battlefield dug luger

teke53 · 05-31-2010, 10:33 PM

Hello everyone. I have my first Luger. It is intriguing to me because it is almost out of battery as if had misfired and the trigger is frozen to the rearmost position. It was dug from a field in Germany, exactly where I do not know. The bbl seems to be only 3.5 inches and it has the DMW? scroll on the top. The serial number is without prefix or suffix 113 stamped under the bbl and on the front of the frame. I do not believe it is a 9mm but more than likely the 7.65 caliber. I get the feeling that the person holding it was killed during battle and died firing it, possibly limp wristing the last shot thereby failing to eject. Any advice or input would be greatly appreciated regarding my first and only "Luger".

tenbears · 05-31-2010, 10:40 PM

Can you post pictures?

teke53 · 05-31-2010, 11:24 PM

I have made a photo album and have been able to load two photos so far. i am having trubs.

teke53 · 06-01-2010, 12:35 AM

picture

Steinar · 06-01-2010, 03:17 AM

Interesting find, thanks for sharing

Looks like someone has tried to disemble it, takedown lever looks like it has taken a beating downwards and the sideplate looks out of place. Perhaps it the upper was placed out of battery at the same time..
I do not think it jammed this way during battle, it's not common for it to just get stuck in the rear posision without a case stuck at the chamber.
Perhaps you can post a photo of the extractor? It is found on top of the chamber and would indicate if there is a round inside the chamber or not.. The main spring is under tention.

Dwight Gruber · 06-01-2010, 03:42 AM

Interesting.

Barrel measurement is properly muzzle to breechface, this looks like 4" to me. Almost assuredly 9mm.

You might want to find someone to x-ray it for you, it would be good to know if there are still live rounds in the magazine. This would also show the configuration ofthe internal parts, and explain the curious state of the action.

--Dwight

teke53 · 06-01-2010, 07:51 AM

Thank you very much for your input. I find it a captivating curiosity. I don't think I did too bad for twenty five dollars.

Norme · 06-01-2010, 08:07 AM

Hi Kurt, Welcome to the Forum. Are you sure your gun is marked DWM? As I'm sure you know, there are no WW1 battlefields on German soil. If it was found in Germany it would be a WW2 relic. Regards, Norm

teke53 · 06-01-2010, 08:51 AM

Yes Sir, thank you. It was late and I wrote the wrong letters down.

teke53 · 06-01-2010, 08:52 AM

I do have a French revolver that my grandfather took from a German he killed. I don't know if it would be proper to display the photo here.

Curly1 · 06-01-2010, 10:38 AM

Sure show the revolver too and for $25 you have an interesting piece of history. Too bad you do not know where it was recovered.

teke53 · 06-01-2010, 12:42 PM

http://forum.lugerforum.com/picture....pictureid=1240

teke53 · 06-01-2010, 12:46 PM

using my handy dandy digital caliper, the bbl length from crown to stop is 3.841 which would leave just enough room for head and primer of a stuck case. the widest inside bbl diameter is .305

Vlim · 06-01-2010, 01:25 PM

Hi,

It is not uncommon to find guns in this condition. It was the easiest way to render them useless after capture: Set them on fire.

The round in the chamber probably cooked off.

Ron Wood · 06-01-2010, 01:41 PM

That Luger is pretty intact for a ground dug piece. Soak that puppy in Kroil for a month or two and you might actually be able to disassemble it.

alanint · 06-01-2010, 01:45 PM

I agree with Ron. It has more the aspect of a barn find than a ground dug.

I'm not doubting the story but admiring the condition.

teke53 · 06-01-2010, 01:54 PM

Oh, you are probably correct. A history teacher at my old high school had it. He got it from a friend long ago and "thought" he had dug it up. The only thing for sure was that it was in Germany where it was found. So if you guys think it was a "barn" find you are probably correct. I have been astounded at the knowledge here. Kroil huh, I was wondering if I might be able to do something like that. Thank you all again.

MikeP · 06-05-2010, 03:05 PM

I talked to a vet who had a Luger someplace where he was not supposed to.
Some MPs started hassling some guys ner him and he said he field stripped his and threw the pieces in different directions.

Wonder if some guy was fooling with this one, couldn't get it back together right, and tossed it in disgust.

Sometimes there were literally piles of these things.

05-31-2010, 10:33 PM	#1
teke53 User Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	battlefield dug luger Hello everyone. I have my first Luger. It is intriguing to me because it is almost out of battery as if had misfired and the trigger is frozen to the rearmost position. It was dug from a field in Germany, exactly where I do not know. The bbl seems to be only 3.5 inches and it has the DMW? scroll on the top. The serial number is without prefix or suffix 113 stamped under the bbl and on the front of the frame. I do not believe it is a 9mm but more than likely the 7.65 caliber. I get the feeling that the person holding it was killed during battle and died firing it, possibly limp wristing the last shot thereby failing to eject. Any advice or input would be greatly appreciated regarding my first and only "Luger".

05-31-2010, 11:24 PM	#3
teke53 User Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I have made a photo album and have been able to load two photos so far. i am having trubs. Last edited by teke53; 06-01-2010 at 12:33 AM. Reason: update

06-01-2010, 12:35 AM	#4
teke53 User Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	picture Attached Thumbnails

06-01-2010, 03:17 AM	#5
Steinar User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,538 Thanks: 18 Thanked 36 Times in 21 Posts	Interesting find, thanks for sharing Looks like someone has tried to disemble it, takedown lever looks like it has taken a beating downwards and the sideplate looks out of place. Perhaps it the upper was placed out of battery at the same time.. I do not think it jammed this way during battle, it's not common for it to just get stuck in the rear posision without a case stuck at the chamber. Perhaps you can post a photo of the extractor? It is found on top of the chamber and would indicate if there is a round inside the chamber or not.. The main spring is under tention. __________________ Previously known as Morgan Kane

06-01-2010, 10:38 AM	#11
Curly1 User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 116 Thanked 708 Times in 369 Posts	Sure show the revolver too and for $25 you have an interesting piece of history. Too bad you do not know where it was recovered. __________________ Laugh hard and often. Gary

05-31-2010, 10:40 PM	#2
tenbears User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 370 Thanks: 3 Thanked 26 Times in 15 Posts	Can you post pictures?

06-01-2010, 03:42 AM	#6
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,899 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,307 Times in 429 Posts	Interesting. Barrel measurement is properly muzzle to breechface, this looks like 4" to me. Almost assuredly 9mm. You might want to find someone to x-ray it for you, it would be good to know if there are still live rounds in the magazine. This would also show the configuration ofthe internal parts, and explain the curious state of the action. --Dwight

06-01-2010, 07:51 AM	#7
teke53 User Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thank you very much for your input. I find it a captivating curiosity. I don't think I did too bad for twenty five dollars.

06-01-2010, 08:07 AM	#8
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,417 Thanks: 226 Thanked 2,603 Times in 933 Posts	Hi Kurt, Welcome to the Forum. Are you sure your gun is marked DWM? As I'm sure you know, there are no WW1 battlefields on German soil. If it was found in Germany it would be a WW2 relic. Regards, Norm

06-01-2010, 08:51 AM	#9
teke53 User Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Yes Sir, thank you. It was late and I wrote the wrong letters down.

06-01-2010, 08:52 AM	#10
teke53 User Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I do have a French revolver that my grandfather took from a German he killed. I don't know if it would be proper to display the photo here.

06-01-2010, 12:42 PM	#12
teke53 User Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	http://forum.lugerforum.com/picture....pictureid=1240

06-01-2010, 12:46 PM	#13
teke53 User Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	using my handy dandy digital caliper, the bbl length from crown to stop is 3.841 which would leave just enough room for head and primer of a stuck case. the widest inside bbl diameter is .305 Last edited by teke53; 06-01-2010 at 12:47 PM. Reason: factoid

06-01-2010, 01:25 PM	#14
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,988 Times in 1,205 Posts	Hi, It is not uncommon to find guns in this condition. It was the easiest way to render them useless after capture: Set them on fire. The round in the chamber probably cooked off.

06-01-2010, 01:41 PM	#15
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,017 Thanks: 1,089 Thanked 5,164 Times in 1,700 Posts	That Luger is pretty intact for a ground dug piece. Soak that puppy in Kroil for a month or two and you might actually be able to disassemble it. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

06-01-2010, 01:45 PM	#16
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	I agree with Ron. It has more the aspect of a barn find than a ground dug. I'm not doubting the story but admiring the condition.

06-01-2010, 01:54 PM	#17
teke53 User Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Oh, you are probably correct. A history teacher at my old high school had it. He got it from a friend long ago and "thought" he had dug it up. The only thing for sure was that it was in Germany where it was found. So if you guys think it was a "barn" find you are probably correct. I have been astounded at the knowledge here. Kroil huh, I was wondering if I might be able to do something like that. Thank you all again.

06-05-2010, 03:05 PM	#18
MikeP User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: ILL Posts: 686 Thanks: 36 Thanked 452 Times in 198 Posts	I talked to a vet who had a Luger someplace where he was not supposed to. Some MPs started hassling some guys ner him and he said he field stripped his and threw the pieces in different directions. Wonder if some guy was fooling with this one, couldn't get it back together right, and tossed it in disgust. Sometimes there were literally piles of these things.