1920 DWM 9mm History and Value

[Don M]

I'm not sure the 1920 on the chamber is the manufacture date. It may be the 1920 government property stamp. The gun has been heavily buffed and the photos are fuzzy but it appears that it may originally have been an Imperial-era Navy Luger. I think I see two C/M stamps on the left side of the receiver and it has commercial-style serial numbers on the takedown lever and the side plate (apparently a replacement since the number on the bottom (17) doesn't match the sn of the gun). If it was a Navy, the chamber date may have been ground off. Others more knowledgeable about Navies may provide better information. Clearer photos would probably help.

In any event, as Ed noted, the pistol was issued/reissued to the Berlin Schutzpolizei (the Prussian state police), probably in 1920. An early-1920s Berlin Schupo marking has been ground off the grip strap leaving some remnant periods. This accounts for the period preceeding the S. The surviving mark S.B.4769. was applied in 1932 when a new order was issued revising the format of these markings. The weapon number indicates this pistol was issued to Gruppe Mitte in the Central district of Berlin (HWIS Table 6-4).

The sear safety was installed in 1934 and indicates the pistol was assigned to the precinct police (Revierpolizei) of Gruppe Mitte and probably remained with the Berlin police through WWII.