Serial number qustions for 1918 DWM

Soldat222 · 03-09-2014, 05:50 PM

A am talking to a guy selling what he says is a 1918 DWM luger. He says the serial number on the bottom of the barrel appears to be a 221 stamped over 8,82, with the serial number 221 and 21 appearing in other places on the pistol.

Why would the barrel be re stamped like that? Also, would a 1918 DWM really have a three digit serial number?

"Like I said I do not know these guns so you may have to help me make sense of the SN# but under the barrel is on top of each other read as 221 over 8,82 and 21 and 221 on other parts ???"

mrerick · 03-09-2014, 06:35 PM

Every 10,000 Lugers, the number series repeated. They had a letter suffix, which generally appears on the front of the frame above the trigger guard.

"221" or "221x" where "x" is a suffix letter could be the serial number of the gun. 8.82 is the measured barrel gauge. "221" should appear on the receiver left side, and "21" on the other numbered parts for a military Luger.

Pictures help confirm that it's correct.

Marc

DavidJayUden · 03-09-2014, 07:43 PM

As mrerick said, that 8.82 is a bore diameter and common to all military Lugers, on the under side of the barrel only. Sometimes 8.83.
Everything sounds OK so far.
dju

Soldat222 · 03-20-2014, 02:20 PM

At cursory inspection without tearing parts apart the gun appears to be matching, even the magazine is wood bottomed and numbered 221. I cannot find a number on the side plate, but I understand they were not always numbered, correct?

That said the finish is pretty much gone and it has abundant surface pitting.

Do you think $590 out the door is a good price for this considering the good and the bad?

alanint · 03-20-2014, 05:17 PM

The side-plate should be prominently numbered somewhere near the middle of the front face. If there is no number there, then it is either mismatched or scrubbed.

That would not bother me too much at that price, but I would use this fact to maybe offer $500.

03-09-2014, 05:50 PM	#1
Soldat222 User Join Date: May 2013 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 19 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Serial number qustions for 1918 DWM A am talking to a guy selling what he says is a 1918 DWM luger. He says the serial number on the bottom of the barrel appears to be a 221 stamped over 8,82, with the serial number 221 and 21 appearing in other places on the pistol. Why would the barrel be re stamped like that? Also, would a 1918 DWM really have a three digit serial number? "Like I said I do not know these guns so you may have to help me make sense of the SN# but under the barrel is on top of each other read as 221 over 8,82 and 21 and 221 on other parts ???"

03-09-2014, 06:35 PM	#2
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,900 Thanks: 1,372 Thanked 3,094 Times in 1,503 Posts	Every 10,000 Lugers, the number series repeated. They had a letter suffix, which generally appears on the front of the frame above the trigger guard. "221" or "221x" where "x" is a suffix letter could be the serial number of the gun. 8.82 is the measured barrel gauge. "221" should appear on the receiver left side, and "21" on the other numbered parts for a military Luger. Pictures help confirm that it's correct. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

03-09-2014, 07:43 PM	#3
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	As mrerick said, that 8.82 is a bore diameter and common to all military Lugers, on the under side of the barrel only. Sometimes 8.83. Everything sounds OK so far. dju

03-20-2014, 02:20 PM	#4
Soldat222 User Join Date: May 2013 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 19 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	At cursory inspection without tearing parts apart the gun appears to be matching, even the magazine is wood bottomed and numbered 221. I cannot find a number on the side plate, but I understand they were not always numbered, correct? That said the finish is pretty much gone and it has abundant surface pitting. Do you think $590 out the door is a good price for this considering the good and the bad?

03-20-2014, 05:17 PM	#5
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	The side-plate should be prominently numbered somewhere near the middle of the front face. If there is no number there, then it is either mismatched or scrubbed. That would not bother me too much at that price, but I would use this fact to maybe offer $500.