An Oddball Shooter? Or Rarity (Not)

Doubs · 08-30-2002, 12:49 PM

Following the war, large numbers of military pistols were re-worked for export with "Germany" being stamped on the guns in various places. In the early - mid 1920's, DWM also made commercial pistols that carry a military-style serial number (suffix letter) but stamped in the commercial manner. The Finnish contract pistols came from these guns. Many of the military re-works were rebarreled in .30 caliber. Also, many of the new production DWM pistols were in .30 caliber.

The quality of the reworks varied tremendously and it was during this period that the Luger gained a reputation for poor quality. I have a book written by Julian Hatcher and published in 1927, IIRC. His comments on the quality of many Lugers being imported then are harsh. My father owned numerous Lugers during that time period and, while his were top quality, he often commented on the poor reputation of the Luger in the years between the wars. It sounds like you may have gotten one of the guns that wasn't done so well.

I've owned a commercial DWM .30 Luger of the suffix letter series that was both reliable and extremely accurate. I have a reworked Erfurt with the date removed that is as good as the DWM and I have a "Frankenschloss" rework of about 1939 vintage that's based on a first issue Navy, altered, and while I've not shot it, the workmanship is excellent. My E. German rework that Hugh put a 6" .30 barrel on is rapidly becoming my favorite shooter.

I like the .30 Luger cartridge but I reload for it. If you don't reload, then rebarreling to 9mm is the way for you to go IMO.

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08-30-2002, 12:49 PM	#8
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,742 Thanks: 826 Thanked 1,788 Times in 590 Posts	Following the war, large numbers of military pistols were re-worked for export with "Germany" being stamped on the guns in various places. In the early - mid 1920's, DWM also made commercial pistols that carry a military-style serial number (suffix letter) but stamped in the commercial manner. The Finnish contract pistols came from these guns. Many of the military re-works were rebarreled in .30 caliber. Also, many of the new production DWM pistols were in .30 caliber. The quality of the reworks varied tremendously and it was during this period that the Luger gained a reputation for poor quality. I have a book written by Julian Hatcher and published in 1927, IIRC. His comments on the quality of many Lugers being imported then are harsh. My father owned numerous Lugers during that time period and, while his were top quality, he often commented on the poor reputation of the Luger in the years between the wars. It sounds like you may have gotten one of the guns that wasn't done so well. I've owned a commercial DWM .30 Luger of the suffix letter series that was both reliable and extremely accurate. I have a reworked Erfurt with the date removed that is as good as the DWM and I have a "Frankenschloss" rework of about 1939 vintage that's based on a first issue Navy, altered, and while I've not shot it, the workmanship is excellent. My E. German rework that Hugh put a 6" .30 barrel on is rapidly becoming my favorite shooter. I like the .30 Luger cartridge but I reload for it. If you don't reload, then rebarreling to 9mm is the way for you to go IMO.