Need info on 1916 DWM Luger - Page 2

gmlehmann · 04-03-2013, 12:22 PM

@David P: Thanks for the welcome, nice to have finally found a place that has helpful and knowledgeable people on the subject.
Thank you as well for the kind words regarding the photos; photography is a bit of a hobby of mine and always love a good reason to get out my camera, whether it be to take photos such as these or a landscape.
Thank you for yet teaching me something else I hadn’t yet known, was wondering what the term “in the white” meant as I’ve seen the term used often and also was not aware that these were blued separately by hand.

@DavidJU: I had actually just recently noticed the pin you mention was sticking out just slightly, I wasn’t sure if that was normal or not, but with your explanation it make perfect sense.
Also, thanks for the suggestion to look at mismatched shooters as well for the rear toggle link, the thought had not yet occurred to me.

@Anybody: Does anyone have any suggestions as to where a good place would be to look for a modern replacement magazine and also what the best ammo to would be use? As I said in an earlier post, I don’t want to risk causing damage to the originals when/if I decide to shoot the gun.

alanint · 04-03-2013, 01:48 PM

Best ammo would be Winchester White box 115gr. and the best aftermarket magazines are made my Mec Gar, (Italy). Luger Doc may have some in stock.

gmlehmann · 04-03-2013, 02:01 PM

Thanks Doug.
I’ll add that ammo to my list of “try to find” ammo; almost impossible to find pistol ammo these days. Is that standard 9mm ammo and what kind of casing/tip?
I’ll check Luger Doc’s site and see what I can find for mags.
Thanks again for the info.

alanint · 04-03-2013, 02:14 PM

Winchester White box is a staple at Walmart. Just get friendly with the counter guy in Sporting Goods and ask him to put a box aside and call you the next time it comes in.

gmlehmann · 04-03-2013, 02:22 PM

I'll try to do that; thanks thanks for the info once again.

rhuff · 04-03-2013, 04:42 PM

Glen,

Another brand of ammo that my Lugers like, and is reasonably priced, is PMC 115gr FMJ. You may can find it available in your area.

If Tom(Lugerdoc) doesn't have any MecGar mags for sale, try Greg Cote LLC......he had some recently. I agree that you should not use your wood based mags for shooting, as they can and do break during firing.

gmlehmann · 04-03-2013, 05:10 PM

Thanks for the info Richard.
I see that on the Mec-Gar site the mags come in blue ($40.90) and nickel ($45.35); what’s the reason for the price difference and is one better quality than the other?

Ron Wood · 04-03-2013, 05:20 PM

No difference in quality and nickle is more expensive to apply.

gmlehmann · 04-03-2013, 05:43 PM

Thanks Ron, that would explain the slightly higher price of the nickel mag then.

Does anyone know if Hoppe’s No 9 Synthetic Blend cleaner is safe to use on the gun? Just want to be sure it won’t harm the original finish.

alanint · 04-03-2013, 05:55 PM

Hoppe's number 9 is safe around blued surfaces. Just be gentle in the scrubbing.

gmlehmann · 04-03-2013, 07:00 PM

Thanks Doug, will do.

Geo99 · 04-05-2013, 01:48 AM

@Ron - concerning newer Mecgars -
In my experience the nickel Mecgars are slicker and work somewhat better out of the box. The last blue ones I got were dogs - very rough - spring was binding. I'm still waiting for them to be replaced by Mecgar.

gmlehmann · 04-05-2013, 12:26 PM

Thanks for the info George.

Could someone tell me (based on my posted photos) if that is considered an "E" below the serial number; from what I understand the letter is part of the serial number.

Also, is it certain that this is a 9mm? Just want to be certain.

alanint · 04-05-2013, 12:29 PM

Your letter suffix is an "L". ALL military WW1 Luger pistols were in 9mm. To make sure, take a Number 2 pencil and try to slide it down the barrel from the muzzle. If it is a .30 Luger, the pencil will not go in or it will be very tight. A 9mm bore will allow the pencil to simply slide in loosely.

gmlehmann · 04-05-2013, 01:02 PM

Thanks Doug. An "L", really? I thought for certain it looked like a lower case "E".
I checked the barrel as you suggested with a #2 round pencil and it does slide in loosely.

gmlehmann · 04-05-2013, 01:25 PM

Found this image online regarding letter suffixes.

gmlehmann · 04-05-2013, 01:44 PM

A better view of the suffix letter.

alanint · 04-05-2013, 01:53 PM

Sorry, the better view confirms an "E".

gmlehmann · 04-05-2013, 02:17 PM

Thanks Doug. Looking at my original images I thought the slight angle might be throwing off the view, so figured a better straight on image was in order.

gmlehmann · 04-07-2013, 02:37 PM

Alright, past few days I was able to strip down the gun for cleaning and further inspection. From what I could find it seems that all numbers are matching with the exception of the rear toggle link. So, I guess my search begins for a number matched rear toggle link or a mixed shooter with a matching one as DavidJayUden had suggested to me. Here are some additional photos I took as well.

04-03-2013, 05:20 PM	#28
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	No difference in quality and nickle is more expensive to apply. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

04-05-2013, 01:25 PM	#36
gmlehmann User Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 41 Thanks: 10 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	Found this image online regarding letter suffixes. Attached Images

04-05-2013, 01:44 PM	#37
gmlehmann User Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 41 Thanks: 10 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	A better view of the suffix letter. Attached Thumbnails

04-07-2013, 02:37 PM	#40
gmlehmann User Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 41 Thanks: 10 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	Alright, past few days I was able to strip down the gun for cleaning and further inspection. From what I could find it seems that all numbers are matching with the exception of the rear toggle link. So, I guess my search begins for a number matched rear toggle link or a mixed shooter with a matching one as DavidJayUden had suggested to me. Here are some additional photos I took as well. Attached Thumbnails

04-03-2013, 12:22 PM	#21
gmlehmann User Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 41 Thanks: 10 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	@David P: Thanks for the welcome, nice to have finally found a place that has helpful and knowledgeable people on the subject. Thank you as well for the kind words regarding the photos; photography is a bit of a hobby of mine and always love a good reason to get out my camera, whether it be to take photos such as these or a landscape. Thank you for yet teaching me something else I hadn’t yet known, was wondering what the term “in the white” meant as I’ve seen the term used often and also was not aware that these were blued separately by hand. @DavidJU: I had actually just recently noticed the pin you mention was sticking out just slightly, I wasn’t sure if that was normal or not, but with your explanation it make perfect sense. Also, thanks for the suggestion to look at mismatched shooters as well for the rear toggle link, the thought had not yet occurred to me. @Anybody: Does anyone have any suggestions as to where a good place would be to look for a modern replacement magazine and also what the best ammo to would be use? As I said in an earlier post, I don’t want to risk causing damage to the originals when/if I decide to shoot the gun.

04-03-2013, 01:48 PM	#22
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Best ammo would be Winchester White box 115gr. and the best aftermarket magazines are made my Mec Gar, (Italy). Luger Doc may have some in stock.

04-03-2013, 02:01 PM	#23
gmlehmann User Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 41 Thanks: 10 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	Thanks Doug. I’ll add that ammo to my list of “try to find” ammo; almost impossible to find pistol ammo these days. Is that standard 9mm ammo and what kind of casing/tip? I’ll check Luger Doc’s site and see what I can find for mags. Thanks again for the info.

04-03-2013, 02:14 PM	#24
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Winchester White box is a staple at Walmart. Just get friendly with the counter guy in Sporting Goods and ask him to put a box aside and call you the next time it comes in.

04-03-2013, 02:22 PM	#25
gmlehmann User Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 41 Thanks: 10 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	I'll try to do that; thanks thanks for the info once again.

04-03-2013, 04:42 PM	#26
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,270 Thanks: 2,686 Thanked 958 Times in 704 Posts	Glen, Another brand of ammo that my Lugers like, and is reasonably priced, is PMC 115gr FMJ. You may can find it available in your area. If Tom(Lugerdoc) doesn't have any MecGar mags for sale, try Greg Cote LLC......he had some recently. I agree that you should not use your wood based mags for shooting, as they can and do break during firing.

04-03-2013, 05:10 PM	#27
gmlehmann User Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 41 Thanks: 10 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	Thanks for the info Richard. I see that on the Mec-Gar site the mags come in blue ($40.90) and nickel ($45.35); what’s the reason for the price difference and is one better quality than the other?

04-03-2013, 05:43 PM	#29
gmlehmann User Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 41 Thanks: 10 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	Thanks Ron, that would explain the slightly higher price of the nickel mag then. Does anyone know if Hoppe’s No 9 Synthetic Blend cleaner is safe to use on the gun? Just want to be sure it won’t harm the original finish.

04-03-2013, 05:55 PM	#30
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Hoppe's number 9 is safe around blued surfaces. Just be gentle in the scrubbing.

04-03-2013, 07:00 PM	#31
gmlehmann User Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 41 Thanks: 10 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	Thanks Doug, will do.

04-05-2013, 01:48 AM	#32
Geo99 User Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Whidbey Island WA Posts: 396 Thanks: 100 Thanked 125 Times in 74 Posts	@Ron - concerning newer Mecgars - In my experience the nickel Mecgars are slicker and work somewhat better out of the box. The last blue ones I got were dogs - very rough - spring was binding. I'm still waiting for them to be replaced by Mecgar.

04-05-2013, 12:26 PM	#33
gmlehmann User Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 41 Thanks: 10 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	Thanks for the info George. Could someone tell me (based on my posted photos) if that is considered an "E" below the serial number; from what I understand the letter is part of the serial number. Also, is it certain that this is a 9mm? Just want to be certain.

04-05-2013, 12:29 PM	#34
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Your letter suffix is an "L". ALL military WW1 Luger pistols were in 9mm. To make sure, take a Number 2 pencil and try to slide it down the barrel from the muzzle. If it is a .30 Luger, the pencil will not go in or it will be very tight. A 9mm bore will allow the pencil to simply slide in loosely.

04-05-2013, 01:02 PM	#35
gmlehmann User Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 41 Thanks: 10 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	Thanks Doug. An "L", really? I thought for certain it looked like a lower case "E". I checked the barrel as you suggested with a #2 round pencil and it does slide in loosely.

04-05-2013, 01:53 PM	#38
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	Sorry, the better view confirms an "E".

04-05-2013, 02:17 PM	#39
gmlehmann User Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 41 Thanks: 10 Thanked 9 Times in 7 Posts	Thanks Doug. Looking at my original images I thought the slight angle might be throwing off the view, so figured a better straight on image was in order.