Help identifying luger p08 commercial

padredan · 02-06-2012, 04:52 PM

what i think i have is an early commercial p08 dwm,9mm ,4", all numbers matching, but the mags, mags are or seem correct for period, serial number 2331 alpha t , not sure of that, left side proof crown N, right side wza66 ,crown n under barrel with serial number, there is a pinned hold down strap over the side plate, gun is 98 percent, excellant bore, shoots and fuctions well, over all great condition, holster, comercial ,brown looks like marked lza and a egale, unit marked L.Hi.65 front strap,mags unmarked wooden bottoms,stock lug,exc grips, has hold open. over all i give this gun a solid 98 per,best one i have owned. un dated over chamber, i have never seen the hold down strap over the side plate, any help would be greatly appreaciated, i hope the pics will load, i took alot, danodesertrain@yahoo.com thanks again for your help Padre Dan

padredan · 02-06-2012, 05:23 PM

thanks for your help

padredan · 02-06-2012, 05:31 PM

couple more

lugerholsterrepair · 02-06-2012, 08:10 PM

Dan..i have never seen the hold down strap over the side plate, any help would be greatly appreaciated,

This is a Police sear safety

Your pistol started it's life as a Commercial and was pressed into service with the Weimar Police.

Is it 9MM? I see it is..

I can't see the holster well enough to comment on it.

alanint · 02-06-2012, 08:48 PM

In any event, both the Commercial-Police and holster seem to be in stunning condition!!!

padredan · 02-06-2012, 09:38 PM

thanks does any one know the year of production? it is perhaps the nicest luger i have ever owned, the part over the side plate is a police safety? besides the holster it was in a case marked john dickson an son edinburgh. does any one have an idea on this case?

lugerholsterrepair · 02-06-2012, 09:54 PM

Dan, The case is an unremarkeable common relatively modern gun case. It has nothing to do with the historical aspect of your Luger. I suspect your Luger is mid 1920's. Some members here can pin it down with the serial # and suffix.

padredan · 02-06-2012, 10:38 PM

thanks again everyone

lugerholsterrepair · 02-06-2012, 11:27 PM

Dan, Holster is a reproduction.

padredan · 02-07-2012, 12:03 AM

ok, thanks, the gun along with the other items and another luger were in a veterans estate, everyone has been very helpfull to help me , i was a military armor, but having owned several lugers , i never really knew much about them and mostly at the time was not intrested and probably sold or traded off some good ones, thanks again for your help.

MFC · 02-07-2012, 12:15 AM

Hi Dan,
Thanks for posting your extremely nice Luger.
Your Luger, S#2331t, is classified as a 29DWM in Jan Still's 'Weimar Lugers'. It was made in 1929. As Jerry stated before, this Luger started out as a commercial. It originally had a 30 cal. barrel. and no sear safety. The 9mm barrel and sear safety were added at an arsenal. Most 29DWM's were procured by the Army or Police. Only a few were sold commercially.

padredan · 02-07-2012, 02:44 AM

did it orginaly havea chamber date and it was removed?? is this now considered a rework? and i am being told to check the recoil spring, how can i do that? i do not wantto do anything wrong to harm this gun, allso any idea on value? angain thanks everyone for your help.

alanint · 02-07-2012, 06:10 AM

Your gun never had a chamber date. Those recommending a recoil spring check are concerned that the spring was not replaced when switched from .30 to 9mm. This is hardly likely.
I would recommend a local gunsmith do this at this point, unless there is a knowledgeable site member near you who can help. Look up spring/caliber combinations in the search mode here on the site to learn more.
Youtube has several decent videos on field stripping your gun.
I agree with Jerry that your holster is a reproduction.

padredan · 02-07-2012, 09:58 AM

thanks, i could not see how the chamber date could have been removed and it still look this good, i have fired it about 50 times with factory remington loads with out any problems, i fully field strip it and cleaned it when i first recieved it and to check it for any problems before firing it, i had no idea it had been a .30 being changed to 9mm. nor did i know anything about the recoil spring swap. the gun to me is very nice and i just would like to know as much about it as i can. the unit markings L. Hi.65 i am being told means weimar era,L aassigned to landiger (rural constabulary),Hi Hildesheim distric, .65 meaning item 65, what can anyone tell me about the proof marks anda appromate value for it, allso are the mag bottoms wood or resin, sorry for so many questions, but this is the first luger i have really considered as a keeper, again thanks every one for your help, regards Dan

padredan · 02-07-2012, 10:34 AM

the mag bottoms look to me to be wood, they are undated, but appear to be correct. i allso have a another mag that is alum bottom and numberd and maybe world war two, it works just fine but does stick out the butt of the gun further, i know it is not correct for this gun, but should it be a tad bit longer than the others? thanks

cirelaw · 02-07-2012, 11:39 AM

Mine looks related. Any comments or observations

padredan · 02-07-2012, 05:26 PM

Looks very nice, i would say they are close in apperance. What do you know about yours?

cirelaw · 02-07-2012, 06:15 PM

both of our are vey close! L.Hi.65 and mpne is L.Ka.124!! Good Stuff!

padredan · 02-08-2012, 12:21 AM

as far as the recoils spring goes, the 7.65 has 17 coils and the 9mm has 19 coils, i comfirmed this by checking my other pistol and it has 19 coils as well as this one to, so i would say the recoils spring was replaced with the correct one when it was rebarreled.

MFC · 02-08-2012, 12:35 AM

Your 29 DWM is not a typical rework. It was a new gun when it went to the arsenal. Most reworks were used and needed some repairs.
The two blank wood bottom mags are commercial and correct for this model. Police replacement mags will have the serial# and the number '1' for the primary, and '2' for the extra mag. The tube of the aluminum bottom mag you mentioned is cut square making the front edge stick out at the bottom. Earlier mags were cut at an angle to match the bottom of the frame. They should be the same overall length.

02-06-2012, 04:52 PM	#1
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	Help identifying luger p08 commercial what i think i have is an early commercial p08 dwm,9mm ,4", all numbers matching, but the mags, mags are or seem correct for period, serial number 2331 alpha t , not sure of that, left side proof crown N, right side wza66 ,crown n under barrel with serial number, there is a pinned hold down strap over the side plate, gun is 98 percent, excellant bore, shoots and fuctions well, over all great condition, holster, comercial ,brown looks like marked lza and a egale, unit marked L.Hi.65 front strap,mags unmarked wooden bottoms,stock lug,exc grips, has hold open. over all i give this gun a solid 98 per,best one i have owned. un dated over chamber, i have never seen the hold down strap over the side plate, any help would be greatly appreaciated, i hope the pics will load, i took alot, danodesertrain@yahoo.com thanks again for your help Padre Dan Attached Thumbnails

02-06-2012, 05:31 PM	#3
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	two more couple more Attached Thumbnails

02-06-2012, 08:10 PM	#4
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,761 Thanks: 4,863 Thanked 3,101 Times in 1,427 Posts	Dan..i have never seen the hold down strap over the side plate, any help would be greatly appreaciated, This is a Police sear safety Your pistol started it's life as a Commercial and was pressed into service with the Weimar Police. Is it 9MM? I see it is.. I can't see the holster well enough to comment on it. __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

02-06-2012, 09:38 PM	#6
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	thanks does any one know the year of production? it is perhaps the nicest luger i have ever owned, the part over the side plate is a police safety? besides the holster it was in a case marked john dickson an son edinburgh. does any one have an idea on this case? Attached Thumbnails

02-06-2012, 09:54 PM	#7
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,761 Thanks: 4,863 Thanked 3,101 Times in 1,427 Posts	Dan, The case is an unremarkeable common relatively modern gun case. It has nothing to do with the historical aspect of your Luger. I suspect your Luger is mid 1920's. Some members here can pin it down with the serial # and suffix. __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

02-06-2012, 05:23 PM	#2
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	few more pics thanks for your help Attached Thumbnails

02-06-2012, 08:48 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	In any event, both the Commercial-Police and holster seem to be in stunning condition!!!

02-06-2012, 10:38 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	two more pixs thanks again everyone Attached Thumbnails

02-06-2012, 11:27 PM	#9
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,761 Thanks: 4,863 Thanked 3,101 Times in 1,427 Posts	Dan, Holster is a reproduction. __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

02-07-2012, 12:03 AM	#10
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	ok, thanks, the gun along with the other items and another luger were in a veterans estate, everyone has been very helpfull to help me , i was a military armor, but having owned several lugers , i never really knew much about them and mostly at the time was not intrested and probably sold or traded off some good ones, thanks again for your help.

02-07-2012, 12:15 AM	#11
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Hi Dan, Thanks for posting your extremely nice Luger. Your Luger, S#2331t, is classified as a 29DWM in Jan Still's 'Weimar Lugers'. It was made in 1929. As Jerry stated before, this Luger started out as a commercial. It originally had a 30 cal. barrel. and no sear safety. The 9mm barrel and sear safety were added at an arsenal. Most 29DWM's were procured by the Army or Police. Only a few were sold commercially. __________________ Mike C.

02-07-2012, 02:44 AM	#12
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	did it orginaly havea chamber date and it was removed?? is this now considered a rework? and i am being told to check the recoil spring, how can i do that? i do not wantto do anything wrong to harm this gun, allso any idea on value? angain thanks everyone for your help.

02-07-2012, 06:10 AM	#13
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 gun never had a chamber date. Those recommending a recoil spring check are concerned that the spring was not replaced when switched from .30 to 9mm. This is hardly likely. I would recommend a local gunsmith do this at this point, unless there is a knowledgeable site member near you who can help. Look up spring/caliber combinations in the search mode here on the site to learn more. Youtube has several decent videos on field stripping your gun. I agree with Jerry that your holster is a reproduction.

02-07-2012, 09:58 AM	#14
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	thanks, i could not see how the chamber date could have been removed and it still look this good, i have fired it about 50 times with factory remington loads with out any problems, i fully field strip it and cleaned it when i first recieved it and to check it for any problems before firing it, i had no idea it had been a .30 being changed to 9mm. nor did i know anything about the recoil spring swap. the gun to me is very nice and i just would like to know as much about it as i can. the unit markings L. Hi.65 i am being told means weimar era,L aassigned to landiger (rural constabulary),Hi Hildesheim distric, .65 meaning item 65, what can anyone tell me about the proof marks anda appromate value for it, allso are the mag bottoms wood or resin, sorry for so many questions, but this is the first luger i have really considered as a keeper, again thanks every one for your help, regards Dan Attached Thumbnails

02-07-2012, 10:34 AM	#15
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	the mag bottoms look to me to be wood, they are undated, but appear to be correct. i allso have a another mag that is alum bottom and numberd and maybe world war two, it works just fine but does stick out the butt of the gun further, i know it is not correct for this gun, but should it be a tad bit longer than the others? thanks Attached Thumbnails

02-07-2012, 11:39 AM	#16
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	Mine looks related. Any comments or observations Attached Thumbnails

02-07-2012, 05:26 PM	#17
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	Looks very nice, i would say they are close in apperance. What do you know about yours?

02-07-2012, 06:15 PM	#18
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	both of our are vey close! L.Hi.65 and mpne is L.Ka.124!! Good Stuff! Attached Thumbnails

02-08-2012, 12:21 AM	#19
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	as far as the recoils spring goes, the 7.65 has 17 coils and the 9mm has 19 coils, i comfirmed this by checking my other pistol and it has 19 coils as well as this one to, so i would say the recoils spring was replaced with the correct one when it was rebarreled.

02-08-2012, 12:35 AM	#20
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Your 29 DWM is not a typical rework. It was a new gun when it went to the arsenal. Most reworks were used and needed some repairs. The two blank wood bottom mags are commercial and correct for this model. Police replacement mags will have the serial# and the number '1' for the primary, and '2' for the extra mag. The tube of the aluminum bottom mag you mentioned is cut square making the front edge stick out at the bottom. Earlier mags were cut at an angle to match the bottom of the frame. They should be the same overall length. __________________ Mike C.