Newly acquired Luger

[TW]

I have recently aquired a luger but do not know anything about it as a collectable item. I have down loaded the Luger Identification Form and have all of the questions answered. The gun was taken in WW 2 and seems to me to be in very good condition. There appears to be little strawing. I do not think that the gun has been fired in the last 20 years and maybe never since the war. All of the #'s match and I have the holster which was made in 1934. I have taken images that I could email to someone. Could anyone help me out with this. Thank you. TW

[Edward Tinker]

TW, I would be glad to help, just e-mail the photos to me at the below e-mail:

And include as much information as you gathered and we would be glad to help out.

BTW, there is a tutorial on posting pictures, once you have done it a couple of times, it isn't toooo hard to do, the posting pictures tutorial is at http://forums.lugerforum.com/cgi-bin...;f=11;t=000072

Ed

[TW]

The inscription is DWM.
The Chamber Inscription is from Proof I item 15. The Toggle Knobs are round.
Grip Safety is present.
Stock lug - yes.
Caliber 7.65.
Grip Type Walnut checkered good shape.
Thumb marking Gesichect/Silver.
Numbered pieces are 6446 with 46 on all parts. Chamber Inscription 1920-1918
On the front of the finger grip is S Wpr. II 44. Barrel length is 4 3/4".
Magazine # is 2045 with wood base. Holster is stamped with 4073 and Auwaester & Bubeck/ Stuttgart 1934.
One small wrench type tool is also included.
Thank You for your help.









Larger images:
http://boards.rennlist.com/lfupload/TWluger1.JPG
http://boards.rennlist.com/lfupload/twluger3.JPG
http://boards.rennlist.com/lfupload/twluger4.JPG
http://boards.rennlist.com/lfupload/twluger5.JPG

[Edward Tinker]

Here is the picture you uploaded, I shrank it and lightened it a tiny bit.



Larger image here:

http://boards.rennlist.com/lfupload/twluger2.JPG

Ed

[Edward Tinker]

I am sure others will chime it, was trying to give them a chance before I fumbled around.

Manufacturer is DWM and Proof shows it is a Imperial Luger made for WW1.

Caliber 7.65. This throws me off, must have been rebarreled and issued to a unit?
Are there other acceptance markings on the right receiver?

Chamber Inscription 1920-1918
This shows it was a DWM 1918 then brought into the Weimar military, the 1920 is a property marking for the Reichswehr

On the front of the finger grip is S Wpr. II 44. This is for a unit marking, my books are not right here with me.

Barrel length is 4 3/4".
This makes me feel it was rebarreled and sent to America, as the barrel length sounds odd, but I am not sure on this?

One small wrench type tool is also included.
This is the loading tool, also used to take the grips off of the gun.

[RockinWR]

TW,
* If the grip strap marking is actually S.Wpr.II.44; then, this example was (re)issued to the Schutzpolizei. Westpreussen district. II precinct. weapon #44 or the Municipal Police of the Westpreussan district, 2nd precinct, weapon #44. This taken from Gortz/Bryans-German Small Arms Markings, Pg.103.
* This piece appears to have a 4" Bbl.
* This piece does not have a grip safety; rather, the conventional manual thumb safety lever.
* Interesting for a Police marked pistol, this example not show evidence of a mag or sear safety.
* If not touch blued/re-blued & all numbers match inside & out, it would be considered collectable although on the mid to low end of the scale.
* Still can't reconcile a 7.65mm caliber. I think I see an "extra" mark appearing to the right of the Imperial sequence(3 crown/letters+ Proof eagle stamps). This the farthest right mark on the right receiver below the chamfer cut.
* I'd also ask TW to examine the barrel where it mates to the receiver around the entire circumference for stamped markings. Please report any found or the absence of same.
* Also, TW, is there a lower case script letter under the 6446 numerals that appear on the vertical face of the frame below the barrel and ahead of the trigger guard? Please check only when verified as unloaded and positively safe(toggle latched back & mag removed). Have to & want to say that ya know.
Respectfully,
WR

[TW]

I have examined the pistol more closely and I need to make 2 corrections to earlier statements. I removed additional bullets and found the following marking WRACO 9 m/m luger. I assume that this is US munition? The barrel is 3" from the from of the tripper where the barrel flares out to the tip.
The marking just below and to the front of the imperial sequence appears to be similar to Proof 2 item #15 but it is hard to read. Under the barrel the # 6446 appears again. Between this number and right at the flared edge is the # 883. On the front of the nub in front of the trigger below the # 6446 in the curving surface the mark appears to be an ampersand or some scripted symbol that I cannot make out. Again any help that you have is appreciated.
I intend to keep this gun so does anyone suggest that I have it insured and if so for approximately how much.
TW

[Edward Tinker]

TW, I can help with a few things:

The marking WRACO is Winchester Repeating Arms CO., ammunition.

Measure the barrel by (unloading it ) the gun and dropping a pencil down the barrel, then measure how much was inside the barrel.

The # 883 should be 8,83 and is the measruement of the lands, of the rifling, it might be 8,84, 8,82, etc., but is close to that size.

The scripted symbol is probably the suffix of the gun, but if you could get a good picture of it? (I find this a very hard place to take a picture and my digital camera fails me on doing this).