29 DWM Lugers, Production Time Spans

[Jan C Still]

It is a matter of common courtesy to credit the past authors/collectors that for the last three decades have discussed the 29 DWM Lugers in the â??sâ?�, â??tâ?� and â??uâ?� suffix serial range. These discussions have taken place by numerous collectors in the pages of AUTO MAG, by John Walter in his two volumes Luger (1977) page 99, The Luger Book (1986) page 231) by Jan C. Still in Third Reich Lugers (1988) pages 203-218, and Weimar Lugers (1993) page 7, 14-17, 31-34,146-154. Much of the information listed above in this thread has been previously discussed. The term 29 DWM was first coined by Jan C. Still in AUTO MAG and in his two publications listed above.

Below is some of the key information indicating production of these Lugers by BKIW (DWM) during 1929 and 1930. It has not been mentioned above or in other threads on the same subject. It was first researched by Joe Wotka and reported in Weimar Lugers on pages 32 and 33. Joe Wotka is a World class expert on German Police pistols and writes in the pages of AUTO MAG.

â??A June25, 1929 dated Prussian document indicates that the Landj�¤gerei (9000 officers and men) were in the process of rearming with the P.08 as of May 29, 1929 (Wotka). A March 26, 1929 dated training Manual includes instructions for training the Landj�¤gerei with the P08. (Wotka, 1988) The above 1929 dated Prussian documents order Long P.08's carried by Landj�¤gerei officers recalled to the PTV (Berlin Police Armory) for alterations (shortened barrel) when the new P.08's arrive. A 1931 dated book titled â??Die Preussische Landj�¤gerei im Wandel der Zeitenâ?� by Landj�¤gerei Major Werner Blankenstein, relates that the Landj�¤gerei was rearmed in 1929 with the P.08 (except the district of Koblenz which received them in June, 1930) (Wotka, 1990). Landj�¤gerei grip strap markings are mostly confined to the â??tâ?� and â??u â?? range Lugers and were introduced by orders dated Feb. 25, 1932. The Luger Landj�¤gerei grip strap markings are only reported on these Lugers. (Weimar Lugers pages 32-33)â?�

The research above by Dwight Gruber indicates that the Landj�¤gerei Lugers are mostly blank toggle and are approximately interspersed with the other Lugers in the range.

Some Landj�¤gerei 29 DWM Lugers retain their issue brown police holsters numbered to the gun. These holsters bear maker markings and are dated 1929. Much of the 29 DWM Luger production went to the Prussian State Police Landj�¤gerei during 1929 and 1930. Six 29 DWM Lugers matched to 1929 dated police holsters are listed below.


TABLE___. LANDJÃ??GEREI 29 DWM POLICE RIGS WITH MATCHING HOLSTERS
sn 462t; middle toggle link: DWM; commercial proof: C/N; right receiver: E/WaA66; unit stamp: L.Hi. 25.; Matching holster: Franz Cobau Berlin, 1929, Sunburst L; L.Hi. 25.;. Two matching wood base magazines
sn 2437t; middle toggle link blank; commercial proof: C/N; right receiver: E/WaA66; unit stamp: L.Ka. 309.; Matching holster: ROBERT LARSEN/BERLIN, 1929, Sunburst K; L. K. 309.; matching wood and aluminum based mags; matching tool
sn 3541t; middle toggle link: blank; commercial proof: C/N; right receiver: E/WaA66; unit stamp: L.M.5; Matching Holster: SCHAMBACH & CO./BERLIN, 1929, Sunburst K; L.M. 5.; Tool numbered 5 and two matched wood based mags numbered 1 and 2..
sn 1844u; middle toggle link blank; commercial proof: none; right receiver: E E/WaA66 E/H; unit stamp: L.Sch. 213.; Matching holster: GUSTXXXXX?/BERLIN, 1929, Sunburst K, L.Sch. 213.
sn 2079u; middle toggle link: blank; commercial proof: none; right receiver: E E/WaA66 E/H; unit stamp L.S. 30. Matching holster: SCHAMBACH & CO./BERLIN, 1929, Sunburst (cant read letter), L.S. 30.; matched wood based mag.
sn 4164u; middle toggle link: blank; commercial proof: ?; right receiver: E/WaA66, E/H; unit0 stamp: L.D.136.; Matching holster: ROBERT LARSEN BERLIN, 1929, sunburst K, L.D.136
sn 4335u; middle toggle link: blank; commercial proof ?; right receiver: E E/WaA66 E/H; unit stamp L.D. 111. Matching Holster: ROBERT LARSEN/BERLIN, 1929, Sunburst (cant read letter), L.D. 111.; Matching tool and mags (one wood the other Aluminum), L.D.111 marked police bayonet.

The combination of historical information (dated 1929 and 1931) concerning the rearming of the Prussian Landj�¤gerei in 1929 and early 1930 and the examples of such Lugers matched to holsters dated 1929 is strong documentation and evidence that these police Lugers were manufactured by BKIW (DWM) during 1929 and 1930 for the German Police. This important information should not be ignored in a new discussion of these Lugers,
Jan.

[wdavid431]

I have been informed that of the total production for police use, a few hundred (1200 or so) went into the commercial market. These pistols are in the "t" and "u" block and will have no police marking or unit designation.
My 1929 DWM Luger is 30 cal with serial number of 526u and I have been told it is one of those routed to the commercial market.
Is there any information related to that group of commercial Lugers?

[MFC]

According to Still's Weimar Lugers... total estimated production of 29 DWM, s,t, and u block was 30,000. Estimated commercial production, 1650.
Mike C.