1917 DWM Artillery Luger

[tservo]

Greetings All! I have a 1917 DWM (all matching) that I inherited from my Grandfather. He "liberated" it from a soldier that wasn't going to be shooting anything anymore in Normandy in 1944. I was wondering if anybody knew of a Luger specialist in the Dayton/Cincinnati/Columbus, Ohio area. I'd like to get my Luger checked out. I know it's been fired in the past (most of the checking on the palm side of the grip-for right handers- is worn off) and I'd just like to know if it is too far gone to be a true collector. I'm dying to put a few rounds through it, but I don't want to ruin it.

Specs are:

Serial: 5971 h (under barrel, front of frame); 5971 (left side of barrel above locking bolt); 71 on tangent sight block and slide, trigger plate, locking bolt, front/rear toggle, and extractor

Inspector's marks: #15 from the Proof Marks section of the Luger forum (German military receiver proof. Found on DWM Lugers 1914-1918) on the left side of barrel; there is another proof mark on the left side of the barrel under the sight slide that looks like an Imperial German Eagle with a "D" or a "0" underneath. The mark is pointing with the head of the eagle to the left (as you look at it).

I have pictures, but I have to get them loaded on this computer before I can post.

Thanks for all your help!

-Tservo