1916 DWM Luger with unknown unit markings

5bassman · 01-07-2017, 07:03 PM

1916 DWM P08 Luger
I purchased this Luger 12/24/16 from my wife's uncle Dale. He would stop by a pawn shop on the way home from school several times during the week in Elberton, Ga. One day in 1955 he found this 1916 Luger and a long barreled Artilley Luger. He asked his dad to go with him to purchase it and he left with the Luger, 1917 dated holster, tool, and two magazines and $25 less in his account. He shot it a few times after that, and in 1970 he and his wife took a firearms course in Cobb County, Ga and used this Luger. The instructor told him it was the most accurate gun in the class. After that he stored it away in the holster, tool, and both magazines loaded, never to be shot again. Around 1996 he put it in his banks safety deposit box, again stored in the holster with the tool and two mags loaded with 8 rounds each. He emailed me about 3-4 weeks before Christmas saying he knew I collected guns and would I be interested in this one. I collect old S&W revolvers but have been wanting a nice Luger for awhile. I, of course, said I would be interested. He nor I knew much about them. He asked me to post some pics on some forums and see what the value was. I also sent him pages of completed auctions on Gunbrokers. Some forum members were able to help me with a ballpark figure and and I passed on their stated value and input to him. We meet on Christmas Eve at a family get together and after looking it over I made him an offer that I felt was fair, and an offer that he apparently felt was fair, as he was a little shocked. He said he was more than happy with the price and I was too. After my research I've found that it is a 1916 DWM Luger, with what appears to be the correct markings on the right side of receiver. Numbers are all matching (per chart showing which parts are marked), including grips (but not magazines), several of the numbers appear to have the correct "halos" that go along with an original finish, and all edges and lettering appear to be sharp. The serial number is 4691 M, and it has unit markings on the front grip frame as follows- 2.M.C or possibly G. R.158. I've pictured the tool and an up close pic of the markings but I can't tell what the marking is. The gun, holster (dated 1917) tool and magazines are all as they were since 1955. It's unknown if the tool or holster is original to the gun before that time. It appears one mag is WWI era, but the wood is broken on one side, and the other from WWII. Is this correct?
Are the holster and tool both correct for this gun?
Would this gun have been a unit from WWI or II?
Would it have been used during WWII?
Would a 1917 holster been issued with this gun?
If anyone could help with the year made (1916?) and what the unit markings mean that would be appreciated. My wife's uncle was very happy to hear that it would stay in the family and since it's all matching it will probably remain unfired since 1970. I'm shocked it's in the condition that it is in (90%+) since it's been stored in the holster at least since 1955 along the the tool. But the tool with now be stored in a small plastic baggie, and the holster also in a plastic baggie. Any help on these questions would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Jeff

5bassman · 01-07-2017, 07:05 PM

More pics

5bassman · 01-07-2017, 07:07 PM

And more.

George Anderson · 01-07-2017, 07:10 PM

Unit marking is 2nd Machine Gun Company, Infantry Regiment 158.

5bassman · 01-07-2017, 07:18 PM

Thank you for that George! WWI unit I presume?

Ron Wood · 01-07-2017, 07:24 PM

It is a unit marking from WWI but it could have been used in WWII (I have a 1908 that was captured at Bastogne). Nice Luger! The aluminum base magazine is from WWII.
Ron

mrerick · 01-08-2017, 09:54 AM

Looks nice. G.T. on this forum can repair your magazine. Don't store your luger in the holster.

Not an expert on tools, but that looks like an original imperial mark. Others with more experience may add more.

Holster is certainly appropriate for the pistol. They didn't obsess about those kind of things in wartime. Just a functional holster and pistol.

5bassman · 01-08-2017, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrerick

Looks nice. G.T. on this forum can repair your magazine. Don't store your luger in the holster.

Not an expert on tools, but that looks like an original imperial mark. Others with more experience may add more.

Holster is certainly appropriate for the pistol. They didn't obsess about those kind of things in wartime. Just a functional holster and pistol.

Thanks! Yea, it'll never be stored in the holster again. I've seen too many old S&W damaged from keeping them in the holster. I would like to contact GT about repairing the mag. How would I go about that?

mrerick · 01-08-2017, 01:58 PM

Use the forum's message system to reach Gerald.

His id on this system is "G.T."

Marc

rhuff · 01-09-2017, 03:49 PM

Many of us on this forum have had G.T. do work for us over time, and to my knowledge, none have been disappointed.

01-07-2017, 07:03 PM	#1
5bassman User Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 14 Thanks: 11 Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts	1916 DWM Luger with unknown unit markings 1916 DWM P08 Luger I purchased this Luger 12/24/16 from my wife's uncle Dale. He would stop by a pawn shop on the way home from school several times during the week in Elberton, Ga. One day in 1955 he found this 1916 Luger and a long barreled Artilley Luger. He asked his dad to go with him to purchase it and he left with the Luger, 1917 dated holster, tool, and two magazines and $25 less in his account. He shot it a few times after that, and in 1970 he and his wife took a firearms course in Cobb County, Ga and used this Luger. The instructor told him it was the most accurate gun in the class. After that he stored it away in the holster, tool, and both magazines loaded, never to be shot again. Around 1996 he put it in his banks safety deposit box, again stored in the holster with the tool and two mags loaded with 8 rounds each. He emailed me about 3-4 weeks before Christmas saying he knew I collected guns and would I be interested in this one. I collect old S&W revolvers but have been wanting a nice Luger for awhile. I, of course, said I would be interested. He nor I knew much about them. He asked me to post some pics on some forums and see what the value was. I also sent him pages of completed auctions on Gunbrokers. Some forum members were able to help me with a ballpark figure and and I passed on their stated value and input to him. We meet on Christmas Eve at a family get together and after looking it over I made him an offer that I felt was fair, and an offer that he apparently felt was fair, as he was a little shocked. He said he was more than happy with the price and I was too. After my research I've found that it is a 1916 DWM Luger, with what appears to be the correct markings on the right side of receiver. Numbers are all matching (per chart showing which parts are marked), including grips (but not magazines), several of the numbers appear to have the correct "halos" that go along with an original finish, and all edges and lettering appear to be sharp. The serial number is 4691 M, and it has unit markings on the front grip frame as follows- 2.M.C or possibly G. R.158. I've pictured the tool and an up close pic of the markings but I can't tell what the marking is. The gun, holster (dated 1917) tool and magazines are all as they were since 1955. It's unknown if the tool or holster is original to the gun before that time. It appears one mag is WWI era, but the wood is broken on one side, and the other from WWII. Is this correct? Are the holster and tool both correct for this gun? Would this gun have been a unit from WWI or II? Would it have been used during WWII? Would a 1917 holster been issued with this gun? If anyone could help with the year made (1916?) and what the unit markings mean that would be appreciated. My wife's uncle was very happy to hear that it would stay in the family and since it's all matching it will probably remain unfired since 1970. I'm shocked it's in the condition that it is in (90%+) since it's been stored in the holster at least since 1955 along the the tool. But the tool with now be stored in a small plastic baggie, and the holster also in a plastic baggie. Any help on these questions would be appreciated. Thanks! Jeff Attached Thumbnails

01-07-2017, 07:05 PM	#2
5bassman User Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 14 Thanks: 11 Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts	More pics Attached Thumbnails

01-07-2017, 07:07 PM	#3
5bassman User Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 14 Thanks: 11 Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts	And more. Attached Thumbnails

01-07-2017, 07:24 PM	#6
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: 6,994 Thanks: 1,070 Thanked 5,108 Times in 1,681 Posts	It is a unit marking from WWI but it could have been used in WWII (I have a 1908 that was captured at Bastogne). Nice Luger! The aluminum base magazine is from WWII. Ron __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

01-08-2017, 09:54 AM	#7
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,901 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,094 Times in 1,503 Posts	Looks nice. G.T. on this forum can repair your magazine. Don't store your luger in the holster. Not an expert on tools, but that looks like an original imperial mark. Others with more experience may add more. Holster is certainly appropriate for the pistol. They didn't obsess about those kind of things in wartime. Just a functional holster and pistol. __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

01-07-2017, 07:10 PM	#4
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,527 Times in 786 Posts	Unit marking is 2nd Machine Gun Company, Infantry Regiment 158.

01-07-2017, 07:18 PM	#5
5bassman User Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 14 Thanks: 11 Thanked 9 Times in 4 Posts	Thank you for that George! WWI unit I presume?

01-08-2017, 01:58 PM	#9
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,901 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,094 Times in 1,503 Posts	Use the forum's message system to reach Gerald. His id on this system is "G.T." Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

01-09-2017, 03:49 PM	#10
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,274 Thanks: 2,696 Thanked 961 Times in 707 Posts	Many of us on this forum have had G.T. do work for us over time, and to my knowledge, none have been disappointed.