DWM Commercial ID and Value Help

Good-Day · 11-12-2015, 08:37 PM

Hi Everyone,
I've had a couple Lugers for a few years now and recently picked up a third and figured it was time I got serious and got them evaluated.
I could use your help on some of the basics: condition, completeness, value and of course just your overall opinion.

This I believe is a DWM Post WW1 Commercial. The pistol has a script L prefix, very few parts are actually serialized but the ones that are all match and there are a couple crown N proofs. No S/N on the mag base or grips. The grips are in pretty good shape with moderate wear to the checkering, and barrel bore is in very good shape

Sorry I'm not the best photographer out there

The other pistol is in the P-08 section

Thanks a ton for your help!

ithacaartist · 11-13-2015, 07:28 PM

It's an "Alphabet Commercial, all right. Finish looks original, seem in good shape. Unless I've missed it, you didn't mention its caliber. A .30 Luger is usually worth somewhat less than a 9mm because the ammo is significantly more expensive than the 9mm.
From what I can see, think in terms of slightly under a thousand, to somewhat over a thousand dollars. Commercials also go for less because they lack the wartime connection and mystique. If this is an all-matching gun, it is collectible because of its good condition, and you may want to avoid making it work for a living.

Good-Day · 11-13-2015, 10:06 PM

Thanks for the info!
Sorry didn't think of it It's a 9mm.
I'm almost embarrassed to say I've had it for over a year and have not fired it. I have a Mutt parts luger that is the shooter, and it does a great job of it.

Edward Tinker · 11-13-2015, 10:41 PM

Is it stamped 'Germany' anywhere on it?

9mm is very nice

Good-Day · 11-14-2015, 10:45 AM

Thanks!
No import or Germany stamp on it

I've been trying to find the production year for the "L" suffix

The parts luger is import stamped under the barrel

FNorm · 11-14-2015, 11:42 AM

According to Still's:

L block would be the very last part of 1922, and most of 1923

FN

Good-Day · 11-14-2015, 12:06 PM

Fantastic
Thank You

MFC · 11-15-2015, 01:21 AM

If it's a 9mm (which I doubt) it's very rare.

Can you show a picture of the muzzle?

Sergio Natali · 11-15-2015, 05:48 AM

Several years ago I had two of them, and I was strongly tempted to buy a third one only last year, I don't recall ever having seen one 9 mm.

Good-Day · 11-15-2015, 11:09 AM

Well what do you know look at that!!!!!!!!!!

Good thing I have not tried to fire it yet

BYF 9mm on the left, and the DWM on the right and apparently a .30

Could have sworn it said 9mm when I got it I checked the sales invoice and it says caliber not marked

Looks like I have some deciding to do. Buy some .30 or sell this one

THANK YOU very very much!

rhuff · 11-15-2015, 02:17 PM

You would have been safe if you tried to feed 9mm ammo into a 30 Luger chamber.....it just won't fit!! I own a few 30 Luger handguns and really enjoy shooting them. A number of forum members here feel the same way. The ammo is more expensive, but is a hoot to shoot.

Good-Day · 11-15-2015, 03:00 PM

Thanks!
I suppose keeping it would not be a problem as I have already had it for 2 years now, and haven't shot it yet or I should probably say tried to shoot it since I don't even have any 30

DonVoigt · 11-15-2015, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Good-Day

Thanks!
I suppose keeping it would not be a problem as I have already had it for 2 years now, and haven't shot it yet or I should probably say tried to shoot it since I don't even have any 30

Just as well, .30 is hard to find, expensive and all lugers do not like all .30 ammo. See the recent threads on getting a .30 to "run".

rhuff · 11-15-2015, 06:05 PM

Midway, Ammo to go, Sportsman Guide, SAMCO, to name just a few have 30 Luger for sale. Because of the availability of this ammo currently, the price has gone down. Your choice.

DavidJayUden · 11-15-2015, 07:13 PM

So is there any consensus out there regarding the best brand of .30 ammo currently available? Sounds like Fiochi is not at the top of the list.
dju

DonVoigt · 11-15-2015, 08:27 PM

"Best" is what works in one's pistol; some brands do, some don't in any particular pistol.

Samco's Finn surplus should be loaded to mil specs, but it is 60 years old.

Fiocchi is at the top of my list, cause it works for me; and it is what my local shop has!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidJayUden

So is there any consensus out there regarding the best brand of .30 ammo currently available? Sounds like Fiochi is not at the top of the list.
dju

MFC · 11-15-2015, 09:48 PM

Take it for a test drive.
30 Luger is hoot to shoot... flat and fast.

Good-Day · 11-16-2015, 09:19 PM

I just may have to pick up a box and give it a whirl

rhuff · 11-17-2015, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Good-Day

I just may have to pick up a box and give it a whirl

If you do give it a "go", pick up the spent brass as handloaders can always use it if they reload this caliber......just a thought.

11-12-2015, 08:37 PM	#1
Good-Day User Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Washington State Posts: 97 Thanks: 82 Thanked 101 Times in 32 Posts	DWM Commercial ID and Value Help Hi Everyone, I've had a couple Lugers for a few years now and recently picked up a third and figured it was time I got serious and got them evaluated. I could use your help on some of the basics: condition, completeness, value and of course just your overall opinion. This I believe is a DWM Post WW1 Commercial. The pistol has a script L prefix, very few parts are actually serialized but the ones that are all match and there are a couple crown N proofs. No S/N on the mag base or grips. The grips are in pretty good shape with moderate wear to the checkering, and barrel bore is in very good shape Sorry I'm not the best photographer out there The other pistol is in the P-08 section Thanks a ton for your help! Attached Thumbnails

11-13-2015, 07:28 PM	#2
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,346 Thanks: 7,277 Thanked 2,578 Times in 1,365 Posts	It's an "Alphabet Commercial, all right. Finish looks original, seem in good shape. Unless I've missed it, you didn't mention its caliber. A .30 Luger is usually worth somewhat less than a 9mm because the ammo is significantly more expensive than the 9mm. From what I can see, think in terms of slightly under a thousand, to somewhat over a thousand dollars. Commercials also go for less because they lack the wartime connection and mystique. If this is an all-matching gun, it is collectible because of its good condition, and you may want to avoid making it work for a living. __________________ "... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894

11-15-2015, 01:21 AM	#8
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	If it's a 9mm (which I doubt) it's very rare. Can you show a picture of the muzzle? __________________ Mike C.

11-15-2015, 05:48 AM	#9
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	Several years ago I had two of them, and I was strongly tempted to buy a third one only last year, I don't recall ever having seen one 9 mm. Attached Thumbnails __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

11-15-2015, 11:09 AM	#10
Good-Day User Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Washington State Posts: 97 Thanks: 82 Thanked 101 Times in 32 Posts	DWM Commercial ID and Value Help Well what do you know look at that!!!!!!!!!! Good thing I have not tried to fire it yet BYF 9mm on the left, and the DWM on the right and apparently a .30 Could have sworn it said 9mm when I got it I checked the sales invoice and it says caliber not marked Looks like I have some deciding to do. Buy some .30 or sell this one THANK YOU very very much! Attached Thumbnails

11-13-2015, 10:06 PM	#3
Good-Day User Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Washington State Posts: 97 Thanks: 82 Thanked 101 Times in 32 Posts	Thanks for the info! Sorry didn't think of it It's a 9mm. I'm almost embarrassed to say I've had it for over a year and have not fired it. I have a Mutt parts luger that is the shooter, and it does a great job of it.

11-13-2015, 10:41 PM	#4
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	Is it stamped 'Germany' anywhere on it? 9mm is very nice

11-14-2015, 10:45 AM	#5
Good-Day User Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Washington State Posts: 97 Thanks: 82 Thanked 101 Times in 32 Posts	Thanks! No import or Germany stamp on it I've been trying to find the production year for the "L" suffix The parts luger is import stamped under the barrel

11-14-2015, 11:42 AM	#6
FNorm Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 978 Thanks: 68 Thanked 127 Times in 108 Posts	According to Still's: L block would be the very last part of 1922, and most of 1923 FN

11-14-2015, 12:06 PM	#7
Good-Day User Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Washington State Posts: 97 Thanks: 82 Thanked 101 Times in 32 Posts	Fantastic Thank You

11-15-2015, 02:17 PM	#11
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,291 Thanks: 2,709 Thanked 972 Times in 717 Posts	You would have been safe if you tried to feed 9mm ammo into a 30 Luger chamber.....it just won't fit!! I own a few 30 Luger handguns and really enjoy shooting them. A number of forum members here feel the same way. The ammo is more expensive, but is a hoot to shoot.

11-15-2015, 03:00 PM	#12
Good-Day User Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Washington State Posts: 97 Thanks: 82 Thanked 101 Times in 32 Posts	Thanks! I suppose keeping it would not be a problem as I have already had it for 2 years now, and haven't shot it yet or I should probably say tried to shoot it since I don't even have any 30

11-15-2015, 06:05 PM	#14
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,291 Thanks: 2,709 Thanked 972 Times in 717 Posts	Midway, Ammo to go, Sportsman Guide, SAMCO, to name just a few have 30 Luger for sale. Because of the availability of this ammo currently, the price has gone down. Your choice.

11-15-2015, 07:13 PM	#15
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	So is there any consensus out there regarding the best brand of .30 ammo currently available? Sounds like Fiochi is not at the top of the list. dju

11-15-2015, 09:48 PM	#17
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Take it for a test drive. 30 Luger is hoot to shoot... flat and fast. __________________ Mike C.

11-16-2015, 09:19 PM	#18
Good-Day User Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Washington State Posts: 97 Thanks: 82 Thanked 101 Times in 32 Posts	I just may have to pick up a box and give it a whirl