Luger identification

mss542 · 10-28-2021, 07:04 PM

Hello everyone. I'm new to the group and would like to find a little more information on a P08 that my father-in-law gave to me. He acquired it from his uncle that was a WWI veteran. His story is that his uncle traded a 1911 for this Luger but he does not know if it was in Europe or the US. Any help with this weapon would be much appreciated. And before anyone asks, I'm not sure how the locking bolt was broken. Thank you again for any help you can give. If any other photos are needed please contact me.

Mac Cat · 10-28-2021, 08:08 PM

I would guess the locking toggle was mangled by someone unfamiliar with Lugers, who didn't know to pull the top back or press the barrel down on a table top. So, they resorted to using tools - screwdrivers or pliers to try to twist the bolt around.

Do you have a photo of the barrel underside ?
I'm having trouble making out the full serial number (5169 ?) and if it has a suffix

Doubs · 10-28-2021, 08:19 PM

Welcome to the forum.

It appears that you have an alphabet commercial Luger made between 1921 and 1929 by DWM and it's likely in .30 caliber (7.65mm). There is a letter below the four digit number that is part of the serial number but I can't make it out. The letter will give a clue as to the year it was made.

When commercial production serial numbers reached 92000, they went to a four digit serial number and a letter. It is commonly thought that the first alphabet commercial Luger was serial number 2000 i. That may or may not be correct. Once production reached 10000 i, they went to 1 k ~ 10000 k then 1 l etc. The alphabet commercials are the most common Lugers encountered. I wouldn't shoot yours until the locking bolt has been replaced. They are well made and great shooters so get it repaired and enjoy it.

mss542 · 10-28-2021, 08:28 PM

Thanks for the quick replies. The only serial # is 5169 with 69 on the back.

Doubs · 10-28-2021, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mss542

Thanks for the quick replies. The only serial # is 5169 with 69 on the back.

I clearly see what appears to be a letter under the numbers on the barrel and frame.

Mac Cat · 10-28-2021, 09:41 PM

I agree with Doubs, it's a Alphabet Commercial Luger.
The suffix letter will help to date it.
Here are some examples.

My best guess is "k"

mss542 · 10-29-2021, 12:07 AM

Ah, see what your talking about.

Edward Tinker · 10-29-2021, 01:00 AM

I have owned at least three lugers with the broken take down lever, each likely a screw driver. I was almost guilty of this when I first started, What the @#%^ before someone here told me what to do.

Had one fixed by my friend policelugers (aka Howard Collins) - it was a matching police pistol. The other 1 or 2 I either sold them as is or put in a replacement.

mss542 · 10-29-2021, 10:10 AM

I checked out the letter last night and it appears to be an "a". Im going to try to get a replacement take down bolt to get it back to original as possible. Thanks for all your help.

mrerick · 10-29-2021, 11:15 AM

Welcome to the forum.

Your Luger is most likely sn 5169k which would be from around 1923.

It's a DWM Alphabet commercial Luger that was exported from Germany and imported into the United States. This was done in great numbers. You'll notice the "Made in Germany" stamp on the right side which confirms this, as this was only done on pistols exported to the US by DWM.

Doubs · 10-29-2021, 12:56 PM

If I were to guess - and that's what it would be - I'd agree with mreick that the suffix letter is a k and I'd also agree that the likely date of manufacture is 1923.

jeb111 · 10-29-2021, 09:22 PM

I have an Alphabet from the same block, 4375k, in 7.65. Sans Made in Germany. mss542 it is a fun shooter so get yours fixed and take it out. Have fun!
Jim

ithacaartist · 10-30-2021, 05:54 PM

Commercial serialization style was to hide some of the numbers. Once you get it field stripped, look for more 2-digit numbers on the bottom of the side plate, trigger, front toggle link, breech block, firing pin, and sear bar.

mss542 · 11-04-2021, 03:05 PM

Thanks everyone for the info.

cirelaw · 11-05-2021, 10:26 AM

The side plate looks rough!

ithacaartist · 11-06-2021, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cirelaw

The side plate looks rough!

Indeed.

Though the top and right side fared fairly well, enlarging the pics shows tiny pitting virtually everywhere else on this gun. The side plate seems to have collected some of the biggest ones. My money's on somebody's attempt to clean them up with something waaay too abrasive. Such an unfortunate approach is in line with the same quality of care that the takedown lever has suffered.

Leave it as-is, or purdy it up, but at least give it a good cleaning and lubrication to make sure there's no active rust whatever the case.

10-28-2021, 07:04 PM	#1
mss542 User Join Date: Oct 2021 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Luger identification Hello everyone. I'm new to the group and would like to find a little more information on a P08 that my father-in-law gave to me. He acquired it from his uncle that was a WWI veteran. His story is that his uncle traded a 1911 for this Luger but he does not know if it was in Europe or the US. Any help with this weapon would be much appreciated. And before anyone asks, I'm not sure how the locking bolt was broken. Thank you again for any help you can give. If any other photos are needed please contact me. Attached Thumbnails

10-28-2021, 09:41 PM	#6
Mac Cat Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 730 Thanks: 2,093 Thanked 609 Times in 329 Posts	I agree with Doubs, it's a Alphabet Commercial Luger. The suffix letter will help to date it. Here are some examples. My best guess is "k" Attached Thumbnails Attached Images

10-29-2021, 11:15 AM	#10
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,909 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,110 Times in 1,510 Posts	Welcome to the forum. Your Luger is most likely sn 5169k which would be from around 1923. It's a DWM Alphabet commercial Luger that was exported from Germany and imported into the United States. This was done in great numbers. You'll notice the "Made in Germany" stamp on the right side which confirms this, as this was only done on pistols exported to the US by DWM. __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

10-30-2021, 05:54 PM	#13
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,346 Thanks: 7,280 Thanked 2,578 Times in 1,365 Posts	Commercial serialization style was to hide some of the numbers. Once you get it field stripped, look for more 2-digit numbers on the bottom of the side plate, trigger, front toggle link, breech block, firing pin, and sear bar. __________________ "... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894

10-28-2021, 08:08 PM	#2
Mac Cat Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 730 Thanks: 2,093 Thanked 609 Times in 329 Posts	I would guess the locking toggle was mangled by someone unfamiliar with Lugers, who didn't know to pull the top back or press the barrel down on a table top. So, they resorted to using tools - screwdrivers or pliers to try to twist the bolt around. Do you have a photo of the barrel underside ? I'm having trouble making out the full serial number (5169 ?) and if it has a suffix

10-28-2021, 08:19 PM	#3
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,698 Thanks: 792 Thanked 1,686 Times in 554 Posts	Welcome to the forum. It appears that you have an alphabet commercial Luger made between 1921 and 1929 by DWM and it's likely in .30 caliber (7.65mm). There is a letter below the four digit number that is part of the serial number but I can't make it out. The letter will give a clue as to the year it was made. When commercial production serial numbers reached 92000, they went to a four digit serial number and a letter. It is commonly thought that the first alphabet commercial Luger was serial number 2000 i. That may or may not be correct. Once production reached 10000 i, they went to 1 k ~ 10000 k then 1 l etc. The alphabet commercials are the most common Lugers encountered. I wouldn't shoot yours until the locking bolt has been replaced. They are well made and great shooters so get it repaired and enjoy it.

10-28-2021, 08:28 PM	#4
mss542 User Join Date: Oct 2021 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thanks for the quick replies. The only serial # is 5169 with 69 on the back.

10-29-2021, 12:07 AM	#7
mss542 User Join Date: Oct 2021 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Ah, see what your talking about.

10-29-2021, 01:00 AM	#8
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,933 Thanks: 2,032 Thanked 4,530 Times in 2,092 Posts	I have owned at least three lugers with the broken take down lever, each likely a screw driver. I was almost guilty of this when I first started, What the @#%^ before someone here told me what to do. Had one fixed by my friend policelugers (aka Howard Collins) - it was a matching police pistol. The other 1 or 2 I either sold them as is or put in a replacement.

10-29-2021, 10:10 AM	#9
mss542 User Join Date: Oct 2021 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I checked out the letter last night and it appears to be an "a". Im going to try to get a replacement take down bolt to get it back to original as possible. Thanks for all your help.

10-29-2021, 12:56 PM	#11
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,698 Thanks: 792 Thanked 1,686 Times in 554 Posts	If I were to guess - and that's what it would be - I'd agree with mreick that the suffix letter is a k and I'd also agree that the likely date of manufacture is 1923.

10-29-2021, 09:22 PM	#12
jeb111 Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: May 2018 Location: wyoming Posts: 277 Thanks: 712 Thanked 331 Times in 133 Posts	I have an Alphabet from the same block, 4375k, in 7.65. Sans Made in Germany. mss542 it is a fun shooter so get yours fixed and take it out. Have fun! Jim

11-04-2021, 03:05 PM	#14
mss542 User Join Date: Oct 2021 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thanks everyone for the info.

11-05-2021, 10:26 AM	#15
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	The side plate looks rough!