New guy with a new (to me) 1916 DWM

[ClayC]

Hello everyone!

Im new to this site and to the P08 in general, but not to firearms. I like to collect WWII era firearms, and that terrible contraption known as the AK (or variants there of).

Anyway, this past weekend I went to an local estate auction with one purpose, to look at the 'German Luger' they had advertised in the paper, and I was very much prepared for there to be a room full of people there to buy that pistol, or one of the other half dozen for bid, and probably with a lot more money and knowledge that I had.

Well, with my limited knowledge I set a price for what I would pay based on what I could find online. The price was $500, and I figured if I got it for that I was doing OK. The pistol belonged to a widowed lady who was over 100 years young, and had just moved into a local nursing home. She was unloading the things from her house that she didn't need, and the pistol was one of them.

By some miracle (I think) I manged to get the pistol for $550. Yes, over my original minimum, but I could tell my only competition was slowing way down. Regardless, Im happy with the price, and I think the pistol is in fine shape for as old as it is. Im hoping I can arrange a visit with the previous owner and get some info on how she came to have it, hoping for a great story of her husband bringing it back or something similar.

Anyway, Im just looking for the insite of this group on what I have, what it might be worth, ie did I do OK on the price since I have NO intention of selling it anytime soon, and what all the markings mean. One thing of interest is the marks on the grips. Trench art maybe?

From what I can tell all of the parts match (except for the magazine). I've found 15 matching numbers on the pistol (including both grip panels), and no numbers that didn't match. All the parts that should be straw, are, or at least were. The only thing I can find that I have a question about is the side plate doesn't have any numbers stamped on it. Most P08 pictures Ive seen online show the last 2 of the serial number stamped on the outside of the side plate.

Here are the pictures:







































There is normal wear and tear on the pistol. Wear on the edges and places that would rub on a holster. There is a scratch on the left side from who knows what, and someone at some point put a mark on the bottom side of the barrel, right on the first digit of the serial number, almost like they were trying to remove it. I missed that part at the auction, but Im not worried.

The majority of the bluing is in tact. There are a few spots of corrosion in the blue, mostly on the barrel, but for a 98 year old pistol that was probably in 2 world wars, Im good with it

All of the 'bare' parts were at one time 'straw' colored. There are still spots on all of them (trigger, retaining plate, retaining pin, back side of mag release, ejector, and safety lever (maybe more?)) that still have that nice yellow straw color.

Overall Im really happy with it. A 98 year old pistol in pretty good shape with all matching parts (less the magazine), and I can't wait to take it on a range trip here in the next week or two! The only thing I would like to find is a correct holster, and a correct magazine at some point.

Thanks!
Clay

[alanint]

A nice find for the price. Sadly, the holes in the grips where somebody apparently had some sort of aplique and the electric pencil inventory number carved into the barrel hurt its collectability.
All in all, a nice gun for the money.

[ClayC]

Originally Posted by alanint

A nice find for the price. Sadly, the holes in the grips where somebody apparently had some sort of aplique and the electric pencil inventory number carved into the barrel hurt its collectability.
All in all, a nice gun for the money.

So you think someone put something on the grips at one time?

as for the marks on the barrel, I dont really think its an inventory number. Thats the serial number "399", and someone hit the 3 with something (grinder?) at some point unless your talking about something else?

[DavidJayUden]

The side plate looks suspect. Does it also have the correct "99" numbers? The finish does not match the rest of the gun.
Also, is there a hairline crack above the chamber leading into the number 6 of 1916?
Overall a nice gun well worth what you paid. Enjoy!
dju

[glock30]

I don't think that is a crack on the chamber. I looked at it magnified, look at it close with a magnifying glass or with the naked eye and tell me what it is, just looks like a mark or deep scratch, these things don't crack too easily, unless someone changed or did something with the barrel and exerted too much violence....You really got this at a good price, I wish I could find one for that. Take another picture of the chamber if you would , closer to the chamber than the one as you posted.

[ClayC]

Originally Posted by DavidJayUden

The side plate looks suspect. Does it also have the correct "99" numbers? The finish does not match the rest of the gun.
Also, is there a hairline crack above the chamber leading into the number 6 of 1916?
Overall a nice gun well worth what you paid. Enjoy!
dju

Side plate doesn't appear to have any numbers. Is it suppose to be straw or blued? It matches the other straw parts on the pistol.

as for the chamber, no crack, pretty sure its a scratch.

[alanint]

Originally Posted by ClayC

So you think someone put something on the grips at one time?

as for the marks on the barrel, I dont really think its an inventory number. Thats the serial number "399", and someone hit the 3 with something (grinder?) at some point unless your talking about something else?

There is no question there was some sort of decorative overlay on the grips at some point. Note that the pattern of holes is almost identical on both sides, indicating that the same design was mirrored on both grips. As for the barrel marks, I thought what looked like a scratch next to the serial number on the barrel was a set of numbers or someone's initial, which were carved into the metal with an electric pencil, then later partially scratched out, but upon a second look, it looks like somebody carelessly tried to remove rust by scratching the metal. A true no-no.

[DavidJayUden]

Check the side plate for bumbers on the lower edge and also on the inside. I suspect that it does not belong to that gun.
Maybe a close up of front and back side of the side plate?
dju

[ClayC]

OK, here are pictures of the side plate:













and since I had the camera out, I took more pics of the mark one the bottom of the barrel. Im not that worried about it, but I still dont see anything more than some guy getting happy with a dremel.

[glock30]

I don't see a crack. Just a scratch, lateral gouge.... It is worth 650 all day long. I like the worn look that it has, it really adds character to the weapon in my opinion.

[ClayC]

Thanks! I agree. I like the 'been through hell and back' look

[lugerholsterrepair]

Clay..The sideplate is not original to this pistol..it is not numbered as the original military would be and while the bluing on your nice pistol is very strong.. there is next to none on the plate. As you have not taken it to the range..have you tested the pistol? Will it arm itself and fire? All sideplates will not work on all pistols..they were hand fitted.

[ClayC]

I began to realize that as I started looking around at pictures today online. All the side plates were blued.

The pistol will ****, and pulling the trigger seems to release the firing pin, so Im assuming its "OK", but I probably wont know until I actually get it to the range. Hopefully Ill know more this weekend.

[lugerholsterrepair]

That is a good sign. Let us know how it shoots! You got a good deal..auctions are notorious for high prices on guns around here.

[ClayC]

They usually are here as well. I honestly wasn't even going to go look because I was in the middle of repluming my kitchen sink drain, but I got everything almost done and needed one more part. The auction house was next to the hardware store I guess it was fate!

[alanint]

"but I still dont see anything more than some guy getting happy with a dremel."

Clay, since it is a shooter, no big deal, but to a collector, that scratch looks as attractive as a two inch mole on a beauty queen's cheek.

[ClayC]

oh I understand that.

someones name on there would have been cool though, but I can't pick anything out under the scratches, plus its pretty small. Just an odd place for what ever it is regardless. Guess I was just hoping something more popped out at me, like initials, but they never did.

[lugersrkewl]

why is the safety lever numbered?

[ClayC]

hmmmmm I just assumed it was suppose to be?

[Norme]

Hi Clay, Your assumption is correct.
Regards, Norm