1917 DWM Question

woodman45 · 07-04-2012, 02:18 PM

I am new this forum stuff and to Luger collecting, If I s---w up please overlook it. I finally got my first Luger. It is a 1917 DWM, all matching numbers except the mag. It is a nice piece. My question is how do I determine if the gun is safe to shoot, can do this myself or should I take it to qualified gunsmith? I have many guns but none as old as this one.
2nd. does having the gun profesionally refinished affect the value? I seen a place on web called " Ted's Luger Strawing Service".

gill120 · 07-04-2012, 02:52 PM

Any time you alter the original condition of a Luger , you take the chance of loosing some of its value. The decision is yours as it is your pistol. I would advise against it, unless the piece is a total wash out of finish and matching parts.

Ron Smith · 07-04-2012, 03:00 PM

Hi Bill,

Welcome to the forum. Ted is a longtime member here, and one of the top at Luger restoration. Do a search for "Thor".

If your 1917 has the original finish, and is in good condition? Refinishing it will definitely effect the value for the negative, and depending on the original condition, possibly by hundreds of dollars, and in some rare instances by a thousand $$ or more. Collectors look for everything "original".

As far as being safe to shoot? It's a toss-up. If you take it to a qualified and reliable gunsmith, be sure they are Luger knowledgable first. Many general gunsmiths know very little about Lugers.

Even then, shooting a 90+ year old gun is always a gamble. Breaking an original matching numbered part will also greatly effect the value.

Post some photos, if possible.

FNorm · 07-04-2012, 03:04 PM

If you do decide to shoot it, first clean the inside the firing pin, inside the breech block, and under the extractor. Places a lot of collectors miss.

FN

Edward Tinker · 07-04-2012, 03:20 PM

Bill, welcome to the forum, I moved this to the new collector area.

Ed

sheepherder · 07-04-2012, 04:21 PM

Bill, if you decide to shoot it, don't use hi-velocity ammunition...get some Wal-Mart white box Winchester Target/Range 115gr FMJ cartridges...No hollow points, no frangible stuff...A Mec-Gar magazine is a good idea as well...

Don't worry too much if your Luger magazine doesn't feed reliably...

rhuff · 07-04-2012, 04:29 PM

Welcome to the forum. I look forward to seeing photos of your Luger, if you chose to post any. Have you broken down your Luger and given it a good cleaning? If you remove the grips, be VERY careful with removing the left grip, so as not to break it near the thumb safety.

padredan · 07-04-2012, 05:35 PM

again welcome to the forum

woodman45 · 07-05-2012, 09:59 AM

:Thank you to every one that replied, you were very helpful. As soon as I get my camera back from my daughter I wiil post pictures.
Thanks again,
Bill

Terry Tiell · 07-05-2012, 10:13 AM

Can't wait to see it! +1 about Thor if you decide to have it re-done you have to see his work its more art then gunsmithing.

Shadowsix · 07-05-2012, 10:50 AM

Welcome to the forum! Sounds like you have a Luger similar to mine which is also a 1917 DWN serial # 9242 (pics here http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=28102 )

I've had the same struggle with myself about whether to shoot mine or not. I've been told by a gunsmith and the gun expert who sold it to me that it is safe to shoot but still I'm not sure if I want to risk it!

Looking forward to seeing pics of yours!

Alx · 09-09-2012, 08:03 PM

From my own experience, I have shot a few collectable Lugers with good results, but then have also had an original ( meaning contemporary aged ) part on a non-matching Luger break. Think, parts are around 70 to 110 years old. Even 'though they might be strong as new, still 'can break unexpectedly, just like when they were new. But a matching part is hard to replace, if not impossible. ( Roughly 1% of identical and contemporary correct parts will have the same two-digit number .)
I recommend you find a mixed gun, either an almost all-matching and good looking example, for a "shooter". If there is one part that is not working properly, or breaks, it is no further loss to replace it with a working part, all of which are available, either original used or many new copies.

padredan · 09-12-2012, 11:04 AM

It's a hard decission to make, i have fired all of mine , then i got to thinking, maybe to not to and find a good shooter, which i have. Good luck to you.

woodman45 · 09-12-2012, 12:36 PM

Thanks to all who answered. I have decided not to shoot it, since all numbers match includung the magazine. I am looking for shooter now. I am so into this gun more than all my others. I will try to figure out how add a picture.
I purchased this gun on an online auction. I have purchased other guns online but I hve never paid the high fees like this one. Buyer's premium, mother auction buyers premium,shipping, material, insurance, live bidding fee, for a total of $257.46. I received a phone call call from the auction asking if I wanted a cataloge for then next auction. I told them that I will not be bidding on their auctions any more because of all the added fees. that other auctions do not have. If anyone wants the name of the auctions email me and I will sent them.

DavidJayUden · 09-12-2012, 01:09 PM

Very nice gun. If you get the chance please photo the serial number in front of the trigger on the frame AND photo the nunmbers on the magazine base. That helps us a lot in looking for skulduggery.
Congrats!
dju

woodman45 · 09-12-2012, 01:34 PM

My wife is out with the camera now. Here are some pic. that I have in the computer. The sn inside the wood grips and on the wood mag. end peice will be hard to photograph. They are very light. I need a magnifiying glass to see them. the sn is 832. In the one picture you can see a partial view of the sn and other stampings on the barrel,
Bill

DavidJayUden · 09-12-2012, 02:45 PM

By "in front of the trigger" I meant on the very front of the frame under the barrel base.

woodman45 · 09-12-2012, 02:50 PM

I understand. The front of the frame has 832 as does the barrel.
Bill

woodman45 · 09-13-2012, 10:10 AM

Hi David, Here are some more pictures. Bill

DavidJayUden · 09-13-2012, 11:19 AM

And now the base of the magazine, showing numbers and letter.

07-04-2012, 02:18 PM	#1
woodman45 User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Polk City,FL Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	1917 DWM Question I am new this forum stuff and to Luger collecting, If I s---w up please overlook it. I finally got my first Luger. It is a 1917 DWM, all matching numbers except the mag. It is a nice piece. My question is how do I determine if the gun is safe to shoot, can do this myself or should I take it to qualified gunsmith? I have many guns but none as old as this one. 2nd. does having the gun profesionally refinished affect the value? I seen a place on web called " Ted's Luger Strawing Service".

07-04-2012, 03:00 PM	#3
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Hi Bill, Welcome to the forum. Ted is a longtime member here, and one of the top at Luger restoration. Do a search for "Thor". If your 1917 has the original finish, and is in good condition? Refinishing it will definitely effect the value for the negative, and depending on the original condition, possibly by hundreds of dollars, and in some rare instances by a thousand $$ or more. Collectors look for everything "original". As far as being safe to shoot? It's a toss-up. If you take it to a qualified and reliable gunsmith, be sure they are Luger knowledgable first. Many general gunsmiths know very little about Lugers. Even then, shooting a 90+ year old gun is always a gamble. Breaking an original matching numbered part will also greatly effect the value. Post some photos, if possible. __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

07-04-2012, 03:20 PM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,927 Thanks: 2,026 Thanked 4,524 Times in 2,090 Posts	Bill, welcome to the forum, I moved this to the new collector area. Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

07-04-2012, 04:21 PM	#6
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,182 Thanks: 1,400 Thanked 4,442 Times in 2,330 Posts	Bill, if you decide to shoot it, don't use hi-velocity ammunition...get some Wal-Mart white box Winchester Target/Range 115gr FMJ cartridges...No hollow points, no frangible stuff...A Mec-Gar magazine is a good idea as well... Don't worry too much if your Luger magazine doesn't feed reliably... __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

07-04-2012, 05:35 PM	#8
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	again welcome to the forum __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

07-04-2012, 02:52 PM	#2
gill120 User Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 95 Thanks: 1 Thanked 18 Times in 11 Posts	Any time you alter the original condition of a Luger , you take the chance of loosing some of its value. The decision is yours as it is your pistol. I would advise against it, unless the piece is a total wash out of finish and matching parts.

07-04-2012, 03:04 PM	#4
FNorm Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 978 Thanks: 68 Thanked 127 Times in 108 Posts	If you do decide to shoot it, first clean the inside the firing pin, inside the breech block, and under the extractor. Places a lot of collectors miss. FN

07-04-2012, 04:29 PM	#7
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,289 Thanks: 2,704 Thanked 971 Times in 716 Posts	Welcome to the forum. I look forward to seeing photos of your Luger, if you chose to post any. Have you broken down your Luger and given it a good cleaning? If you remove the grips, be VERY careful with removing the left grip, so as not to break it near the thumb safety.

07-05-2012, 09:59 AM	#9
woodman45 User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Polk City,FL Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	1917 DWM, Thanks :Thank you to every one that replied, you were very helpful. As soon as I get my camera back from my daughter I wiil post pictures. Thanks again, Bill

07-05-2012, 10:13 AM	#10
Terry Tiell User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: The Fascist State of Maryland Posts: 224 Thanks: 55 Thanked 26 Times in 14 Posts	Can't wait to see it! +1 about Thor if you decide to have it re-done you have to see his work its more art then gunsmithing. __________________ Trying to redo grand dads Luger the best I can.

07-05-2012, 10:50 AM	#11
Shadowsix User Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 106 Thanks: 56 Thanked 26 Times in 18 Posts	Welcome to the forum! Sounds like you have a Luger similar to mine which is also a 1917 DWN serial # 9242 (pics here http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=28102 ) I've had the same struggle with myself about whether to shoot mine or not. I've been told by a gunsmith and the gun expert who sold it to me that it is safe to shoot but still I'm not sure if I want to risk it! Looking forward to seeing pics of yours!

09-09-2012, 08:03 PM	#12
Alx User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nashville, Tennessee area Posts: 263 Thanks: 5 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	From my own experience, I have shot a few collectable Lugers with good results, but then have also had an original ( meaning contemporary aged ) part on a non-matching Luger break. Think, parts are around 70 to 110 years old. Even 'though they might be strong as new, still 'can break unexpectedly, just like when they were new. But a matching part is hard to replace, if not impossible. ( Roughly 1% of identical and contemporary correct parts will have the same two-digit number .) I recommend you find a mixed gun, either an almost all-matching and good looking example, for a "shooter". If there is one part that is not working properly, or breaks, it is no further loss to replace it with a working part, all of which are available, either original used or many new copies.

09-12-2012, 11:04 AM	#13
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	It's a hard decission to make, i have fired all of mine , then i got to thinking, maybe to not to and find a good shooter, which i have. Good luck to you. __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

09-12-2012, 12:36 PM	#14
woodman45 User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Polk City,FL Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	1917 dwm Thanks to all who answered. I have decided not to shoot it, since all numbers match includung the magazine. I am looking for shooter now. I am so into this gun more than all my others. I will try to figure out how add a picture. I purchased this gun on an online auction. I have purchased other guns online but I hve never paid the high fees like this one. Buyer's premium, mother auction buyers premium,shipping, material, insurance, live bidding fee, for a total of $257.46. I received a phone call call from the auction asking if I wanted a cataloge for then next auction. I told them that I will not be bidding on their auctions any more because of all the added fees. that other auctions do not have. If anyone wants the name of the auctions email me and I will sent them. Attached Thumbnails

09-12-2012, 01:09 PM	#15
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Very nice gun. If you get the chance please photo the serial number in front of the trigger on the frame AND photo the nunmbers on the magazine base. That helps us a lot in looking for skulduggery. Congrats! dju

09-12-2012, 01:34 PM	#16
woodman45 User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Polk City,FL Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	My wife is out with the camera now. Here are some pic. that I have in the computer. The sn inside the wood grips and on the wood mag. end peice will be hard to photograph. They are very light. I need a magnifiying glass to see them. the sn is 832. In the one picture you can see a partial view of the sn and other stampings on the barrel, Bill Attached Thumbnails

09-12-2012, 02:45 PM	#17
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	By "in front of the trigger" I meant on the very front of the frame under the barrel base.

09-12-2012, 02:50 PM	#18
woodman45 User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Polk City,FL Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I understand. The front of the frame has 832 as does the barrel. Bill

09-13-2012, 10:10 AM	#19
woodman45 User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Polk City,FL Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	1917 dwm Hi David, Here are some more pictures. Bill Attached Thumbnails

09-13-2012, 11:19 AM	#20
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	And now the base of the magazine, showing numbers and letter.