Birthday Luger - Please help ID

[MonsterX]

Hi All,

I recieved this Luger from my grandfather for my birthday. The only history I have of it, is that he inherited it from his uncle after he passed. His uncle was A.R. Wheeler, who was a Captain in the 312th Infantry, A.E.F., during WWI. how he obtained it, I have no idea.

I'm hoping to get some expert help in identifying this Luger and getting whatever background information that might be available.

I believe it is a commercial Luger, owing to the lazy "N" with a crown over it. All the numbers match (752 N), with the exception of the barrel (353 A).

Any help you could give me, would be greatly appreciated.

Kaleo

[alanint]

Welcome to the forum!

You have a rebarreled commercial gun and a modified Artillery holster. The gun is not assembled properly, as the toggle is protruding out the back. This happens when the gun is assembled without the toggle link hooking onto the mainspring rocker.

[MonsterX]

Whoops! 100% my bad. Still figuring out how this Luger works.

Any idea when this might have been manufactured?

Thanks for the info.

[spartacus38]

Made in 1924 or 1925.
bob

[MonsterX]

Excellent! Thank you, Bob.

That puts this pistol around the time Uncle "Jimmy", was made a Major of the Infantry Reserves. Strange, that a man who studied in Europe before the war, had many friends in Pre-war Berlin, and fought in WWI, waited until well after the war was over to purchase himself a luger.

Would this pistol have been available stateside in the 20's? Or was it exclusive to Germany?

[mrerick]

Kaleo,

DWM exported these to the USA in the 1920s. Export guns have "Germany" stamped on the receiver like the stamp on the base of your magazine.

Before you take it out to shoot it, double check that you have the correct ammunition.

It is very likely chambered in .30 Luger rather than 9mm Luger.

You can test it by taking a number 2 pencil. If it fits down the barrel, it is 9mm Luger. If the barrel is too small, it's probably .30 Luger (a bottle neck shaped cartridge).

Both ammo sizes will fit in the magazine.

Marc

[MonsterX]

Thanks, Marc!

Hmm...no Germany stamp anywhere on the receiver. Just those curious little "Q's" with the number "1" on the left side.

Good test! The pencil confirms it is a .30 Luger. Thanks for bringing that up.

Was it fairly uncommon to use ivory handles? In looking around on the internet. I didn't see any Lugers that had them.

Kaleo

[wlyon]

The ivory grips are an aftermarket add on. They were never an issue item.If you are interested in getting this back to original you will need to purchase some wood grips and barrel. Bill

[mrerick]

Post a closeup of the receiver proof marks and any other marks as individual pictures.

Some of these were re-barreled by dealers for customers that desired longer barrels.

Your pistol was put together from parts from multiple guns. It's hard to say when it was assembled.

For your records, document the serial number with suffix letter that is on the frame just above and in front of the trigger guard. That would be considered the full serial number of the pistol.

The ivory grips are not factory, as Bill says. You can get reproduction wooden grips, or original grips to replace them, or just leave them as a memory of your great uncle, your grandfather and his generosity.

Marc

[MonsterX]

I like how you think, Marc.

I think of this pistol as a Family Heirloom. My Great-uncle set it up this way for a reason. I'm very much going to honor that.

Here are some close ups of the markings, including those funny little "Q's" on the underside of the slide.

Any ideas what I should insure this for? I was thinking around a grand....am I in the ballpark?

Kaleo

[MonsterX]

Oh yeah, and notice the double stamp of the "N" on the trigger guard, in the first pic.....

[DavidJayUden]

Yes, $1000 would be ballpark insured value.
dju

[alanint]

It would be interesting to see a closer look at how the closure stud was added to the holster flap. Your Artillery holster also has some value and if the modification is reversible, would be worth more.

[mrerick]

Kaleo,

First, very good photographs. These help a lot.

I have never seen stampings in the location where the "Q" letters are on your receiver. I don't think that the factory would have stamped work marks there.

Also, the "353" on the barrel and receiver don't look like DWM dies to me.

My best guess is that the gunsmith that fitted the barrel to the receiver may have put the "Q" markings there to "sign" his work...

Marc

[HisSoldier]

All in all a beautiful gift! My Dad knew I loved his 1916 P-08 but sold it for $75 long before he died, I loved that gun and he knew it, it still saddens me to this day that he didn't hold it for me, even to buy at market price. Your family cared more for your sentiments.