Two Lugers - Thoughts on Which?

MW2152 · 01-23-2019, 11:57 AM

New to the forum and have found it a huge asset and wealth of knowledge. I have owned a couple Lugers in the past but it has been a couple decades. I would like to get another now.

I have two I have looked at locally and had in hand, both do interest me but I am having a somewhat difficult time deciding which may be the better one to try and pick up. I know that condition is a major factor, I get that. I know it is difficult to weigh in without pics, I am not looking for an idea on value, but rather an idea on which might be the more desirable one to add.

First one is a “double date” DWM, it is 1912 and 1920 dated, it is RR unit marked, all the numbers on the gun match and the magazine is period correct (from what I am told) but not numbered at all. I would estimate that the finish is probably 50 to 60% or so original bluing left, it has some obvious pitting on it, straw is poor, condition of the grips matches the rest of the gun in that they are original but also show a lot of use. A long-time friend has it and I trust him and what he says on it, so I am certain it is all original and I am not worried about it being messed with. It has just a lot of honest wear. Price is around $1300.

Second one is a DWM Commercial, 9mm, all the numbers match except the magazine, it is also unit marked. Straw is decent, probably 50%, bluing is original and I would say 75%, I was told that the seller thought it was a 1923 made gun, it has a four digit serial number with letter. Grips are decent and the wear on them matches the wear on the gun. It’s a nice looking gun. The price is somewhere around $1100 to $1200.

With that, what do you think?

wlyon · 01-23-2019, 12:13 PM

I think you can beat both by checking the forums . For the condition I feel both are overpriced. Bill

lugerholsterrepair · 01-23-2019, 12:20 PM

Second one is a DWM Commercial, 9mm, all the numbers match except the magazine, it is also unit marked.

What is the unit mark?

Edward Tinker · 01-23-2019, 12:23 PM

I would agree - the first one i like, but condition sounds pretty poor, that is shooter condition and price should be $700-$800

The second is not bad, except its a bit too high for 75%

MW2152 · 01-23-2019, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lugerholsterrepair

Second one is a DWM Commercial, 9mm, all the numbers match except the magazine, it is also unit marked.

What is the unit mark?

Unit mark is 104.R.7

Norme · 01-23-2019, 02:18 PM

Hi Mike,
Welcome to the forum! The second gun sounds interesting, can you post photos?
Regards, Norm

MW2152 · 01-23-2019, 04:00 PM

I will try and get it back in hand and see what I can get for pics. Might be a few days tho.

lugerholsterrepair · 01-23-2019, 04:30 PM

DWM Commercial, 9mm, unit marked. Sounds like an interesting pistol..

DonVoigt · 01-23-2019, 04:48 PM

The second description has several "features" not commonly found together, how about some pictures so we can see what you really are looking at?

George Anderson · 01-23-2019, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonVoigt

The second description has several "features" not commonly found together, how about some pictures so we can see what you really are looking at?

The second pistol sounds like a 1908 first military.

DonVoigt · 01-23-2019, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by George Anderson

The second pistol sounds like a 1908 first military.

Yes,
if the OP had left out the "1923" and the "commercial" - would have made sense.

But this is like that story of blind folks describing an elephant after touching just one "area".

MW2152 · 01-30-2019, 10:22 PM

So today I picked up this one.

MW2152 · 01-30-2019, 10:26 PM

Pics

MW2152 · 01-30-2019, 10:28 PM

Additional

MW2152 · 01-30-2019, 10:30 PM

A few more

MW2152 · 01-30-2019, 10:32 PM

Last pics

MW2152 · 01-30-2019, 10:36 PM

Mr. Anderson, thanks for your post on it possibly being a 1908 First Military. I believe you were right.

I had sort of thought I would pass on it initially, but your post was the info I needed to figure out what it actually was. A 1908 first military is, to me, too interesting to not grab, so I bought it.

Some net searching and reviewing my growing Luger reference library, verified for me that was indeed what it was.

MW2152 · 01-30-2019, 10:39 PM

The initial info that it was a 1923 Commercial was what the dealer had, as told to him by a local “expert”. Sorry for the red herring!

Norme · 01-30-2019, 10:39 PM

Hi Mike,
You're a lucky fellow, you have a DWM 1st Issue made in 1909. This was the first year that the German Army was issued Lugers. All subsequent years, 1910 onward, had dated chambers. Yours is a very collectible gun.
Norm

MW2152 · 01-30-2019, 10:40 PM

Also, it does have a hold open, which if I read right in my books, was a feature added in like 1913.

01-23-2019, 11:57 AM	#1
MW2152 User Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 50 Thanks: 11 Thanked 35 Times in 20 Posts	Two Lugers - Thoughts on Which? New to the forum and have found it a huge asset and wealth of knowledge. I have owned a couple Lugers in the past but it has been a couple decades. I would like to get another now. I have two I have looked at locally and had in hand, both do interest me but I am having a somewhat difficult time deciding which may be the better one to try and pick up. I know that condition is a major factor, I get that. I know it is difficult to weigh in without pics, I am not looking for an idea on value, but rather an idea on which might be the more desirable one to add. First one is a “double date” DWM, it is 1912 and 1920 dated, it is RR unit marked, all the numbers on the gun match and the magazine is period correct (from what I am told) but not numbered at all. I would estimate that the finish is probably 50 to 60% or so original bluing left, it has some obvious pitting on it, straw is poor, condition of the grips matches the rest of the gun in that they are original but also show a lot of use. A long-time friend has it and I trust him and what he says on it, so I am certain it is all original and I am not worried about it being messed with. It has just a lot of honest wear. Price is around $1300. Second one is a DWM Commercial, 9mm, all the numbers match except the magazine, it is also unit marked. Straw is decent, probably 50%, bluing is original and I would say 75%, I was told that the seller thought it was a 1923 made gun, it has a four digit serial number with letter. Grips are decent and the wear on them matches the wear on the gun. It’s a nice looking gun. The price is somewhere around $1100 to $1200. With that, what do you think?

01-23-2019, 12:13 PM	#2
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,614 Thanks: 3,140 Thanked 2,519 Times in 939 Posts	I think you can beat both by checking the forums . For the condition I feel both are overpriced. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

01-23-2019, 12:20 PM	#3
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,760 Thanks: 4,848 Thanked 3,099 Times in 1,426 Posts	Second one is a DWM Commercial, 9mm, all the numbers match except the magazine, it is also unit marked. What is the unit mark? __________________ 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."

01-23-2019, 04:30 PM	#8
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,760 Thanks: 4,848 Thanked 3,099 Times in 1,426 Posts	DWM Commercial, 9mm, unit marked. Sounds like an interesting pistol.. __________________ 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."

01-23-2019, 04:48 PM	#9
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,677 Thanks: 1,439 Thanked 4,347 Times in 2,038 Posts	The second description has several "features" not commonly found together, how about some pictures so we can see what you really are looking at? __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

01-23-2019, 12:23 PM	#4
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	I would agree - the first one i like, but condition sounds pretty poor, that is shooter condition and price should be $700-$800 The second is not bad, except its a bit too high for 75%

01-23-2019, 02:18 PM	#6
Norme Always A Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,414 Thanks: 224 Thanked 2,591 Times in 930 Posts	Hi Mike, Welcome to the forum! The second gun sounds interesting, can you post photos? Regards, Norm

01-23-2019, 04:00 PM	#7
MW2152 User Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 50 Thanks: 11 Thanked 35 Times in 20 Posts	I will try and get it back in hand and see what I can get for pics. Might be a few days tho.

01-30-2019, 10:22 PM	#12
MW2152 User Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 50 Thanks: 11 Thanked 35 Times in 20 Posts	So today I picked up this one. Attached Thumbnails

01-30-2019, 10:26 PM	#13
MW2152 User Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 50 Thanks: 11 Thanked 35 Times in 20 Posts	Pics Attached Thumbnails

01-30-2019, 10:28 PM	#14
MW2152 User Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 50 Thanks: 11 Thanked 35 Times in 20 Posts	Additional Attached Thumbnails

01-30-2019, 10:30 PM	#15
MW2152 User Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 50 Thanks: 11 Thanked 35 Times in 20 Posts	A few more Attached Thumbnails

01-30-2019, 10:32 PM	#16
MW2152 User Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 50 Thanks: 11 Thanked 35 Times in 20 Posts	Last pics Attached Thumbnails

01-30-2019, 10:36 PM	#17
MW2152 User Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 50 Thanks: 11 Thanked 35 Times in 20 Posts	Mr. Anderson, thanks for your post on it possibly being a 1908 First Military. I believe you were right. I had sort of thought I would pass on it initially, but your post was the info I needed to figure out what it actually was. A 1908 first military is, to me, too interesting to not grab, so I bought it. Some net searching and reviewing my growing Luger reference library, verified for me that was indeed what it was.

01-30-2019, 10:39 PM	#18
MW2152 User Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 50 Thanks: 11 Thanked 35 Times in 20 Posts	The initial info that it was a 1923 Commercial was what the dealer had, as told to him by a local “expert”. Sorry for the red herring!

01-30-2019, 10:40 PM	#20
MW2152 User Join Date: Aug 2018 Posts: 50 Thanks: 11 Thanked 35 Times in 20 Posts	Also, it does have a hold open, which if I read right in my books, was a feature added in like 1913.