No year stamped on Luger

kmcd · 01-27-2014, 09:54 PM

I just found this forum and have been tyring to learn more about my Luger. I found the pinned thread about identifying, with pictures, very informative and have learned a lot about Lugers in general from that and many members' posts. However, I haven't found how to determine the year it was made if no year is stamped on it. The serial # is 6571 with a script letter that I believe is a "t". There is also no country of origin on it.

Thank you for your help!

mrerick · 01-27-2014, 10:05 PM

Hi, Kerry, and welcome to the forum.

Is your luger in 7.65mm (.30 Luger) or 9mm caliber?

Many commercial Lugers (particularly the DWM Alphabet Lugers) don't have a date on the chamber.

Was it made by DWM? That would appear in script letters on the forward toggle.

Photos help quite a bit with identification request...

Marc

Edward Tinker · 01-27-2014, 10:07 PM

welcome to the forum

pictures would be good

kmcd · 01-27-2014, 10:16 PM

Thanks! It is a DVM Luger. How can I tell what the caliber is? And, what is an Alphabet Luger?

kmcd · 01-27-2014, 10:19 PM

By the way, it was brought to the US from Germany during WWII by my granddad who was stationed there. My mom says there is a form or certificate that he had to have to bring it back..if I can find that it might help. (We have boxes of his things around so that might take awhile!)

mrerick · 01-27-2014, 10:42 PM

If a No. 2 pencil will easily fit down the muzzle into the barrel, it's probably 9mm.

Marc

kmcd · 01-27-2014, 10:45 PM

Yes the pencil fit right in!

mrerick · 01-28-2014, 09:51 AM

This may be an early Luger, a commercial or something for the police. At this point, pictures are needed...

Marc

kmcd · 01-30-2014, 05:47 PM

I had to order a charger for my camera so I can get some pics uploaded

In the meantime, what is an "Alphabet" Luger?

mrerick · 01-30-2014, 08:24 PM

During the Weimar era, DWM manufactured commercial Lugers, many of which were exported from Germany; and many of which ended up in the USA.

These didn't have a date over the chamber, were numbered in a commercial style, and all had a serial number formed by numeric digits and a single letter alphabet suffix letter. These are often referred to as DWM Alphabet commercial Lugers.

They were mainly made in the 1920s. IIRC your "t" suffix letter is generally thought to be beyond the last of those in this variation's series. By 1929, they made it into the "s" suffix, and by 1930 the line was being moved from Berlin to Mauser in Oberndorf.

Marc

kmcd · 01-30-2014, 08:34 PM

Thanks, mrerick!

Are there instructions on the forum (or elsewhere) on taking apart and reassembling a Luger? Is it advised to do so? Is it helpful to have photos of the individual components for identification and evaluation?

Sergio Natali · 01-31-2014, 10:49 AM

First of all welcome to this Forum of Luger aficionados.
As others have already told you pictures are essential for any judgment.
Would be advisable to learn more about this great gun, and apart several books on this topic, I'm certain that this forum will help you a lot.

ithacaartist · 01-31-2014, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmcd

Thanks, mrerick!

Are there instructions on the forum (or elsewhere) on taking apart and reassembling a Luger? Is it advised to do so? Is it helpful to have photos of the individual components for identification and evaluation?

Yes, check for YouTube links in the technical section, IIRC, or do a search on YouTube itself. Thorough demonstrations of field stripping and complete dis-assembly and re-aseembly are available.

Yes. It's always nice to see a shot of at least the 2-digit serial number on each component usually so marked.

01-27-2014, 09:54 PM	#1
kmcd User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	No year stamped on Luger I just found this forum and have been tyring to learn more about my Luger. I found the pinned thread about identifying, with pictures, very informative and have learned a lot about Lugers in general from that and many members' posts. However, I haven't found how to determine the year it was made if no year is stamped on it. The serial # is 6571 with a script letter that I believe is a "t". There is also no country of origin on it. Thank you for your help!

01-27-2014, 10:05 PM	#2
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	Hi, Kerry, and welcome to the forum. Is your luger in 7.65mm (.30 Luger) or 9mm caliber? Many commercial Lugers (particularly the DWM Alphabet Lugers) don't have a date on the chamber. Was it made by DWM? That would appear in script letters on the forward toggle. Photos help quite a bit with identification request... Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

01-27-2014, 10:07 PM	#3
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	welcome to the forum pictures would be good __________________ 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

01-27-2014, 10:42 PM	#6
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	If a No. 2 pencil will easily fit down the muzzle into the barrel, it's probably 9mm. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

01-28-2014, 09:51 AM	#8
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	This may be an early Luger, a commercial or something for the police. At this point, pictures are needed... Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

01-27-2014, 10:16 PM	#4
kmcd User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks! It is a DVM Luger. How can I tell what the caliber is? And, what is an Alphabet Luger?

01-27-2014, 10:19 PM	#5
kmcd User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	By the way, it was brought to the US from Germany during WWII by my granddad who was stationed there. My mom says there is a form or certificate that he had to have to bring it back..if I can find that it might help. (We have boxes of his things around so that might take awhile!)

01-27-2014, 10:45 PM	#7
kmcd User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Yes the pencil fit right in!

01-30-2014, 05:47 PM	#9
kmcd User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I had to order a charger for my camera so I can get some pics uploaded In the meantime, what is an "Alphabet" Luger?

01-30-2014, 08:24 PM	#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	During the Weimar era, DWM manufactured commercial Lugers, many of which were exported from Germany; and many of which ended up in the USA. These didn't have a date over the chamber, were numbered in a commercial style, and all had a serial number formed by numeric digits and a single letter alphabet suffix letter. These are often referred to as DWM Alphabet commercial Lugers. They were mainly made in the 1920s. IIRC your "t" suffix letter is generally thought to be beyond the last of those in this variation's series. By 1929, they made it into the "s" suffix, and by 1930 the line was being moved from Berlin to Mauser in Oberndorf. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

01-30-2014, 08:34 PM	#11
kmcd User Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks, mrerick! Are there instructions on the forum (or elsewhere) on taking apart and reassembling a Luger? Is it advised to do so? Is it helpful to have photos of the individual components for identification and evaluation?

01-31-2014, 10:49 AM	#12
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,082 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	First of all welcome to this Forum of Luger aficionados. As others have already told you pictures are essential for any judgment. Would be advisable to learn more about this great gun, and apart several books on this topic, I'm certain that this forum will help you a lot. __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.