Trying to ID a Luger, Newby

[mikec]

Glade I found your site, it looks great. I've just recently taken possession of my grandfathers Luger. I'm getting mixed stories of its history but I can describe in detail the pistol and in a week I can get some pics up on the site for viewing.

Quick about me, I am a SGT in the US Army and always have been a gun buff, but this is my first real ownership of any weapon, so I know a lot but have handled very little.

It is a .30 Luger in beautiful shape (I'll tell you about the one real flaw near the end). It is a DWM but no other marking on top of the slide. I don't know if it is proper to post serial numbers but it is a high 4-digit number with a single cursive "o" after it. All serial numbers match. It has the N-crown inspection stamp. It has Gesichert (safety) on it. It is stamped with GERMANY on the side of the slide near the take-down pin. It has one magazine with no serial on it. That's it for the markings. I'm thinking this is a commercially production but not sure.

Now for its condition. The barrel looks dirty but I need to get it inspected for pitting. The bluing is old but in immaculate shape. The big flaw and here is part of the story that has gotten mixed up over time. Some how a Birmingham police officer got the pistol around 1930 and used it has his duty weapon. It was then given to my Grandfather, the man who installed the first ever radios in the Bham police cars, in around 1933. One of the grips has been sanded about where your finger tips lie and if you look there has been 17-notches carved into the grip then sanded off. Are only thought is that the Officer did it.

Anyway, if someone could give me an idea on the date of this it would be great. My Grandfather turns 99 this year and still has some of his faculties but they are slipping and I would love to let him know something.