New acquisition: 1916 DWM w/sear safety

Zamo · 02-28-2008, 03:23 PM

I have a 1916 DWM in pretty good condition (EXCELLENT w/ some grip strap pitting). I'll post some pictures as soon as I can.
The question I have is that while the ejector was strawed, the trigger, take down, mag release and safety are all blued. The numbers match inside and out, even on these parts, and the inside of the grips, and the rest of the gun strongly appears to have its original finish. I know that in WW2 they switched from straw to blue, but I had never heard that this occured during WW1, so I told the seller it had likely been refinished at some point. It was then that I noticed the Sear Safety, and told the seller it was a police model. He had never even noticed it before.
I know that 1916 was the first year for these safetys, but I admit a lack of knowledge on Police Lugers. Did they have blued triggers and safeties in 1916?
Did Police Lugers have other marks vs. the regular stampings? The only marks this guy has are identical to my 1917 Imperial (Three "Crowned" thingies, and an excited duck).
Were any sear safety pistols produced for the military during this time?
I apologize for all these rudimentary questions, but am at work right now, and unable to consult my books. I'll post some pictures soon.
Once last thing, the upper pistol is in very nice shape, but there is a little pitting on the front grip strap, and down by the magazine well. It does NOT show evidence of having been blued-over, and actually shows worn edges, so it's very old. Does localized pitting like this hurt a pistols value worse than refinishing, or mismatched parts? Over all I am very pleased with the pistol even with the pitting. I wasn't looking for a Police piece, but the price was right regardless.

02-28-2008, 03:23 PM	#1
Zamo User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Washington State Posts: 142 Thanks: 4 Thanked 13 Times in 9 Posts	New acquisition: 1916 DWM w/sear safety I have a 1916 DWM in pretty good condition (EXCELLENT w/ some grip strap pitting). I'll post some pictures as soon as I can. The question I have is that while the ejector was strawed, the trigger, take down, mag release and safety are all blued. The numbers match inside and out, even on these parts, and the inside of the grips, and the rest of the gun strongly appears to have its original finish. I know that in WW2 they switched from straw to blue, but I had never heard that this occured during WW1, so I told the seller it had likely been refinished at some point. It was then that I noticed the Sear Safety, and told the seller it was a police model. He had never even noticed it before. I know that 1916 was the first year for these safetys, but I admit a lack of knowledge on Police Lugers. Did they have blued triggers and safeties in 1916? Did Police Lugers have other marks vs. the regular stampings? The only marks this guy has are identical to my 1917 Imperial (Three "Crowned" thingies, and an excited duck). Were any sear safety pistols produced for the military during this time? I apologize for all these rudimentary questions, but am at work right now, and unable to consult my books. I'll post some pictures soon. Once last thing, the upper pistol is in very nice shape, but there is a little pitting on the front grip strap, and down by the magazine well. It does NOT show evidence of having been blued-over, and actually shows worn edges, so it's very old. Does localized pitting like this hurt a pistols value worse than refinishing, or mismatched parts? Over all I am very pleased with the pistol even with the pitting. I wasn't looking for a Police piece, but the price was right regardless.