Keep or Sell 1916 DWM?

Head Tomcat · 09-22-2005, 06:11 PM

I was given a 1916 DWM Luger which is fully matching and has the correct wooden-bottom mag. Overall, the finish is about 90-95% and the grips are perfect with no dings or chips. Also, "Germany" is stamped into the frame on the left side to indicate it was imported into the US sometime after WWI.

The reason I am asking about this is because at some dark dim date in the past, a bonehead apparently put it in a lathe and very slightly recrowned the muzzle so it is now square and not slightly rounded as the factory did.

Being sort of a perfectionist, it just kills me to look at this crown and know that unless the muzzle was really munged up...this should have never been done! A flat crown on a Luger just plain looks weird (to me at least).

Any thoughts on this..or, just be darn grateful it was given to me for FREE?

Finally, I have a lathe and can retouch this up so that the slight curve is put back. Or, is it once again just best to leave well enough alone and thank my lucky stars I have it at all?

Thanks!

The Tom

Edward Tinker · 09-22-2005, 10:23 PM

Tom, I'd sell it to Ed for $500

I don't know, I don't think I'd fix it...

maybe I would

Ron Wood · 09-22-2005, 10:30 PM

This is just me, but:
A. I would be darn grateful it was given to me for FREE
B. If I had the skill and tools, I would recrown it.

(This advise is also free...and probably worth every penny)

Head Tomcat · 09-23-2005, 09:11 AM

...probably going to keep it. I have the skill and tools to properly recrown it so the visual appearance is restored. Other than that, it is definitely a keeper.

The Tom

09-22-2005, 06:11 PM	#1
Head Tomcat User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Arkansas Posts: 15 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Keep or Sell 1916 DWM? I was given a 1916 DWM Luger which is fully matching and has the correct wooden-bottom mag. Overall, the finish is about 90-95% and the grips are perfect with no dings or chips. Also, "Germany" is stamped into the frame on the left side to indicate it was imported into the US sometime after WWI. The reason I am asking about this is because at some dark dim date in the past, a bonehead apparently put it in a lathe and very slightly recrowned the muzzle so it is now square and not slightly rounded as the factory did. Being sort of a perfectionist, it just kills me to look at this crown and know that unless the muzzle was really munged up...this should have never been done! A flat crown on a Luger just plain looks weird (to me at least). Any thoughts on this..or, just be darn grateful it was given to me for FREE? Finally, I have a lathe and can retouch this up so that the slight curve is put back. Or, is it once again just best to leave well enough alone and thank my lucky stars I have it at all? Thanks! The Tom

09-22-2005, 10:30 PM	#3
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 6,986 Thanks: 1,065 Thanked 5,088 Times in 1,674 Posts	This is just me, but: A. I would be darn grateful it was given to me for FREE B. If I had the skill and tools, I would recrown it. (This advise is also free...and probably worth every penny) __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

09-23-2005, 09:11 AM	#4
Head Tomcat User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Arkansas Posts: 15 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Here's what I am thinking... ...probably going to keep it. I have the skill and tools to properly recrown it so the visual appearance is restored. Other than that, it is definitely a keeper. The Tom

09-22-2005, 10:23 PM	#2
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	Tom, I'd sell it to Ed for $500 I don't know, I don't think I'd fix it... maybe I would