New acquisition

donhill3rd · 06-07-2019, 05:34 PM

This is my first Luger and I really don't know what I have here. Please help. Thanks in advance!

HerrKaiser · 06-07-2019, 06:00 PM

It looks like you have a very good looking DWM military pistol from world war 1. I want to say 1914 but the pictures of not of the best digital quality although they were in good positions. All exterior numbers seem to match. But you have other places to look to make sure it is completely matching. If it is, it is a nice looking gun with honest wear and good finish left.

k98mike · 06-07-2019, 06:57 PM

Beautiful Luger!

wlyon · 06-07-2019, 11:28 PM

Very Nice. Bill

Sergio Natali · 06-08-2019, 08:07 AM

Since I am not an expert by any stretch, I will have to let someone else chime in on that, BUT to me it looks like a very nice DWM.
Good choice as a first Luger I would say.

donhill3rd · 06-08-2019, 09:57 AM

What is strange to me is the serial number. It appears to be 42 with the letter b next to it. I figured that the four number series ran out and this one is number 42 of the "b" run? Don't really know. Hoping you guys can educate me. Thanks!!

John Sabato · 06-08-2019, 02:59 PM

Definitely 1914 manufacturing year, and the serial number is as you suspected, #42 of the "b" manufacturing run. Very nice.

mrerick · 06-09-2019, 08:45 AM

Yes, the correct legal serial number of your DWM Luger is "42b".

It's quite early in the third block of 10,000 military serialized pistols which start with "no suffix", then "a", then "b", etc...

You'll possibly find this confusing, but later during the 1930's and 1940's, "42" was one of the military concealment codes used by Mauser. For that reason, spare parts provided to the Wehrmacht by Mauser often had small "42" dies stamped into them to indicate the source of the part. This has nothing to do with the serial number of your pistol. The common way of matching fitted parts on a Luger is to use the last numeric digits of the serial number. That is why your pistol has "42" on several parts. You'll also find a large number of worker inspection die marks on interior surfaces of your pistol.

Your Luger has the "unrelieved sear" which is common for earlier military Luger pistols. The change to a relieved sear started happening in 1916.

Please get a copy of our extensive FAQ PDF document. Just follow the links at the top of every forum page.

Welcome to the forum.

Marc

06-07-2019, 05:34 PM	#1
donhill3rd New User Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 2 Thanks: 7 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	New acquisition This is my first Luger and I really don't know what I have here. Please help. Thanks in advance! Attached Thumbnails

06-07-2019, 06:00 PM	#2
HerrKaiser User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: South Carolina Posts: 800 Thanks: 750 Thanked 793 Times in 376 Posts	It looks like you have a very good looking DWM military pistol from world war 1. I want to say 1914 but the pictures of not of the best digital quality although they were in good positions. All exterior numbers seem to match. But you have other places to look to make sure it is completely matching. If it is, it is a nice looking gun with honest wear and good finish left. __________________ -QM Looking for Mauser S/42 toggle train #22

06-07-2019, 06:57 PM	#3
k98mike User Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Newnan, GA Posts: 141 Thanks: 280 Thanked 48 Times in 30 Posts	Jealous Beautiful Luger!

06-08-2019, 08:07 AM	#5
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	Since I am not an expert by any stretch, I will have to let someone else chime in on that, BUT to me it looks like a very nice DWM. Good choice as a first Luger I would say. __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

06-08-2019, 02:59 PM	#7
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,150 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,304 Times in 1,096 Posts	Definitely 1914 manufacturing year, and the serial number is as you suspected, #42 of the "b" manufacturing run. Very nice. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

06-07-2019, 11:28 PM	#4
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	Very Nice. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

06-08-2019, 09:57 AM	#6
donhill3rd New User Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 2 Thanks: 7 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	What is strange to me is the serial number. It appears to be 42 with the letter b next to it. I figured that the four number series ran out and this one is number 42 of the "b" run? Don't really know. Hoping you guys can educate me. Thanks!!

06-09-2019, 08:45 AM	#8
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	Yes, the correct legal serial number of your DWM Luger is "42b". It's quite early in the third block of 10,000 military serialized pistols which start with "no suffix", then "a", then "b", etc... You'll possibly find this confusing, but later during the 1930's and 1940's, "42" was one of the military concealment codes used by Mauser. For that reason, spare parts provided to the Wehrmacht by Mauser often had small "42" dies stamped into them to indicate the source of the part. This has nothing to do with the serial number of your pistol. The common way of matching fitted parts on a Luger is to use the last numeric digits of the serial number. That is why your pistol has "42" on several parts. You'll also find a large number of worker inspection die marks on interior surfaces of your pistol. Your Luger has the "unrelieved sear" which is common for earlier military Luger pistols. The change to a relieved sear started happening in 1916. Please get a copy of our extensive FAQ PDF document. Just follow the links at the top of every forum page. Welcome to the forum. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.