My first Luger!!

[Don M]

Thanks for the welcome. I'll take the advice to stay with this forum.

The gun has a 4-in, 9-mm barrel and has "GESICHERT" and "GELADEN" on the safety recess and extractor, respectively. The gun shop guys tell me the bore is in very good condition. The bluing seem to be about 80% or more with most of the wear on the left side, probably from holstering. The left side grip is also somewhat worn.
<a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/3299q_left_side.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/3299q_left_side.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

As shown in the photo in my original post, there are no markings on the right side. The left side of the receiver has a crown/N proof mark.

The toggle has a DWM logo and there are no marks above the chamber.
<a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/3299q_receiver_top.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/3299q_receiver_top.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

The bottom of the barrel has a very small proof mark consisting of a stylized eagle. I have not been able to find an illustration of an identical mark. The barrel/receiver witness mark seems very similar to Example 03 in Dwight Gruber's article on this site illustrating a "perfect" mark. Although the barrel and receiver proof marks are different, I question the rebarrelling judgement of the gun shop guy noted in my original post.
<a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/3299q_barrel_marks.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/3299q_barrel_marks.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

The frame has the serial no. "3299" with a suffix I have interpreted as a "q" with the tail missing because of the curvature of the trigger guard. It looks identical to the upper part of one of the "q"s on Gortz's sheet on this site. The next closest match would be a "g" but, assuming this is a DWM commercial model produced between 1921 and 1928, this would not be possible since the suffixes ran from "i" to "r" according to Henrotin in his e-book on DWM Lugers.
<a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/3299q_frame_sn.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/3299q_frame_sn.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

The barrel and reciever have the serial no. "3299." A two-digit serial no. "99" is stamped on the exterior of the front (faint) and rear toggle links, the trigger plate (side and lower edge), takedown lever (lower edge), breechblock, sear bar and safety bar. Only visible when partially field-stripped, the trigger is marked "31" and the rear toggle pin is marked "86." I've also noted that the inside of the trigger plate also has the marks "4" and "32." I don't know what to make of all this!

The front grip strap is marked "P.M.477." which, I'm told, indicates the gun was issued to the Police School in Muenster.
<a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/3299q_front_grip_strap.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/3299q_front_grip_strap.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

The magazines have aluminum bases and are not matched to the gun. The acceptance mark on the left magazine apparently is that of Waffenamt Inspector 63. I can't find any illustrations similar to the acceptance mark on the right magazine. It appears to have the top part of "37." Whether this has any relationship to the 1937 date on the holster is an open question.
<a href="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/magazine_bases.jpg" target="_fullview"><img src="http://forums.lugerforum.com/lfupload/magazine_bases.jpg" width="400" alt="Click for fullsize image" /></a>

I'm tired and it's getting past my bed time so I'll shut it down. I'll very much appreciate any opinions on what I have here.

Best regards,
Don