New to Lugers

corvair · 05-19-2011, 11:17 PM

Hi Everyone,

My Dad gave me his Luger that he got in Germany or (France?) during WW2. He is alive and well. I'm begining to reserch it. It's a DWM, all nembers match except the clip. I'm not a gun expert, infact I've never even fired a gun.

It is in nice shape, but not mint. Also has a hoster in nice shape too. No tears or defects. Stitching good.

I'm trying to find out what I can about it. Year made, value and anything else of historical interest. I have no plans of selling it or firing it.

I'm having problems finding marks for the year and other information. I partily took it apart, found a letters and or numbers "inside" The paper I wrote them down went AWOL. The next time I disasemble it I need to look some other places as well.

I will be looking in this forum and elsewhere for information.

My area of expertise are Corvairs. I also made a grandfather type clock which I made the gears and movement out of wood. Runs and keeps good time.

Dan
65 Corvair convertible

lugerholsterrepair · 05-20-2011, 12:05 AM

Dan, There will be some markings on the outside..look it over and tell what they are. Is there a date over the chamber? Crown N anywhere? Numbers? Might be hidden on the underside if commercial.

Markings on bottom of mag? Wood mag or alum?

Holster markings..?

Edward Tinker · 05-20-2011, 06:26 AM

Dan, welcome to the forum.

As Jerry said, there are likely some markings on it that can help us. DWM is the manufacturer, and on the front of the frame will be a serial number, probably with a letter (suffix) under it.

At a minimum, pictures, posted here on the forum, left side, right side (full of each) top and front of frame can help you a lot.

If your dad knows any story on it, I am collecting stories for vol III, shoot me an email; I always give full credit to the author / owner of the gun or equipment.

Ed

corvair · 05-21-2011, 10:58 PM

Hello again,

I dissasembled (mostly) my DWM Luger again. The full serial number appears only once, on the front frame. No year or letter with it. The barrel has nothing other than the witness marks. They line up perfectly. Under the barrel on the body where most guns have marking, there is nothing. The metal looks hand finished, but the blueing matches the rest of the gun.

The handle is Walnut. As a wood worker, I'm very impressed with the inside of the handle. Not just flat. Lots of marks. "78" matches the serial number. The right side has an F, J, K, O, T, S and perhaps a V. The left has the "78" and a D? and an X.

The base of the mag is wood. It is not numbers matching.

I did take pictures. Most turned out well. Now to figure out how to post and which ones to post. I'm going to my local library to see if they have any books.

Also the hoster says: Kern Klager & Cle. The next line looks like there was year stamp? Can't make out any, the one on the far right may be a 5. The last line starts with an N. Ends with an m. The middle letters are unreadable. I think it may be the city where it was made. I should be able that figure out.

One question about DWN. They were bought out by another gun company after WWI if I remember correctly. After they were under new ownership, did the DWM mark appear on any Lugers?

Thanks again,

Dan

corvair · 05-21-2011, 11:09 PM

Me again,

The holster was made in Neu-Ulm, Germany.

Dan

Norme · 05-21-2011, 11:09 PM

Hi Dan, If it helps any, your holster was made by Kern Kläger & Cie, Neu-Ulm. We'll need photos to tell you any more than that. Regards, Norm

MFC · 05-22-2011, 01:57 AM

Hi Dan,
DWM changed there name to BKIW in 1922. The DWM logo was still used when Luger production was moved to Mauser in 1930. Mauser continued to use DWM parts which included toggles with the DWM logo until 1936.

corvair · 05-23-2011, 12:14 PM

For some reason I'm not able to download photos in to my computer right now. Will post a few when I figure it out.

The barrel and the part that the barrel screws into have no marks. None. Could these parts have been replaced for some reason. Replaced with new parts, not from other lugars. Would German replacement parts in the day have any marks on them? It must have been fairly new as the wooden handles are in very nice shape and their numbers match.
had the barrel wore out, the handles would show wear.

I new to find a nice diagram of all of the parts names.

05-19-2011, 11:17 PM	#1
corvair New User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern Minnesota, USA Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	New to Lugers Hi Everyone, My Dad gave me his Luger that he got in Germany or (France?) during WW2. He is alive and well. I'm begining to reserch it. It's a DWM, all nembers match except the clip. I'm not a gun expert, infact I've never even fired a gun. It is in nice shape, but not mint. Also has a hoster in nice shape too. No tears or defects. Stitching good. I'm trying to find out what I can about it. Year made, value and anything else of historical interest. I have no plans of selling it or firing it. I'm having problems finding marks for the year and other information. I partily took it apart, found a letters and or numbers "inside" The paper I wrote them down went AWOL. The next time I disasemble it I need to look some other places as well. I will be looking in this forum and elsewhere for information. My area of expertise are Corvairs. I also made a grandfather type clock which I made the gears and movement out of wood. Runs and keeps good time. Dan 65 Corvair convertible

05-20-2011, 12:05 AM	#2
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,775 Thanks: 4,995 Thanked 3,134 Times in 1,439 Posts	Dan, There will be some markings on the outside..look it over and tell what they are. Is there a date over the chamber? Crown N anywhere? Numbers? Might be hidden on the underside if commercial. Markings on bottom of mag? Wood mag or alum? Holster markings..? __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

05-20-2011, 06:26 AM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,974 Thanks: 2,072 Thanked 4,609 Times in 2,123 Posts	Dan, welcome to the forum. As Jerry said, there are likely some markings on it that can help us. DWM is the manufacturer, and on the front of the frame will be a serial number, probably with a letter (suffix) under it. At a minimum, pictures, posted here on the forum, left side, right side (full of each) top and front of frame can help you a lot. If your dad knows any story on it, I am collecting stories for vol III, shoot me an email; I always give full credit to the author / owner of the gun or equipment. Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

05-22-2011, 01:57 AM	#7
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Hi Dan, DWM changed there name to BKIW in 1922. The DWM logo was still used when Luger production was moved to Mauser in 1930. Mauser continued to use DWM parts which included toggles with the DWM logo until 1936. __________________ Mike C.

05-21-2011, 10:58 PM	#4
corvair New User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern Minnesota, USA Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hello again, I dissasembled (mostly) my DWM Luger again. The full serial number appears only once, on the front frame. No year or letter with it. The barrel has nothing other than the witness marks. They line up perfectly. Under the barrel on the body where most guns have marking, there is nothing. The metal looks hand finished, but the blueing matches the rest of the gun. The handle is Walnut. As a wood worker, I'm very impressed with the inside of the handle. Not just flat. Lots of marks. "78" matches the serial number. The right side has an F, J, K, O, T, S and perhaps a V. The left has the "78" and a D? and an X. The base of the mag is wood. It is not numbers matching. I did take pictures. Most turned out well. Now to figure out how to post and which ones to post. I'm going to my local library to see if they have any books. Also the hoster says: Kern Klager & Cle. The next line looks like there was year stamp? Can't make out any, the one on the far right may be a 5. The last line starts with an N. Ends with an m. The middle letters are unreadable. I think it may be the city where it was made. I should be able that figure out. One question about DWN. They were bought out by another gun company after WWI if I remember correctly. After they were under new ownership, did the DWM mark appear on any Lugers? Thanks again, Dan

05-21-2011, 11:09 PM	#5
corvair New User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern Minnesota, USA Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Me again, The holster was made in Neu-Ulm, Germany. Dan

05-21-2011, 11:09 PM	#6
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 226 Thanked 2,607 Times in 933 Posts	Hi Dan, If it helps any, your holster was made by Kern Kläger & Cie, Neu-Ulm. We'll need photos to tell you any more than that. Regards, Norm

05-23-2011, 12:14 PM	#8
corvair New User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern Minnesota, USA Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	For some reason I'm not able to download photos in to my computer right now. Will post a few when I figure it out. The barrel and the part that the barrel screws into have no marks. None. Could these parts have been replaced for some reason. Replaced with new parts, not from other lugars. Would German replacement parts in the day have any marks on them? It must have been fairly new as the wooden handles are in very nice shape and their numbers match. had the barrel wore out, the handles would show wear. I new to find a nice diagram of all of the parts names.