Need quick help on a 1915 DWM mag

Jasta2 · 02-06-2010, 11:38 AM

As George replied to me, all WW1 era DWM mags had all 4 s/n numbers and the suffix. Now this 1915 has only the last two digits (22) and a Imperial era proof stamped below this. Any idea of the reason for this? Maybe a WW1 era arsenal replacement. The owner is 100% sure it was original as when brought to the USA. Would anyone in the US fake this with a Imperial stamp? I don't know why, but though everything else on the 1915 looks propery matched, if the mag has been faked, what else might be? Leads me to have doubt in buying this Luger.
Tks,Bill

alvin · 02-06-2010, 11:55 AM

Bill, it's a WWI military gun, magazine is just an accessory, mismatching magazine is very normal. Simply forget the magazine and assume no magazine coming with it. If the gun is good, then buy it.

The Blue Book value of 90% 1915 DWM was listed as $1350.

[Edit] The gun itself has to be all matching and original for this price though.

George Anderson · 02-06-2010, 12:48 PM

Bill, if the mag has a single Imperial acceptance stamp it was made for an Erfurt Luger 1916-1918. If your pistol has a two digit serial number the correct magazine will have the same. If your pistol has a four digit serial number the original magazine would have the exact same four digit serial number including suffix if appropriate.

So many mags have been faked here in the US that when I see a really nice pistol that looks to be all original with a "matched" mag I go back and reexamine the pistol in detail. Many fakers are now adding Erfurt proofs, Krieghoff proofs, etc, etc,etc.

Jasta2 · 02-06-2010, 01:54 PM

So might someone have found a original WW1 mag with just the number 22 and the proof mark and try make the 1915 DWM match complete? So just what did all the Erfurt mags have? The last two digits and a proof?
Tks,Bill

Jasta2 · 02-06-2010, 01:56 PM

Going to my first gun auction in an hour. A local auction house auctioning off about 30 guns, but only one luger, then to their normal old household stuff

Edward Tinker · 02-06-2010, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasta2

so might someone have found a original ww1 mag with just the number 22 and the proof mark and try make the 1915 dwm match complete? So just what did all the erfurt mags have? The last two digits and a proof?
Tks,bill

all the digets, if it was a 2 diget luger it had 2, if a 3 diget, then 3...

Jasta2 · 02-06-2010, 02:59 PM

So WW1 era DWM mags had all 4 digits with suffix and the Erfurts and the complete s/n 'and' always a proof mark. Correct?

JTD · 02-06-2010, 03:20 PM

Yes, and early Erfurt mags had 2 proofs.................

alvin · 02-06-2010, 03:42 PM

Not proof mark, it's acceptance mark. Visually, proof mark is a stylized eagle, acceptance mark is crown over a Gothic letter. Functionally, proof mark indicates the gun could hold high pressure so it's chamber, bolt related. Minor but importance difference.

02-06-2010, 11:38 AM	#1
Jasta2 User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lakeland, Fl. Posts: 514 Thanks: 349 Thanked 101 Times in 52 Posts	Need quick help on a 1915 DWM mag As George replied to me, all WW1 era DWM mags had all 4 s/n numbers and the suffix. Now this 1915 has only the last two digits (22) and a Imperial era proof stamped below this. Any idea of the reason for this? Maybe a WW1 era arsenal replacement. The owner is 100% sure it was original as when brought to the USA. Would anyone in the US fake this with a Imperial stamp? I don't know why, but though everything else on the 1915 looks propery matched, if the mag has been faked, what else might be? Leads me to have doubt in buying this Luger. Tks,Bill

02-06-2010, 11:55 AM	#2
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Bill, it's a WWI military gun, magazine is just an accessory, mismatching magazine is very normal. Simply forget the magazine and assume no magazine coming with it. If the gun is good, then buy it. The Blue Book value of 90% 1915 DWM was listed as $1350. [Edit] The gun itself has to be all matching and original for this price though.

02-06-2010, 12:48 PM	#3
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,531 Times in 788 Posts	Bill, if the mag has a single Imperial acceptance stamp it was made for an Erfurt Luger 1916-1918. If your pistol has a two digit serial number the correct magazine will have the same. If your pistol has a four digit serial number the original magazine would have the exact same four digit serial number including suffix if appropriate. So many mags have been faked here in the US that when I see a really nice pistol that looks to be all original with a "matched" mag I go back and reexamine the pistol in detail. Many fakers are now adding Erfurt proofs, Krieghoff proofs, etc, etc,etc.

02-06-2010, 01:54 PM	#4
Jasta2 User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lakeland, Fl. Posts: 514 Thanks: 349 Thanked 101 Times in 52 Posts	So might someone have found a original WW1 mag with just the number 22 and the proof mark and try make the 1915 DWM match complete? So just what did all the Erfurt mags have? The last two digits and a proof? Tks,Bill

02-06-2010, 01:56 PM	#5
Jasta2 User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lakeland, Fl. Posts: 514 Thanks: 349 Thanked 101 Times in 52 Posts	Going to my first gun auction in an hour. A local auction house auctioning off about 30 guns, but only one luger, then to their normal old household stuff

02-06-2010, 02:59 PM	#7
Jasta2 User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lakeland, Fl. Posts: 514 Thanks: 349 Thanked 101 Times in 52 Posts	So WW1 era DWM mags had all 4 digits with suffix and the Erfurts and the complete s/n 'and' always a proof mark. Correct?

02-06-2010, 03:20 PM	#8
JTD User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: PA Posts: 428 Thanks: 218 Thanked 410 Times in 151 Posts	Yes, and early Erfurt mags had 2 proofs.................

02-06-2010, 03:42 PM	#9
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Not proof mark, it's acceptance mark. Visually, proof mark is a stylized eagle, acceptance mark is crown over a Gothic letter. Functionally, proof mark indicates the gun could hold high pressure so it's chamber, bolt related. Minor but importance difference.