My First Imperial - 1918 DWM

Sky Zero · 05-01-2017, 09:58 PM

Gentlemen, I received my very first imperial today!! 2nd luger purchase and I'm only 28 so I have a feeling there will be plenty more down the road. Anyway, I purchased this one from another user on this forum (I'd say who it is but he might not want me to, so I'll just say he's well known here and was recommended to me for purchasing an imperial).

Not that I need to tell you experts, it's a 1918 DWM 1717e. Totally stoked!!! I know more about Mausers than I do imperials, so anything you guys see that's either GOOD or OFF, please let me know! I don't know if I want to fire this one? What do you guys think? I've read on past, old threads, that the luger/forum elders suggest I replace certain numbered parts before taking it to the range. The photos are pretty high def so might have to dump in quite a few posts.

P.S., received my re-aligned barrel on my BYF yesterday from GT and it now shoots dead on, or at least LEAGUES better than before! It's been a good couple days for this lug' noob

cheers,
James

Sky Zero · 05-01-2017, 10:00 PM

side

Sky Zero · 05-01-2017, 10:03 PM

markings

Sky Zero · 05-01-2017, 10:06 PM

Were these supposed to be numbered to the gun?

Sky Zero · 05-01-2017, 10:06 PM

I had to downgrade the quality of these photos to fit on the site :/

Sky Zero · 05-01-2017, 10:10 PM

Top

Norme · 05-01-2017, 10:58 PM

Hi James,
Congratulations, your 1918 DWM looks all original and very nice. Grip numbering at DWM was very erratic towards the end of the war, and no, that's not a squirrel proof mark. it's an eagle. Do they have flying squirrels in Michigan?
Regards, Norm

Sky Zero · 05-01-2017, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norme

Hi James,
Congratulations, your 1918 DWM looks all original and very nice. Grip numbering at DWM was very erratic towards the end of the war, and no, that's not a squirrel proof mark. it's an eagle. Do they have flying squirrels in Michigan?
Regards, Norm

Thank you, and awesome! Glad to hear. I'm just trying to understand that proof mark; I think the FAQ referred to it as some sort of squirrel, but a post by Klaus from 2012 was (I think?) calling it a Spandau proof, meaning an Erfurt inspector was assigned to the Spandau arsenal to oversee DWM production? I'm slightly confused on that part.

Of course we have flying squirrels. Doesn't your state??

DavidJayUden · 05-01-2017, 11:34 PM

Also, those numbers can be VERY hard to see at times on wood grip panels. They MAY be there. Also, there are no hidden numbers inside of the DWM sideplates. That was a later Mauser brainstorm.
Looks like a great gun!
dju

Sky Zero · 05-01-2017, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidJayUden

Also, those numbers can be VERY hard to see at times on wood grip panels. They MAY be there. Also, there are no hidden numbers inside of the DWM sideplates. That was a later Mauser brainstorm.
Looks like a great gun!
dju

Ok, I'll look harder and thanks for the sideplate information!

stg44fan · 05-02-2017, 12:28 AM

Very nice looking Luger. Good purchase.

abukafura · 05-02-2017, 09:28 AM

I agree. An exceptionally nice looking Imperial Luger. A nice addition to ay collection.

Lugerdoc · 05-02-2017, 11:24 AM

The DWM eagle on your receiver and breech block are test firing proofs. There should also be a similar eagle on your barrel. TH

Sky Zero · 05-02-2017, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lugerdoc

The DWM eagle on your receiver and breech block are test firing proofs. There should also be a similar eagle on your barrel. TH

So that's specific to DWM then, correct?

Quote:

Originally Posted by abukafura

I agree. An exceptionally nice looking Imperial Luger. A nice addition to ay collection.

Good to know I did well then

wlyon · 05-02-2017, 12:00 PM

There is a serial number inside the DWM sideplates . Generally the first 2 digits of the serial number. Or may be just one digit. All my WW1 DWM"S have this. May be difficult to find. Bill

Norme · 05-02-2017, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wlyon

There is a serial number inside the DWM sideplates . Generally the first 2 digits of the serial number. Sometimes difficult to find. Bill

Hard to see, and harder still to photograph.
Norm

DonVoigt · 05-02-2017, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norme

Hard to see, and harder still to photograph.
Norm

Unfortunately that is not the original side plate, has the correct "17" on the outside, but the "40" on the inside is indication it came from another pistol originally.

Sky Zero · 05-02-2017, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonVoigt

Unfortunately that is not the original side plate, has the correct "17" on the outside, but the "40" on the inside is indication it came from another pistol originally.

That side plate wasn't mine from my original post. This one is though and I did find the 17!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonVoigt

That is an eagle, not a squirrel. It is the Imperial eagle firing proof, in the style used under Spandau(Berlin) oversight at DWM.

Ok, got it! Thank you

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norme

Hard to see, and harder still to photograph.
Norm

Ahh, I see you were right haha.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wlyon

There is a serial number inside the DWM sideplates . Generally the first 2 digits of the serial number. Or may be just one digit. All my WW1 DWM"S have this. May be difficult to find. Bill

I see, I found it!

05-01-2017, 09:58 PM	#1
Sky Zero User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 308 Thanks: 134 Thanked 43 Times in 30 Posts	My First Imperial - 1918 DWM Gentlemen, I received my very first imperial today!! 2nd luger purchase and I'm only 28 so I have a feeling there will be plenty more down the road. Anyway, I purchased this one from another user on this forum (I'd say who it is but he might not want me to, so I'll just say he's well known here and was recommended to me for purchasing an imperial). Not that I need to tell you experts, it's a 1918 DWM 1717e. Totally stoked!!! I know more about Mausers than I do imperials, so anything you guys see that's either *GOOD or OFF, please* let me know! I don't know if I want to fire this one? What do you guys think? I've read on past, old threads, that the luger/forum elders suggest I replace certain numbered parts before taking it to the range. The photos are pretty high def so might have to dump in quite a few posts. P.S., received my re-aligned barrel on my BYF yesterday from GT and it now shoots dead on, or at least LEAGUES better than before! It's been a good couple days for this lug' noob cheers, James Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Sky Zero; 05-02-2017 at 01:00 AM.

05-01-2017, 10:00 PM	#2
Sky Zero User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 308 Thanks: 134 Thanked 43 Times in 30 Posts	side Attached Thumbnails

05-01-2017, 10:03 PM	#3
Sky Zero User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 308 Thanks: 134 Thanked 43 Times in 30 Posts	markings Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Sky Zero; 05-01-2017 at 10:55 PM.

05-01-2017, 10:06 PM	#4
Sky Zero User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 308 Thanks: 134 Thanked 43 Times in 30 Posts	Were these supposed to be numbered to the gun? Attached Thumbnails

05-01-2017, 10:06 PM	#5
Sky Zero User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 308 Thanks: 134 Thanked 43 Times in 30 Posts	I had to downgrade the quality of these photos to fit on the site :/ Attached Thumbnails

05-01-2017, 10:10 PM	#6
Sky Zero User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 308 Thanks: 134 Thanked 43 Times in 30 Posts	Top Attached Thumbnails

05-01-2017, 10:58 PM	#7
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,415 Thanks: 225 Thanked 2,594 Times in 931 Posts	Hi James, Congratulations, your 1918 DWM looks all original and very nice. Grip numbering at DWM was very erratic towards the end of the war, and no, that's not a squirrel proof mark. it's an eagle. Do they have flying squirrels in Michigan? Regards, Norm

05-01-2017, 11:34 PM	#9
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Also, those numbers can be VERY hard to see at times on wood grip panels. They MAY be there. Also, there are no hidden numbers inside of the DWM sideplates. That was a later Mauser brainstorm. Looks like a great gun! dju

05-02-2017, 12:28 AM	#11
stg44fan User Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Portland OR Posts: 81 Thanks: 42 Thanked 49 Times in 27 Posts	Very nice looking Luger. Good purchase.

05-02-2017, 09:28 AM	#12
abukafura Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Northeast Wisconsin, near Greeen Bay Posts: 327 Thanks: 1,314 Thanked 89 Times in 57 Posts	I agree. An exceptionally nice looking Imperial Luger. A nice addition to ay collection.

05-02-2017, 11:24 AM	#13
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	The DWM eagle on your receiver and breech block are test firing proofs. There should also be a similar eagle on your barrel. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

05-02-2017, 12:00 PM	#15
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,620 Thanks: 3,145 Thanked 2,531 Times in 943 Posts	There is a serial number inside the DWM sideplates . Generally the first 2 digits of the serial number. Or may be just one digit. All my WW1 DWM"S have this. May be difficult to find. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon