Quick question on a stamp...

Olle · 03-09-2015, 07:06 PM

A buddy of mine has this .30 cal. DWM for sale, looked it over right quick and it seems to be matching and in very good condition. The only thing that detracts a bit is that the bluing around the muzzle is gone, which I assume is from cleaning. It looks kinda shiny in the pictures, but this is from oil and I believe the finish is all original. It's nice and clean, good grips, nice mag, well preserved straw finish etc. and appears to have been well taken care of.

There is a stamp saying "Germany" on the right side of the barrel extension, so my question is if this is the type of stamp they put on commercial Lugers back in the day, or if it's a later addition.

He's asking an even $1,000 for it. Should I bite?

(Yeah, I know the picture sucks, but that's all I have right now)

MFC · 03-09-2015, 07:37 PM

The 'Germany' stamp is an export stamp indicating the country of origin. It is correct for this model and was applied to comply with US import laws.
The muzzle is properly 'in the white'.

You can sometimes find these for $850 -$950... $1000 is OK, especially if there are no issues.

sheepherder · 03-09-2015, 07:49 PM

That's actually one of the better quality import markings I've seen. Most look crooked and the depth is uneven.

Olle · 03-09-2015, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MFC

The 'Germany' stamp is an export stamp indicating the country of origin. It is correct for this model and was applied to comply with US import laws.
The muzzle is properly 'in the white'.

You can sometimes find these for $850 -$950... $1000 is OK, especially if there are no issues.

Thanks, that's exactly what I needed to know!

I'll look it over one last time before I decide, but it sounds like I have some trading coming up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepherder

That's actually one of the better quality import markings I've seen. Most look crooked and the depth is uneven.

I have similar stamps on a couple of my pocket Mausers, and they look like they were applied by a drunk. This one ain't bad, but I wish they could have used a bit more finesse. It just looks out of place, kinda like an Interarms stamp.

wlyon · 03-09-2015, 08:20 PM

Without the Germany it would not be what it is. Bill

mrerick · 03-09-2015, 08:30 PM

At that price, make sure that the finish is original. There should be halos around the barrel stamping of the serial number...

Marc

Olle · 03-09-2015, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrerick

At that price, make sure that the finish is original. There should be halos around the barrel stamping of the serial number...

Marc

Great tip, I will do that tomorrow.

The finish is very nicely polished and has just about zero high edge wear, and that made me suspicious when I first saw it. It's actually so nice that the oil on it made it look like a hot blue. Still, I guess this is what to expect from a commercial gun of that vintage, isn't it?

In any case, the inside is in the white and with a nice, yellowish brown patina in places, so it's definitely not hot blued. All edges are nice and crisp, all parts in the toggle train line up nicely without anything being rounded over etc. so there's nothing that indicates that it has been buffed and blued. It just has that "authentic old original" look to it, so if it's a reblue it must be a hell of a nice rust blue job done a long time ago.

But you can never be too sure so I'll definitely check it closer, especially as the price is right at high retail.

lugerholsterrepair · 03-09-2015, 10:24 PM

Take a look at the bore. It should look pretty good on this gun.

rhuff · 03-10-2015, 02:37 PM

From what I can see in the photos and your description, the asking price seems pretty close to correct. There just aren't a lot of really nice ones coming up for sale.....at least in my area of the Country. If everything checks out as hoped for, I, personally, would "pull the trigger' and own it.

Olle · 03-11-2015, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhuff

From what I can see in the photos and your description, the asking price seems pretty close to correct. There just aren't a lot of really nice ones coming up for sale.....at least in my area of the Country. If everything checks out as hoped for, I, personally, would "pull the trigger' and own it.

Still haven't been able to look at it, but I might pull the trigger. Just don't want to jump the gun. Damn, I'm funny today...

03-09-2015, 07:06 PM	#1
Olle User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,149 Thanks: 159 Thanked 663 Times in 318 Posts	Quick question on a stamp... A buddy of mine has this .30 cal. DWM for sale, looked it over right quick and it seems to be matching and in very good condition. The only thing that detracts a bit is that the bluing around the muzzle is gone, which I assume is from cleaning. It looks kinda shiny in the pictures, but this is from oil and I believe the finish is all original. It's nice and clean, good grips, nice mag, well preserved straw finish etc. and appears to have been well taken care of. There is a stamp saying "Germany" on the right side of the barrel extension, so my question is if this is the type of stamp they put on commercial Lugers back in the day, or if it's a later addition. He's asking an even $1,000 for it. Should I bite? (Yeah, I know the picture sucks, but that's all I have right now) Attached Thumbnails

03-09-2015, 07:37 PM	#2
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	The 'Germany' stamp is an export stamp indicating the country of origin. It is correct for this model and was applied to comply with US import laws. The muzzle is properly 'in the white'. You can sometimes find these for $850 -$950... $1000 is OK, especially if there are no issues. __________________ Mike C.

03-09-2015, 07:49 PM	#3
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,182 Thanks: 1,398 Thanked 4,440 Times in 2,328 Posts	That's actually one of the better quality import markings I've seen. Most look crooked and the depth is uneven. __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

03-09-2015, 08:20 PM	#5
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,619 Thanks: 3,145 Thanked 2,531 Times in 943 Posts	Without the Germany it would not be what it is. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

03-09-2015, 08:30 PM	#6
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,901 Thanks: 1,372 Thanked 3,094 Times in 1,503 Posts	At that price, make sure that the finish is original. There should be halos around the barrel stamping of the serial number... Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

03-09-2015, 10:24 PM	#8
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,763 Thanks: 4,868 Thanked 3,105 Times in 1,429 Posts	Take a look at the bore. It should look pretty good on this gun. __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

03-10-2015, 02:37 PM	#9
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,274 Thanks: 2,695 Thanked 961 Times in 707 Posts	From what I can see in the photos and your description, the asking price seems pretty close to correct. There just aren't a lot of really nice ones coming up for sale.....at least in my area of the Country. If everything checks out as hoped for, I, personally, would "pull the trigger' and own it.