Inherited 1929DWM U suffix commercial? To shoot, or not to shoot!

175_mph_ss · 12-29-2013, 03:01 PM

Hello all, this is my first post, but I'm sure far from the last! Inherited this from my father in law. Although the finish is a little rough it is still like holding a piece of history. Apparently it's been in a closet loose for nearly 50 years with no care. I am going to try and post pics but I will also list markings. I've done quite a bit of research online and in these forums but I still don't have a real exact idea of what I have here. I haven't seen much info on the U suffix guns.

In this order:
C/n underside of barrel
948 underside of barrel
Lower case script u on underside of barrel

Barrel to frame witness mark lines up
Front of frame 948
Front of frame lower case script u

"Hidden" 48
48 bottom takedown lever
48 bottom side plate
48 trigger beneath side plate
48 rear of rear toggle link

C/n left side front of frame above Germany
Germany left side front of frame just above TD lever
"Lazy" C/n left side of visible part of breechblock
GESICHERT by safety
GELADEN on extractor

P on left side of frame under grip panel midway up by the mainspring
L on left side of frame under grip panel at bottom of mainspring housing
948 written by hand in what seems pencil very faint on inside of both grips
Magazine has wood base and no markings anywhere.

So there it is, I would like to shoot this a couple times before it goes away in my safe but I have heard many arguments not to if it's matching numbers as mine just may be.

Also it passed the pencil test so firing pin works. Actually pencil didn't fit so I'm pretty sure it's a .30 but it did pass the wood dowel test.

175_mph_ss · 12-29-2013, 03:05 PM

More

175_mph_ss · 12-29-2013, 03:07 PM

Hidden

175_mph_ss · 12-29-2013, 03:09 PM

Top

175_mph_ss · 12-29-2013, 03:11 PM

Breechblock

175_mph_ss · 12-29-2013, 03:12 PM

Rear toggle

175_mph_ss · 12-29-2013, 03:14 PM

Full

175_mph_ss · 12-29-2013, 03:16 PM

Full 2

175_mph_ss · 12-29-2013, 03:45 PM

Forgot to mentions:

DWM gun
No safety on sear or mag release.
Also markings on end of breechblock where the firing pin is installed but cannot make them out, can't be sure if it's a 48. Never removed firing pin so not sure if it's matching number.

Thanks to everyone for viewing.

Alan.

ithacaartist · 12-29-2013, 04:30 PM

Alphabet commercial (formerly 1920s commercial), full serial number 948u--script letter is part of the full serial number. Looks original to me, at least not refinished very recently, if at all. My non-expert evaluation of value, around $6-700. Lets see what others say...

MFC · 12-29-2013, 05:52 PM

Although it is the same configuration as an Alphabet commercial, Jan Still's Weimar Lugers classifies the s, t, and u suffixes as 29DWM (made in 1929). DWM Alphabet commercials ended with the r suffix in 1928.
Most 29DWM's were 9mm, manufactured for police and military. Only a few were commercials like this one.

175_mph_ss · 12-29-2013, 06:37 PM

So would it be considered a "shooter"? I'm pretty confident it's gonna shoot just fine. So even with matching numbers if it's nothing super rare I want to put a few rounds down range before it goes in the safe.

MFC · 12-31-2013, 08:40 PM

I would probably shoot it if were mine. It is sorta rare being a 29DWM 'commercial' but, unfortunately the finish relegates it to a shooter. You can have fun shooting your family heirloom without feeling guilty. 30 Luger is pricey but a blast to shoot.

175_mph_ss · 01-01-2014, 05:35 AM

Thanks MFC, I'll be looking for some .30 luger this weekend at the Crossroads Gun Show! Happy New Year everyone.

12-29-2013, 03:01 PM	#1
175_mph_ss User Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 11 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Inherited 1929DWM U suffix commercial? To shoot, or not to shoot! Hello all, this is my first post, but I'm sure far from the last! Inherited this from my father in law. Although the finish is a little rough it is still like holding a piece of history. Apparently it's been in a closet loose for nearly 50 years with no care. I am going to try and post pics but I will also list markings. I've done quite a bit of research online and in these forums but I still don't have a real exact idea of what I have here. I haven't seen much info on the U suffix guns. In this order: C/n underside of barrel 948 underside of barrel Lower case script u on underside of barrel Barrel to frame witness mark lines up Front of frame 948 Front of frame lower case script u "Hidden" 48 48 bottom takedown lever 48 bottom side plate 48 trigger beneath side plate 48 rear of rear toggle link C/n left side front of frame above Germany Germany left side front of frame just above TD lever "Lazy" C/n left side of visible part of breechblock GESICHERT by safety GELADEN on extractor P on left side of frame under grip panel midway up by the mainspring L on left side of frame under grip panel at bottom of mainspring housing 948 written by hand in what seems pencil very faint on inside of both grips Magazine has wood base and no markings anywhere. So there it is, I would like to shoot this a couple times before it goes away in my safe but I have heard many arguments not to if it's matching numbers as mine just may be. Also it passed the pencil test so firing pin works. Actually pencil didn't fit so I'm pretty sure it's a .30 but it did pass the wood dowel test. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by 175_mph_ss; 12-30-2013 at 08:28 PM.

12-29-2013, 03:05 PM	#2
175_mph_ss User Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 11 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	More Attached Thumbnails

12-29-2013, 03:07 PM	#3
175_mph_ss User Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 11 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hidden Attached Thumbnails

12-29-2013, 03:09 PM	#4
175_mph_ss User Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 11 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Top Attached Thumbnails

12-29-2013, 03:11 PM	#5
175_mph_ss User Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 11 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Breechblock Attached Thumbnails

12-29-2013, 03:12 PM	#6
175_mph_ss User Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 11 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Rear toggle Attached Thumbnails

12-29-2013, 03:14 PM	#7
175_mph_ss User Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 11 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Full Attached Thumbnails

12-29-2013, 03:16 PM	#8
175_mph_ss User Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 11 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Full 2 Attached Thumbnails

12-29-2013, 03:45 PM	#9
175_mph_ss User Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 11 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Forgot to mentions: DWM gun No safety on sear or mag release. Also markings on end of breechblock where the firing pin is installed but cannot make them out, can't be sure if it's a 48. Never removed firing pin so not sure if it's matching number. Thanks to everyone for viewing. Alan.

12-29-2013, 04:30 PM	#10
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,283 Thanks: 7,007 Thanked 2,476 Times in 1,319 Posts	Alphabet commercial (formerly 1920s commercial), full serial number 948u--script letter is part of the full serial number. Looks original to me, at least not refinished very recently, if at all. My non-expert evaluation of value, around $6-700. Lets see what others say... __________________ "... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894

12-29-2013, 05:52 PM	#11
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Although it is the same configuration as an Alphabet commercial, Jan Still's Weimar Lugers classifies the s, t, and u suffixes as 29DWM (made in 1929). DWM Alphabet commercials ended with the r suffix in 1928. Most 29DWM's were 9mm, manufactured for police and military. Only a few were commercials like this one. __________________ Mike C.

12-29-2013, 06:37 PM	#12
175_mph_ss User Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 11 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	So would it be considered a "shooter"? I'm pretty confident it's gonna shoot just fine. So even with matching numbers if it's nothing super rare I want to put a few rounds down range before it goes in the safe. Last edited by 175_mph_ss; 12-30-2013 at 08:26 PM.

12-31-2013, 08:40 PM	#13
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	I would probably shoot it if were mine. It is sorta rare being a 29DWM 'commercial' but, unfortunately the finish relegates it to a shooter. You can have fun shooting your family heirloom without feeling guilty. 30 Luger is pricey but a blast to shoot. __________________ Mike C.

01-01-2014, 05:35 AM	#14
175_mph_ss User Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 11 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks MFC, I'll be looking for some .30 luger this weekend at the Crossroads Gun Show! Happy New Year everyone.