Barrel lenth of a 7.65 DWM cAlphabe Commercial

alicat · 06-03-2024, 07:32 PM

A plumber found this during Prohibition behind a toilet in an apartment in Saint Paul where Chicago gangs went when it got too hot IN Chicago. He gave it to my Dad and I inherited it in 1954. Dad never fired it and I only began firing it a couple of years ago, perhaps 200 rounds. It is 7.65, GESICHERT, DWM, 1303 n, GERMANY on left rail, Cr N on barrel and frame, all parts match except magazines. Buttstock lug, no grip safety. Mechanically perfect, no pitting inside or outside, 98% original blue, wood grips are clean but very dark brown. Curiously, it has a 3.75" barrel which I haven't seen on any Alphabet Commercial 7.65. Comments?

HerrKaiser · 06-03-2024, 07:54 PM

That is a normal length for alphabet commercial Lugers, 3.75” to 3 and 7/8 inches. I have a 5 digit post war gun (before they went to alphabet numbering) with a 3 7/8” barrel. Yours looks very nice!

Mac Cat · 06-03-2024, 11:26 PM

Serial number 1303 n, which puts the manufacturing date around 1924.
DMW stopped using 5 digit serial numbers for commercial Lugers around 1921 and changed to the 4-digit military style with a suffix for each batch of 10,000 pistols.

Nice luger!
Cool story

velodog455~ · 06-04-2024, 10:59 AM

I have an "r" block (1928 I think) and it has a 3-7/8 (97mm) barrel.

Major Tom · 06-05-2024, 09:02 AM

Not trying to steal this thread, but, Chicago gangsters of the 20's and 30's also came to Burlington, IA. They lodged on Big Island till the 'heat' died down. My Grandfather knew quite a few of them. Grandpa also made 'bootleg' booze back then in a field behind his house on North Garfield St.

dz · 06-06-2024, 03:41 PM

I thought this was a 'For Sale' site

HerrKaiser · 06-06-2024, 04:06 PM

Oh, the way it was phrased made me think he was asking for information. My apologies to the mods for not paying better attention to the sub-forum and starting Conversation. I’ll eat and own up to any infractions as needed.

ithacaartist · 06-06-2024, 06:02 PM

Last I knew, the posting for an item for sale requires a price, etc. I think this thread belongs elsewhere.

Vlim · 06-06-2024, 06:08 PM

Moved it to the correct thread.

Doubs · 06-07-2024, 02:04 AM

The Allies forbid the Germans from manufacturing pistols with barrels longer than 100mm and the standard for Alphabet commercial Lugers such as the OP's seems to have been 98mm or 3.86 inches. I recall reading somewhere that some barrels of 95mm were used but I can't find a reference for that. 95mm would be 3.74 inches so perhaps someone measured 3 3/4 inches and converted it to mm.

Kiwi · 06-07-2024, 01:33 PM

But a 6 inch barrel is so elegant

Mac Cat · 06-07-2024, 03:15 PM

I only have one, but it's a very early Swiss Alphabet (2049i).
It's 98mm

But, I also remember reading that they were supposed to be 95mm

06-03-2024, 07:32 PM	#1
alicat New User Join Date: Jun 2024 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 1 Post	Barrel lenth of a 7.65 DWM cAlphabe Commercial A plumber found this during Prohibition behind a toilet in an apartment in Saint Paul where Chicago gangs went when it got too hot IN Chicago. He gave it to my Dad and I inherited it in 1954. Dad never fired it and I only began firing it a couple of years ago, perhaps 200 rounds. It is 7.65, GESICHERT, DWM, 1303 n, GERMANY on left rail, Cr N on barrel and frame, all parts match except magazines. Buttstock lug, no grip safety. Mechanically perfect, no pitting inside or outside, 98% original blue, wood grips are clean but very dark brown. Curiously, it has a 3.75" barrel which I haven't seen on any Alphabet Commercial 7.65. Comments? Attached Thumbnails

06-03-2024, 07:54 PM	#2
HerrKaiser User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: South Carolina Posts: 848 Thanks: 784 Thanked 861 Times in 411 Posts	That is a normal length for alphabet commercial Lugers, 3.75” to 3 and 7/8 inches. I have a 5 digit post war gun (before they went to alphabet numbering) with a 3 7/8” barrel. Yours looks very nice! __________________ -QM Looking for Mauser S/42 toggle train #22

06-05-2024, 09:02 AM	#5
Major Tom User Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: S.E. Iowa Posts: 484 Thanks: 533 Thanked 227 Times in 124 Posts	Not trying to steal this thread, but, Chicago gangsters of the 20's and 30's also came to Burlington, IA. They lodged on Big Island till the 'heat' died down. My Grandfather knew quite a few of them. Grandpa also made 'bootleg' booze back then in a field behind his house on North Garfield St. __________________ I Build Custom Pistol Boxes

06-06-2024, 04:06 PM	#7
HerrKaiser User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: South Carolina Posts: 848 Thanks: 784 Thanked 861 Times in 411 Posts	Oh, the way it was phrased made me think he was asking for information. My apologies to the mods for not paying better attention to the sub-forum and starting Conversation. I’ll eat and own up to any infractions as needed. __________________ -QM Looking for Mauser S/42 toggle train #22

06-06-2024, 06:02 PM	#8
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,346 Thanks: 7,273 Thanked 2,578 Times in 1,365 Posts	Last I knew, the posting for an item for sale requires a price, etc. I think this thread belongs elsewhere. __________________ "... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894

06-03-2024, 11:26 PM	#3
Mac Cat Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 727 Thanks: 2,091 Thanked 606 Times in 327 Posts	Serial number 1303 n, which puts the manufacturing date around 1924. DMW stopped using 5 digit serial numbers for commercial Lugers around 1921 and changed to the 4-digit military style with a suffix for each batch of 10,000 pistols. Nice luger! Cool story

06-04-2024, 10:59 AM	#4
velodog455~ User Join Date: Aug 2023 Posts: 76 Thanks: 18 Thanked 58 Times in 35 Posts	I have an "r" block (1928 I think) and it has a 3-7/8 (97mm) barrel.

06-06-2024, 03:41 PM	#6
dz Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 259 Thanks: 1 Thanked 55 Times in 39 Posts	I thought this was a 'For Sale' site

06-06-2024, 06:08 PM	#9
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,988 Times in 1,205 Posts	Moved it to the correct thread.

06-07-2024, 02:04 AM	#10
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,696 Thanks: 792 Thanked 1,679 Times in 552 Posts	The Allies forbid the Germans from manufacturing pistols with barrels longer than 100mm and the standard for Alphabet commercial Lugers such as the OP's seems to have been 98mm or 3.86 inches. I recall reading somewhere that some barrels of 95mm were used but I can't find a reference for that. 95mm would be 3.74 inches so perhaps someone measured 3 3/4 inches and converted it to mm.

06-07-2024, 01:33 PM	#11
Kiwi User Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Wrong side of the Delaware river Posts: 307 Thanks: 215 Thanked 435 Times in 172 Posts	But a 6 inch barrel is so elegant

06-07-2024, 03:15 PM	#12
Mac Cat Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 727 Thanks: 2,091 Thanked 606 Times in 327 Posts	I only have one, but it's a very early Swiss Alphabet (2049i). It's 98mm But, I also remember reading that they were supposed to be 95mm