Help to identify 1918 DWM .22LR Factory??

[shootershack]

So I've had this for a few years sitting in the corner thinking I would get a "round tuit" one of these days so I dragged it out for some pictures and to get some help. I remember doing some Google work and finding some reference to something similar back then but for the life of me I can't find anything now (incompetent Googleing on my part no doubt). Anyway here is what I have and would appreciate any help or information that anyone could provide.

Hopefully the pictures will do the job of a description but it appears to be an all matching 1918 DWM Luger except for the grips. The barrel is 6". All numbers that I can see match including the barrel which I know is hard to see the number in the picture. The barrel has been sleeved to .22. I'm wondering if maybe the color difference at the muzzle is due to the sleeve being soldered in place? The frame appears to have been cut so that when the toggle reciprocates to the rear the frame actually splits in that area. I've pictured it open and shut. The magazine has a matching number and has a .22LR insert. It seems like my old research made reference to some kind of rare factory 22 conversion but I really don't remember for sure.

If you have any information it would be a big help. I'll want to put it up for sale eventually so history, value, etc would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Alan

[shootershack]

More pics

[Ron Wood]

Wow, that is a gunsmith masterpiece IMO. I believe it saw some time as a Weimar era police conversion but making it into a .22 I think is much more modern. Although numbered to the gun, the barrel is custom made along with the other modifications. I seem to recall seeing a split receiver .22 cal action a number of years ago but unfortunately I do not have any photos or information. It looks like a variation of the old "Carbine Williams" floating chamber modification for the 1911 Colt .22 cal. conversion...a means of reducing the inertial forces required to cycle the action. Photos of the disassembled gun would be most appreciated. I would love to see how the mainspring conversion was accomplished.
Congratulations on a very neat and unique piece.
Ron

[Dwight Gruber]

The .22 cal. magazine conversion is amazing all on its own.

--Dwight

[Edward Tinker]

Does it shoot?

Very cool, would love to own it. I have a six inch barrel that has been sleeved too, curious how the toggle works on it?

[lfid]

I think this is a custom conversion by a Canadian ? gunsmith post WW2 1960s ? and the split upper asy is a sort of floating chamber to allow the rear section to reciprocate kind of like a 22 ace colt 1911 type pistol.

someone recently offered a front barrel + front section of slide on an auction site but it was a 4" bbl and had the same step down barrel which locates the 22 cartridge edge so it gets rim struck by the standard luger firing pin

I have somewhere in storage what is supposed to be the original blueprints and some original pictures etc from the gunsmith whose relative sold the package on ebay about 10 yrs ago

I think one of the older luger books has a picture and some disasy pictures of a sample - perhaps the Reese book

perhaps value of $1500 to someone who likes the design - I think the appearance limited the appeal and sales of this conversion

somewhere I think there was a magazine article that included that the pistol did function reasonably well

please add some disasy pictures of the upper asy and also the frame spring area with grips removed as the actual mods made to the breechblock and mainspring would be interesting

the donor luger was likely a parts quality gun and a shooter quality gun of the time

thanks
Bill

[shootershack]

I'll try to do some disassembly when I have time. I did shoot it a few times and it fed and cycled just fine. It's an interesting piece to say the least.

Alan

[rolandtg]

You see the neatest stuff here!

I'd love to see a video of it firing!