1918 Military Request for Info

Motown · 03-28-2013, 04:18 PM

Hello! Back after a LONG hiatus... just had a friend show me a Luger that his grandfather brought back from WWII - it's a 1918 DWM military, no 'double date' - the only mark that doesn't match a 'standard' 1918 WW I Army weapon is a small waffenampt on the barrel, no numerals or defining marks w/the eagle and swastika...looking for any info to pass to him about the gun...serial # is low one, '724' w/no scriptic letter, so I assume it's a low serial # for 1918 (assuming the numbering was the same on the old DWMs as was on the later Mausers)

Appreciate any input or info!

Motown · 04-06-2013, 09:40 AM

Hopefully the pics will help- first time trying to attach photos. A few more notes; 1. upon further investigation, the pistol has a DWM rework stamp on the barrel, which I assume means it was reworked during WW1? 2. Gun was supposedly brought home by a WW2 vet - but I noticed that it isn't all matching - the barrel shows a small waffenamt but has a matching serial # to the pistol that seems to be original and not added. The toggle pin isn't matching, but that is only part I've found w/a non matching #. Would that have been the reason for rework, and if so, why was the serial # not changed to match?

SteveM · 04-06-2013, 10:02 AM

Can't tell for sure but above the chamber it looks like there is a notch cut out. This would indicate that this Luger was a LP08(Artillery Luger) at one time and that would be the reason for re-work. They were reworked post war and re-routed to various organizations.

Lugerdoc · 04-06-2013, 11:04 AM

Sorry but can't make out the barrel marking due to glare. Your 1918 receiver only has one Imperial inspection marking, rather than the usual three. This tells me that although made in 1918, it was not assembled as a complete pistol during WW1, rather was kept as a spare part, perhaps by one of the repair depots, and assembled by them post 1933 (judging from the test fire proofing) either as a replacement part or as a whole gun. I'd have to see all the other parts & markings to say which. TH

Edward Tinker · 04-06-2013, 11:19 AM

I think i have a 724 upstairs too

Motown · 04-06-2013, 11:51 AM

Barrel marks are a crown w/RC (the Erfurt or DWM rework mark that is to the left in the picture) and a crown w/a very ornate B under it. The waffenampt is the the firing proof from post 1933? I can get another picture of the top of the barrel to confirm or deny the rework from an artillery to a short barrel. Now that I look at the pic, the barrel is a bit of a different color blue from the rest of the pistol - that lends credence to the barrel change mod after the war theory.

03-28-2013, 04:18 PM	#1
Motown User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Double Oak, TX Posts: 47 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	1918 Military Request for Info Hello! Back after a LONG hiatus... just had a friend show me a Luger that his grandfather brought back from WWII - it's a 1918 DWM military, no 'double date' - the only mark that doesn't match a 'standard' 1918 WW I Army weapon is a small waffenampt on the barrel, no numerals or defining marks w/the eagle and swastika...looking for any info to pass to him about the gun...serial # is low one, '724' w/no scriptic letter, so I assume it's a low serial # for 1918 (assuming the numbering was the same on the old DWMs as was on the later Mausers) Appreciate any input or info! __________________ "Avoid excessive sharpness or harshness of voice, which usually indicates the man who has shortcomings of his own to hide." --Field Marshall Erwin Rommel

04-06-2013, 09:40 AM	#2
Motown User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Double Oak, TX Posts: 47 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hopefully the pics will help- first time trying to attach photos. A few more notes; 1. upon further investigation, the pistol has a DWM rework stamp on the barrel, which I assume means it was reworked during WW1? 2. Gun was supposedly brought home by a WW2 vet - but I noticed that it isn't all matching - the barrel shows a small waffenamt but has a matching serial # to the pistol that seems to be original and not added. The toggle pin isn't matching, but that is only part I've found w/a non matching #. Would that have been the reason for rework, and if so, why was the serial # not changed to match? Attached Thumbnails __________________ "Avoid excessive sharpness or harshness of voice, which usually indicates the man who has shortcomings of his own to hide." --Field Marshall Erwin Rommel

04-06-2013, 11:04 AM	#4
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	Sorry but can't make out the barrel marking due to glare. Your 1918 receiver only has one Imperial inspection marking, rather than the usual three. This tells me that although made in 1918, it was not assembled as a complete pistol during WW1, rather was kept as a spare part, perhaps by one of the repair depots, and assembled by them post 1933 (judging from the test fire proofing) either as a replacement part or as a whole gun. I'd have to see all the other parts & markings to say which. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 lugerdoc@charter.net

04-06-2013, 11:19 AM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,916 Thanks: 1,992 Thanked 4,507 Times in 2,081 Posts	I think i have a 724 upstairs too __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

04-06-2013, 11:51 AM	#6
Motown User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Double Oak, TX Posts: 47 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Barrel marks are a crown w/RC (the Erfurt or DWM rework mark that is to the left in the picture) and a crown w/a very ornate B under it. The waffenampt is the the firing proof from post 1933? I can get another picture of the top of the barrel to confirm or deny the rework from an artillery to a short barrel. Now that I look at the pic, the barrel is a bit of a different color blue from the rest of the pistol - that lends credence to the barrel change mod after the war theory. __________________ "Avoid excessive sharpness or harshness of voice, which usually indicates the man who has shortcomings of his own to hide." --Field Marshall Erwin Rommel

04-06-2013, 10:02 AM	#3
SteveM User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 1,016 Thanks: 94 Thanked 275 Times in 137 Posts	Can't tell for sure but above the chamber it looks like there is a notch cut out. This would indicate that this Luger was a LP08(Artillery Luger) at one time and that would be the reason for re-work. They were reworked post war and re-routed to various organizations.