Dwm 1908

jagervw · 10-10-2013, 12:39 AM

New to the collection, I'm a Mauser guy but went in a different direction with this.

Edward Tinker · 10-10-2013, 12:53 AM

Looks like a very nice restoration... But many more pictures would be needed for me to check mark a poll

jagervw · 10-10-2013, 08:33 AM

Here are more pictures...

alvin · 10-10-2013, 09:39 AM

So far so good. Please continue.

alanint · 10-10-2013, 09:56 AM

Looks good so far, as well, unless a really old redo with halos added.

jagervw · 10-10-2013, 10:25 AM

More...

drbuster · 10-10-2013, 11:20 AM

Pristine 1908 commercial that I don't blame jagervw adding to his Mauser collection. These are often found in good condition but this one is near the top. I don't know why some folks are fast to use the "restoration" label.

Ron Wood · 10-10-2013, 11:25 AM

I agree Herb, it is a beauty.

cirelaw · 10-10-2013, 12:43 PM

How do you spot a restoration!!! Who besides Ted are responsible for the so many restorations?

Dwight Gruber · 10-10-2013, 01:23 PM

"How do you spot a restoration" Eric, the answer to that would fill a book. And judging by the evidence, over the last century there have been any number of craftsmen capable of near-original-quality refinishing. (I do not use the word "restoration," because I think that is a comparitively recent collector concept.)

--Dwight

cirelaw · 10-10-2013, 01:32 PM

You do have a point. I guess its like buying a used car. The originals command more with the original paint unless it ratty and require some restoration! My friend Ted is an expert and you would swear its a virgin! I agree refinished is proper if otherwse original and properly marked.

Sergio Natali · 10-10-2013, 03:55 PM

I share the previous comments, congratulations, it's a lovely Luger to have

mystical_tutor · 10-10-2013, 05:13 PM

Well, if it is a restoration they did a poor job on the safety and TD levers, thus I would be thinking it has a better chance being original.

Edward Tinker · 10-10-2013, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drbuster

..... I don't know why some folks are fast to use the "restoration" label.

Herb, things looked too nice in the two pictures, so I asked for more pictures.

The right hand side in the first pictures were small and they looked very smooth - in this area by the rear part of the toggle / the care was not to make it clean as a whistle. I understand it is an earlier commercial P08, so perhaps it was sanded better. But that is WHY I asked for better pictures.

Some folks are awfully quick to point out very nice guns that are over 100 years old - its strawing is very nice. Not that it is not possible, but things usually fade over 100 years. And yes, the bad guys have been restoring since the 50's and 60's. Lets say 1962 - that is 50 years ago.

Ben M. · 10-10-2013, 06:40 PM

may i ask how we know the date of 1908? does the serial number tell us that? these commercial ones are confusing for me.

also is the gun in 30 cal or 9mm? barrel looks fat so maybe 9mm.

Ron Wood · 10-10-2013, 06:56 PM

Ben,
The gun is known to collectors as a "Model 1908". That is the year that the German Army adopted the Luger as its standard sidearm. Two very quickly notable characteristics are that it lacks a grip safety and stock lug, features that were present on the German Navy Lugers but were eliminated by the Army for their contract as cost cutting measures. The Commercial Lugers in that time frame also were produced without the lug and grip safety so they are categorized as "1908". It is difficult to see the first digit of the serial number but it appears to be a "5" which probably places its manufacture in late 1909. The gun is 9mm.

cirelaw · 10-10-2013, 07:06 PM

I too own a real nice 1908. These were manufactored by DWM for commercial sales in Germany and elseware. They were the basis for all later German military Luger pistols according to Kenyan page 117. Many survived in nice condition as they never saw military use!~~#59106

Edward Tinker · 10-10-2013, 08:27 PM

Just a comparison

I see that many are clean like this, no offense was meant, but many war time guns they are a bit rougher IMO

alanint · 10-10-2013, 08:40 PM

I would also point out that it was never retrofitted for a hold open.

cirelaw · 10-10-2013, 11:22 PM

Were they sold with a manuel being commercial?

View Poll Results: What do you think?
Looks good to me...	11	84.62%
I would have chosen another for my first 'Luger'	1	7.69%
Can I buy it off you?	1	7.69%
I don't like it at all...	0	0%
Voters: 13. You may not vote on this poll

10-10-2013, 12:53 AM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,974 Thanks: 2,072 Thanked 4,608 Times in 2,123 Posts	Looks like a very nice restoration... But many more pictures would be needed for me to check mark a poll __________________ 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

10-10-2013, 11:25 AM	#8
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,051 Thanks: 1,119 Thanked 5,286 Times in 1,728 Posts	I agree Herb, it is a beauty. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

10-10-2013, 03:55 PM	#12
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,087 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	I share the previous comments, congratulations, it's a lovely Luger to have __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

10-10-2013, 06:56 PM	#16
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,051 Thanks: 1,119 Thanked 5,286 Times in 1,728 Posts	Ben, The gun is known to collectors as a "Model 1908". That is the year that the German Army adopted the Luger as its standard sidearm. Two very quickly notable characteristics are that it lacks a grip safety and stock lug, features that were present on the German Navy Lugers but were eliminated by the Army for their contract as cost cutting measures. The Commercial Lugers in that time frame also were produced without the lug and grip safety so they are categorized as "1908". It is difficult to see the first digit of the serial number but it appears to be a "5" which probably places its manufacture in late 1909. The gun is 9mm. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

10-10-2013, 09:39 AM	#4
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	So far so good. Please continue.

10-10-2013, 09:56 AM	#5
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	Looks good so far, as well, unless a really old redo with halos added.

10-10-2013, 11:20 AM	#7
drbuster User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: San Mateo, California Posts: 1,432 Thanks: 2 Thanked 71 Times in 56 Posts	Pristine 1908 commercial that I don't blame jagervw adding to his Mauser collection. These are often found in good condition but this one is near the top. I don't know why some folks are fast to use the "restoration" label.

10-10-2013, 12:43 PM	#9
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,138 Times in 2,176 Posts	How do you spot a restoration!!! Who besides Ted are responsible for the so many restorations?

10-10-2013, 01:23 PM	#10
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	"How do you spot a restoration" Eric, the answer to that would fill a book. And judging by the evidence, over the last century there have been any number of craftsmen capable of near-original-quality refinishing. (I do not use the word "restoration," because I think that is a comparitively recent collector concept.) --Dwight

10-10-2013, 01:32 PM	#11
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,138 Times in 2,176 Posts	You do have a point. I guess its like buying a used car. The originals command more with the original paint unless it ratty and require some restoration! My friend Ted is an expert and you would swear its a virgin! I agree refinished is proper if otherwse original and properly marked.

10-10-2013, 05:13 PM	#13
mystical_tutor User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 230 Thanks: 32 Thanked 39 Times in 25 Posts	Well, if it is a restoration they did a poor job on the safety and TD levers, thus I would be thinking it has a better chance being original.

10-10-2013, 06:40 PM	#15
Ben M. User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Retired to Naples, FL. Posts: 496 Thanks: 109 Thanked 155 Times in 97 Posts	may i ask how we know the date of 1908? does the serial number tell us that? these commercial ones are confusing for me. also is the gun in 30 cal or 9mm? barrel looks fat so maybe 9mm.

10-10-2013, 08:40 PM	#19
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	I would also point out that it was never retrofitted for a hold open.

10-10-2013, 11:22 PM	#20
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,138 Times in 2,176 Posts	Were they sold with a manuel being commercial?