DWM Alphabet Commercial, Police procurement

Blind Hog · 06-20-2010, 11:20 PM

A recent acquisition a quite nice Alphabet Commercial with Police sear safety and removed magazine safety. I have also posted this to Still's forum and thought perhaps members here would have an interest in it also.
Crown N proofed, serial 4280 r, no grip strap markings, caliber 9 m/m. Wood bottom magazine numbered 7569, no suffix, 2. Barrel numbered 4280 with an eagle? over the serial number (see photo).
Even with all the books I have about Lugers, I am still confused with postwar, Weimar, early Nazi, Police. For now I will pigeon hole it, as an Alphabet Commercial, Police procurement.
Comments are welcomed and appreciated.

Don M · 06-22-2010, 05:00 PM

Hi Francis,

Excellent photos of a very nice example of an Alphabet Commercial DWM procured by the police and rebarrelled in 9mm. Here is what I have gleaned over the last several years about Lugers procured for the Weimar-era police:

DWM began producing dated military-specification 9-mm Lugers for both the military and police use in 1920. However, in 1921, the German government (undoubtedly under pressure from the IMKK) defined all pistols and revolvers with barrels longer than 9.8 cm (about 3-7/8 in.) or in calibers larger than 8 mm as war materials (Kriegsgeräte), along with submachine guns, etc., etc. Restrictions were placed on the manufacture, import, export and ownership of war materials. As a result, DWM was forced to stop producing 9-mm Lugers in 1921. They were able to continue to produce commercial Lugers in 7.65-mm and with 9.8-cm barrels (Alphabet Commercials).

During the period 1922 to about 1928, there were a number of police procurements of Lugers from DWM. These probably came from the factory in 7.65-mm. In most cases, they probably were immediately rebarrelled in 9 mm either by Simson or police armories. Note that there was no restriction on police ownership of Lugers that were classified as "war material." Your Luger has a small eagle stamp on the bottom of the barrel that is typical of many of these replacement barrels.

I have no proof, but the evidence suggests that by 1929, DWM began again to manufacture Lugers in 9 mm for police use (the 29 DWMs).

06-20-2010, 11:20 PM	#1
Blind Hog User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: South Carolina & North Carolina, Cape Hatteras, Outer Banks--Live on a sandbar, 30 miles out in ocean. Posts: 37 Thanks: 5 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	DWM Alphabet Commercial, Police procurement A recent acquisition a quite nice Alphabet Commercial with Police sear safety and removed magazine safety. I have also posted this to Still's forum and thought perhaps members here would have an interest in it also. Crown N proofed, serial 4280 r, no grip strap markings, caliber 9 m/m. Wood bottom magazine numbered 7569, no suffix, 2. Barrel numbered 4280 with an eagle? over the serial number (see photo). Even with all the books I have about Lugers, I am still confused with postwar, Weimar, early Nazi, Police. For now I will pigeon hole it, as an Alphabet Commercial, Police procurement. Comments are welcomed and appreciated. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Francis Blind Hog aka: VIS35 "Even a Blind Hog sometimes finds an acorn"

06-22-2010, 05:00 PM	#2
Don M Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,429 Thanks: 67 Thanked 292 Times in 191 Posts	Hi Francis, Excellent photos of a very nice example of an Alphabet Commercial DWM procured by the police and rebarrelled in 9mm. Here is what I have gleaned over the last several years about Lugers procured for the Weimar-era police: DWM began producing dated military-specification 9-mm Lugers for both the military and police use in 1920. However, in 1921, the German government (undoubtedly under pressure from the IMKK) defined all pistols and revolvers with barrels longer than 9.8 cm (about 3-7/8 in.) or in calibers larger than 8 mm as war materials (Kriegsgeräte), along with submachine guns, etc., etc. Restrictions were placed on the manufacture, import, export and ownership of war materials. As a result, DWM was forced to stop producing 9-mm Lugers in 1921. They were able to continue to produce commercial Lugers in 7.65-mm and with 9.8-cm barrels (Alphabet Commercials). During the period 1922 to about 1928, there were a number of police procurements of Lugers from DWM. These probably came from the factory in 7.65-mm. In most cases, they probably were immediately rebarrelled in 9 mm either by Simson or police armories. Note that there was no restriction on police ownership of Lugers that were classified as "war material." Your Luger has a small eagle stamp on the bottom of the barrel that is typical of many of these replacement barrels. I have no proof, but the evidence suggests that by 1929, DWM began again to manufacture Lugers in 9 mm for police use (the 29 DWMs). __________________ Regards, Don donmaus1@aol.com Author of History Writ in Steel: German Police Markings 1900-1936 http://www.historywritinsteel.com