1918 DWM marking question

Dwight Gruber · 11-15-2004, 11:40 PM

cjeep85,

By all appearances this is a parts assembly rework Luger. It is very difficult to make a complete determination, as some of the stamps are not exactly as expected, and the barrel "stick eagle" is not close-up enough to see determining fine detail.

The receiver (and presumably barrel) are originally of Erfurt manufacture. This can be told by your first photograph, which has the flat machined into the front edge necessary for an LP-08 (Artillery) rear sight. In 1916 a mandate was issued for all Luger receivers to be manufactured with this cut; Erfurt followed this mandate, DWM did not.

The receiver has only the leftmost inspector mark, and a revisions-commission stamp above it. This was the first receiver inspector stamp applied to a Luger, certifying that the receiver has been hardened; the date is stamped at the same time. The crowns for the other two inspector's stamps were applied at the same time. Apparently some flaw was found with it, and the part was taken from the production line and submitted to the Revisions-Commission.

The barrel was sent to the Revisions-Commission as well. It appears that the receiver and barrel never made it back into the production line from the Commission, whether by design or by happenstance. It is not clear whether the barrel and receiver were mated at this time.

By the terms of the Treaty of Versailles after WWI, gun manufacturers were forbidden to manufacture new military-style weapons. This did not apply to rework and assembly from existing parts however, and "puzzle Lugers" like this one were put together for sale for cash flow income and surreptitious internal use.

The eagle/swasitka on the right receiver was used from 1937 through 1942. In Costanzo's magnum opus on Luger markings it is shown in combination with quite a few other markings, missing on this gun. It might be possible to focus in on the time frame a bit more if it were possible to see the detail of the barrel mark.

The figure on the breechblock is a crown-over-N, the commercial firing proof. This mark is not normally found in combination with the eagles on the right side of this Luger.

To all appearances this is a very nice older parts assembly-rework, likely original (c/N notwithstanding).

--Dwight

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11-15-2004, 11:40 PM	#10
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,908 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,330 Times in 435 Posts	cjeep85, By all appearances this is a parts assembly rework Luger. It is very difficult to make a complete determination, as some of the stamps are not exactly as expected, and the barrel "stick eagle" is not close-up enough to see determining fine detail. The receiver (and presumably barrel) are originally of Erfurt manufacture. This can be told by your first photograph, which has the flat machined into the front edge necessary for an LP-08 (Artillery) rear sight. In 1916 a mandate was issued for all Luger receivers to be manufactured with this cut; Erfurt followed this mandate, DWM did not. The receiver has only the leftmost inspector mark, and a revisions-commission stamp above it. This was the first receiver inspector stamp applied to a Luger, certifying that the receiver has been hardened; the date is stamped at the same time. The crowns for the other two inspector's stamps were applied at the same time. Apparently some flaw was found with it, and the part was taken from the production line and submitted to the Revisions-Commission. The barrel was sent to the Revisions-Commission as well. It appears that the receiver and barrel never made it back into the production line from the Commission, whether by design or by happenstance. It is not clear whether the barrel and receiver were mated at this time. By the terms of the Treaty of Versailles after WWI, gun manufacturers were forbidden to manufacture new military-style weapons. This did not apply to rework and assembly from existing parts however, and "puzzle Lugers" like this one were put together for sale for cash flow income and surreptitious internal use. The eagle/swasitka on the right receiver was used from 1937 through 1942. In Costanzo's magnum opus on Luger markings it is shown in combination with quite a few other markings, missing on this gun. It might be possible to focus in on the time frame a bit more if it were possible to see the detail of the barrel mark. The figure on the breechblock is a crown-over-N, the commercial firing proof. This mark is not normally found in combination with the eagles on the right side of this Luger. To all appearances this is a very nice older parts assembly-rework, likely original (c/N notwithstanding). --Dwight