Luger P08 - identication? help

rocafella1978 · 12-14-2014, 09:57 AM

dear all, would appreciate if someone could help me identify the Luger I received as a gift from my father in law this week for XMAS.

I have noticed that the magazine serial and details don't match the guns details/ serials.

Bill_in_VA · 12-14-2014, 10:17 AM

I'm certainly no expert, but your pistol appears to be a .30 Commercial, or "alphabet" Luger. The magazine should be unnumbered

Edward Tinker · 12-14-2014, 10:17 AM

welcome

I assume its in 7.65mm? and not 9mm?

no date on the chamber - likely a mid 1920's what we call an alphabet luger made for army and police - unless it has 'germany' stamped on it, then an export to the USA

mag number being different from gun is very common

Ed

mrerick · 12-14-2014, 10:33 AM

You most likely have a DWM Alphabet Commercial Luger, made in 1923 or 1924. Looks to be in good original condition. The magazines that came with these Lugers were wood bottom, and normally not numbered.

It should be in 7.56 (.30 caliber) Luger. A no. 2 pencil should either not fit down the barrel, or just barely make it in.

If numbered, your magazine is likely from an earlier period.

Looks like someone cleaned it rather aggressively, removing the paint normally found in the safety marking on the frame ear.

The crown/N proof marks are commercial marks.

It may have a "Made in Germany" or "GERMANY" marking, applied when it was imported.

rocafella1978 · 12-14-2014, 01:41 PM

wanted to thank everyone for your feedback, info and help! so kind of you all.
I posted some more pictures, since I don't know much about the Luger's history, markings and other details.

Ron Wood · 12-14-2014, 02:31 PM

Your magazine is the "spare" magazine (as indicated by the "+" mark) for a WWI Erfurt Luger. It appears to be in nice condition, although in the one photo it looks like there may be a chip out of the top of one of the "knobs". The chip is repairable if one wanted to do so, and even without the repair the magazine has value.

Sergio Natali · 12-14-2014, 02:36 PM

Welcome to this site made by LUGER enthusiasts.

First of all, lucky you, you got a lovely Christmas present I would say!

It's a 7,65 Parabellum made around 1920's so short after Versailes Treaty that as a consequence of the WWI forbid Germany to build handguns with caliber bigger than 8mm and barrels longer than 10 cm.
Although not that rare, these LUGERS like yours were mainly made for the foreign commercial market.
Those should be the last LUGERS made by DWM (that in 1922 became BKIW and with warehouse remnants assembled "Swiss Comercial" Lugers 1920/1923 with the Swiss "sun in burst" marking and 12-15 cm long barrels.)

Sergio

rocafella1978 · 12-15-2014, 12:40 PM

hi all, thank you so much for all your replies and in sharing your knowledge and what you see on my Luger. really appreciate it. I am still trying to find out what year exactly and etc, but learning more every day as I continue my research and learn from all of you! thank you all again!

wdavid431 · 12-15-2014, 02:52 PM

Regardless of the talk and hype, it is still a Luger.
Beautiful pistol.

rhuff · 12-15-2014, 04:07 PM

That was a wonderful Christmas present, and one that any Luger enthusiast would be proud to own. As has been stated above, it is a Commercial and not Military Luger, yet is still a "real" Luger and looks to be a nice one. Enjoy!!

toadranch1 · 12-17-2014, 05:32 PM

I have Lugers, but none of them has the original "straw" color that yours has, on the trigger, takedown latch, etc. So nice to see one with no bluing on those parts!

Lucky, lucky guy to have a FIL like that!

12-14-2014, 09:57 AM	#1
rocafella1978 New User Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Luger P08 - identication? help dear all, would appreciate if someone could help me identify the Luger I received as a gift from my father in law this week for XMAS. I have noticed that the magazine serial and details don't match the guns details/ serials. Attached Thumbnails

12-14-2014, 10:17 AM	#2
Bill_in_VA User Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Southwest Virginia Posts: 343 Thanks: 731 Thanked 470 Times in 178 Posts	I'm certainly no expert, but your pistol appears to be a .30 Commercial, or "alphabet" Luger. The magazine should be unnumbered __________________ John 8:32 reive (riːv) vb (Military) (intr) dialect Scot and Northern English to go on a plundering raid [variant of reave] ˈreiver n e.g., " Some view the Border Reivers as loveable rogues."

12-14-2014, 10:17 AM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,909 Thanks: 1,986 Thanked 4,500 Times in 2,076 Posts	welcome I assume its in 7.65mm? and not 9mm? no date on the chamber - likely a mid 1920's what we call an alphabet luger made for army and police - unless it has 'germany' stamped on it, then an export to the USA mag number being different from gun is very common Ed __________________ 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

12-14-2014, 10:33 AM	#4
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,900 Thanks: 1,370 Thanked 3,094 Times in 1,503 Posts	You most likely have a DWM Alphabet Commercial Luger, made in 1923 or 1924. Looks to be in good original condition. The magazines that came with these Lugers were wood bottom, and normally not numbered. It should be in 7.56 (.30 caliber) Luger. A no. 2 pencil should either not fit down the barrel, or just barely make it in. If numbered, your magazine is likely from an earlier period. Looks like someone cleaned it rather aggressively, removing the paint normally found in the safety marking on the frame ear. The crown/N proof marks are commercial marks. It may have a "Made in Germany" or "GERMANY" marking, applied when it was imported. __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

12-14-2014, 01:41 PM	#5
rocafella1978 New User Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	wanted to thank everyone for your feedback, info and help! so kind of you all. I posted some more pictures, since I don't know much about the Luger's history, markings and other details. Attached Thumbnails

12-14-2014, 02:31 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: 6,986 Thanks: 1,065 Thanked 5,088 Times in 1,674 Posts	Your magazine is the "spare" magazine (as indicated by the "+" mark) for a WWI Erfurt Luger. It appears to be in nice condition, although in the one photo it looks like there may be a chip out of the top of one of the "knobs". The chip is repairable if one wanted to do so, and even without the repair the magazine has value. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

12-14-2014, 02:36 PM	#7
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	Welcome to this site made by LUGER enthusiasts. First of all, lucky you, you got a lovely Christmas present I would say! It's a 7,65 Parabellum made around 1920's so short after Versailes Treaty that as a consequence of the WWI forbid Germany to build handguns with caliber bigger than 8mm and barrels longer than 10 cm. Although not that rare, these LUGERS like yours were mainly made for the foreign commercial market. Those should be the last LUGERS made by DWM (that in 1922 became BKIW and with warehouse remnants assembled "Swiss Comercial" Lugers 1920/1923 with the Swiss "sun in burst" marking and 12-15 cm long barrels.) Sergio __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

12-15-2014, 12:40 PM	#8
rocafella1978 New User Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	hi all, thank you so much for all your replies and in sharing your knowledge and what you see on my Luger. really appreciate it. I am still trying to find out what year exactly and etc, but learning more every day as I continue my research and learn from all of you! thank you all again!

12-15-2014, 02:52 PM	#9
wdavid431 User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Arkansas Posts: 135 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Regardless of the talk and hype, it is still a Luger. Beautiful pistol. __________________ W David

12-15-2014, 04:07 PM	#10
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,270 Thanks: 2,686 Thanked 958 Times in 704 Posts	That was a wonderful Christmas present, and one that any Luger enthusiast would be proud to own. As has been stated above, it is a Commercial and not Military Luger, yet is still a "real" Luger and looks to be a nice one. Enjoy!!

12-17-2014, 05:32 PM	#11
toadranch1 New User Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: rural SC Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I have Lugers, but none of them has the original "straw" color that yours has, on the trigger, takedown latch, etc. So nice to see one with no bluing on those parts! Lucky, lucky guy to have a FIL like that!