Found Another Shooter

[Kyrie]

DWM, dated 1916, un-proofed and un-numbered replacement barrel (9mm), toggle train matches but does match rest of Luger (which otherwise matches). Magazine is unmarked other than the magazine bottom marked “MEXICO”.

Pics:

















The barrel on this one intrigues me. My experience has been that replacement barrels on pistols intended for the commercial market tend to have bores that are quite good. Replacement barrels on guns intended for military service tend to run the gamut from pristine to very poor.

The bore of this replacement barrel is poor, suggesting (to me, anyway) that the gun may have seen military service after being re-barreled. Please note that while I suggest military service, I’m not offering any speculation as to who’s military.

The barrel markings also interest me. This is the third time in a few months I’ve seen Lugers with replacement Luger barrels, un-numbered, not proofed, with similar odd markings. Here are more pics of the barrel markings on this Luger’s barrel:





Here is a photo of another Luger (Alphabet DWM) with a similar barrel (un-numbered, un-proofed, poor bore) with similar marking:



I’m leaning toward the opinion that these two Lugers, and a third Luger with a similar barrel that I don’t own and for which I cannot provide photos, were re-barreled by the same entity, during roughly the same time period, for the same end user purpose.

All just a line of speculation on my part, shared purely FWIW.

Kyrie

[DavidJayUden]

No idea on the barrel markings, but all the lathe marks certainly makes it look like crude manufacture.
dju

[Kyrie]

Yes, sir. Looks a lot like CYQ (Spreewerke) P.38s. Focus on function with little regard for form or finish.

[DonVoigt]

The markings are likely related to East German work, re-work, barrel- one sees similar marks on pistols imported from EG, stamped into the right "ear" at the rear of the frame.

[LU1900]

The perhaps KK6 in cercle looks like portugesse also .....

[Kyrie]

Originally Posted by DonVoigt

The markings are likely related to East German work, re-work, barrel- one sees similar marks on pistols imported from EG, stamped into the right "ear" at the rear of the frame.

Could well be a GDR re-barrel. OTOH the poor bore condition suggests (at least to me) that the gun was at some point used by a client country/group less concerned with routine maintenance than the Germans usually were. Also the East Germans were pretty anal retentive in terms of numbering and proofing new barrels, so the absence of number/proof would be a persuasive argument against GDR work.

[Kyrie]

Originally Posted by LU1900

The perhaps KK6 in cercle looks like portugesse also .....

Again, could well be the case. I don't know enough about Portuguese arms to form an opinion, but appreciate your sharing the possibility.

Kyrie