on your left side grip, would appear to be that used by DWM prior to 1914 and if your mag wood bottom is completely unmarked, it is most likely a commercial replacement. All foreign made pistols legally sold in Britian were required to go thru the British proof house for safety sake. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

01-04-2015, 11:20 PM	#2
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Looks like a nice, and interesting Luger. The books guys can tell you more about all the markings, so any close-up photos will help them out. IF it was a war souvenir and taken to G. Britain, and marked accordingly, probably won't help its value, but let's decode all the other marks and see what we have then. Why do you think the grips are a mismatch? Congratulations! dju

01-04-2015, 11:41 PM	#3
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	NOT ENGLISH MAKE hurts the value IMO. But slightly better than how many tons per square inch marking. It's like seeing "John Public from England visited here in 1868" on antique building stones. But it's already there, then, just leave it there.

01-05-2015, 07:53 AM	#4
tubsee User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Metairie, La Posts: 12 Thanks: 2 Thanked 7 Times in 2 Posts	One of the grips does not have any numbers stamped. The other has numbers that do not match the gun. Should the grips have 42 stamped on them?

01-05-2015, 08:12 AM	#5
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	The grips should have matching numbers on them. I also agree that the British markings, (always excessive, in my opinion), hurt its collector value. Your holster is for a post WW2 German P38.