Help identifying 1914 DWM...

LSP972 · 02-13-2009, 08:50 AM

Photos can be found in my "album" under my user name. I read the tutorials, tried it, and frankly, I've written and executed op orders less complicated than posting photos here. Not trying to be offensive, but I'm pretty computer ignorant.

Anyway... I snagged this at a gunshow the other day. I am certainly not new to guns, but my lack of knowledge concerning Lugers is near-total. However, the price was right, and the pistol is just about pristine. Whoever re-blued it did a professional job.

All numbers appear to match. I'm thinking its a commercial model, due to the lack of any markings but the numbers, the manufacturer's crest, and those proof marks (I assume that's what they are?).

The magazine it came with had a plastic base and was FULL of grease. When I went to knock out the roll pin, one side of the base broke off. I had that puppy well-supported on a bench block, too. No drama; I JB-welded it back together, cleaned everything up, and you can barely see the crack...

The magazine in the pistol in the photos is one I bought from a vendor at the show. It has an alumunum base, and non-matching numbers. It appears to be almost un-used. I paid a smooth hundred dollar bill for it. Did I get ripped?

Doesn't matter, the old piece fascinates me, it is fun to shoot (100% reliable, with both magazines, with American Eagle 115gr ball) and its only money. Just curious.

I understand this is NOT a collector's pistol. I'm just wondering if anyone can shed some light on its pedigree. The old gentleman who had it was rather vague about where he got it.

Many thanks in advance...

.

MFC · 02-14-2009, 12:18 AM

Steve,
Better photos of the proofs on the right receiver and the top of the Luger would be needed to give you all the info your looking for. It is military not commercial. The price for the mag is good and could be even better depending on when it was made... again more photos of stamps on bottom and on the tube.

LSP972 · 02-14-2009, 08:05 AM

I've added four more pics to Luger 4 gallery in my profile. Its the best that I can do without a ring flash; its hard to get proper light on the surface when the lens is so close. I had all that sort of stuff with my Canon F1; got rid of it all when I went digital.

Those proof marks on the right side of the barrel are definitely Oriental. Underneath the barrel, there is a capital "B"/small case "o", with an umlaut (sp?) over the "o", followed by a numeral three and zero. Under that is the serial number.

There is another alpha-numeric stamp, back where the cylindrical part of the barrel begins to flow into the square breech area, and in line (bore-axis wise) with the above-described inscription and serial number. I cannot fully make this out, even under slight magnification. It is four characters, the last of which is definitely a number 4. Cannot discern the other three, although it appears there is a comma in the second space- between the first and third characters.

I cannot find any other marks that are not the last two digits of the serial number.

I know this isn't much help, but I appreciate the comments.

Didn't China buy a bunch of Lugers between the Boxer Rebellion and the first world war?

What gets me is the remarkable condition this pistol is in. There is absolutely no sign of any former rust, pitting, etc. Except for a slight mis-match on the color of the bluing on a few parts, the gun could be almost NIB.

MFC · 02-14-2009, 11:47 PM

Steve,
The acceptance stamps on the right receiver aren't Oriental, they are Crown/X, C/Q, C/F (gothic letters).The last proof to the right (eagle) is a firing proof... all correct. The Bo 30 indicates a Bohler steel barrel. 8,82 is the measurement in millimeters from land to land of the bore... again all correct. They used commas instead of decimals. Estimated production of 1914 DWM Lugers: 38,000. Info- Central Powers Pistols, Jan Still.

LSP972 · 02-15-2009, 10:40 AM

Interesting. So what I have is a garden-variety WW I era pistol in near-pristine condition. Good enough.

I assume the lack of other markings and its near-new condition means it was never issued. If these things could only talk...

Many thanks, Mike.

Check your PM.

.

MFC · 02-15-2009, 11:47 PM

Steve,
What other markings are you refering to? Your original photos of the gun are not in your album. You didn't post a photo of the top and I assumed all the "markings" are there.

LSP972 · 02-16-2009, 06:40 AM

I have read that many (most?) Wermacht-issued Lugers had unit-identifying markings added.

My pistol has no such. The three "albums" show photos of all the markings on my pistol; there are no others.

George Anderson · 02-16-2009, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSP972

I have read that many (most?) Wermacht-issued Lugers had unit-identifying markings added.

My pistol has no such. The three "albums" show photos of all the markings on my pistol; there are no others.

Wehrmacht issued Lugers NEVER had unit-identifying marks added. A small percentage of Imperial military Lugers do have unit marks. Typically the earlier the date the higher the percentage that were marked.

LSP972 · 02-16-2009, 02:16 PM

"Imperial" being WW I German army?

That's what I meant, WW I era German issue.

Slight brain fart on the "Wehrmacht"...

02-13-2009, 08:50 AM	#1
LSP972 User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Help identifying 1914 DWM... Photos can be found in my "album" under my user name. I read the tutorials, tried it, and frankly, I've written and executed op orders less complicated than posting photos here. Not trying to be offensive, but I'm pretty computer ignorant. Anyway... I snagged this at a gunshow the other day. I am certainly not new to guns, but my lack of knowledge concerning Lugers is near-total. However, the price was right, and the pistol is just about pristine. Whoever re-blued it did a professional job. All numbers appear to match. I'm thinking its a commercial model, due to the lack of any markings but the numbers, the manufacturer's crest, and those proof marks (I assume that's what they are?). The magazine it came with had a plastic base and was FULL of grease. When I went to knock out the roll pin, one side of the base broke off. I had that puppy well-supported on a bench block, too. No drama; I JB-welded it back together, cleaned everything up, and you can barely see the crack... The magazine in the pistol in the photos is one I bought from a vendor at the show. It has an alumunum base, and non-matching numbers. It appears to be almost un-used. I paid a smooth hundred dollar bill for it. Did I get ripped? Doesn't matter, the old piece fascinates me, it is fun to shoot (100% reliable, with both magazines, with American Eagle 115gr ball) and its only money. Just curious. I understand this is NOT a collector's pistol. I'm just wondering if anyone can shed some light on its pedigree. The old gentleman who had it was rather vague about where he got it. Many thanks in advance... .

02-14-2009, 12:18 AM	#2
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Steve, Better photos of the proofs on the right receiver and the top of the Luger would be needed to give you all the info your looking for. It is military not commercial. The price for the mag is good and could be even better depending on when it was made... again more photos of stamps on bottom and on the tube. __________________ Mike C.

02-14-2009, 11:47 PM	#4
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Steve, The acceptance stamps on the right receiver aren't Oriental, they are Crown/X, C/Q, C/F (gothic letters).The last proof to the right (eagle) is a firing proof... all correct. The Bo 30 indicates a Bohler steel barrel. 8,82 is the measurement in millimeters from land to land of the bore... again all correct. They used commas instead of decimals. Estimated production of 1914 DWM Lugers: 38,000. Info- Central Powers Pistols, Jan Still. __________________ Mike C. Last edited by MFC; 02-16-2009 at 12:05 AM.

02-15-2009, 11:47 PM	#6
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Steve, What other markings are you refering to? Your original photos of the gun are not in your album. You didn't post a photo of the top and I assumed all the "markings" are there. __________________ Mike C.

02-14-2009, 08:05 AM	#3
LSP972 User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I've added four more pics to Luger 4 gallery in my profile. Its the best that I can do without a ring flash; its hard to get proper light on the surface when the lens is so close. I had all that sort of stuff with my Canon F1; got rid of it all when I went digital. Those proof marks on the right side of the barrel are definitely Oriental. Underneath the barrel, there is a capital "B"/small case "o", with an umlaut (sp?) over the "o", followed by a numeral three and zero. Under that is the serial number. There is another alpha-numeric stamp, back where the cylindrical part of the barrel begins to flow into the square breech area, and in line (bore-axis wise) with the above-described inscription and serial number. I cannot fully make this out, even under slight magnification. It is four characters, the last of which is definitely a number 4. Cannot discern the other three, although it appears there is a comma in the second space- between the first and third characters. I cannot find any other marks that are not the last two digits of the serial number. I know this isn't much help, but I appreciate the comments. Didn't China buy a bunch of Lugers between the Boxer Rebellion and the first world war? What gets me is the remarkable condition this pistol is in. There is absolutely no sign of any former rust, pitting, etc. Except for a slight mis-match on the color of the bluing on a few parts, the gun could be almost NIB.

02-15-2009, 10:40 AM	#5
LSP972 User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Interesting. So what I have is a garden-variety WW I era pistol in near-pristine condition. Good enough. I assume the lack of other markings and its near-new condition means it was never issued. If these things could only talk... Many thanks, Mike. Check your PM. .

02-16-2009, 06:40 AM	#7
LSP972 User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I have read that many (most?) Wermacht-issued Lugers had unit-identifying markings added. My pistol has no such. The three "albums" show photos of all the markings on my pistol; there are no others.

02-16-2009, 02:16 PM	#9
LSP972 User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	"Imperial" being WW I German army? That's what I meant, WW I era German issue. Slight brain fart on the "Wehrmacht"...