First Luger

c141b · 10-09-2010, 02:44 PM

It appears to be a DWM 1920 commericial .30 cal, marked germany, model ae?.The toggle and breechblock assembly has good bluing on it but the rest of the pistole has very little bluing, why is that? Should I re-blue or leave it as is. Any info would on Luger would be appreciated,also a ball park value. Thanks

lugerholsterrepair · 10-09-2010, 03:26 PM

Post 1918..Marked GERMANY for export to an English speaking country during the 1920's. It has a 5 digit serial # which makes it a commercial. I wouldn't reblue it. The pistol is maybe worth 600-800 as is? Some guys may say more but Crown N commercials in .30 are not super collectable. Ammo is expensive. A good basic shooter though and nothing to sneeze at. Looks to be in good condition. Not sure the grips are original..neither are the mags, reproductions.

Welcome to the Forum, I am sure that someone who knows more than I do about these will come along shortly.

Jerry Burney

mrerick · 10-09-2010, 04:39 PM

Hi,

Congratulations, and welcome to the forum!

You asked about finish condition and how things get that way...

Your gun was originally rust blued (an older, slower, more expensive process than the more common hot bluing done with salts). It's about 90 years old. In that time, it's probably been cleaned many times, carried in some kind of holster and used well.

It's also possible that someone tried to deal with rust and pitting (some is visible on top of the receiver) by using naval jelly, iron out or a similar oxide reducing chemical. Since bluing is an oxide of iron (a different one FeO3 rather than FeO2 which is common rust) both the rust and bluing would disappear.

So, as they say, it is what it is...

I agree with Jerry's estimate. You have an all original (not messed with) matching Luger. Collectors prefer Lugers that are as close as possible to the way they originally left the factory. Should .30 cal DWM 1920s commercial Lugers rise in value in the future, you would probably eliminate collector interest by refinishing it.

I think that Jerry's valuation may be a bit generous, and would price it at the lower end of that scale due to finish condition.

If you've read much in the forum here, you know that it's hard to stop at just one Luger. Welcome to the addiction!

Marc

c141b · 10-09-2010, 08:13 PM

I thank you all for your comments . I will be looking for a 9mm shooter in the future.

10-09-2010, 02:44 PM	#1
c141b User Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	First Luger It appears to be a DWM 1920 commericial .30 cal, marked germany, model ae?.The toggle and breechblock assembly has good bluing on it but the rest of the pistole has very little bluing, why is that? Should I re-blue or leave it as is. Any info would on Luger would be appreciated,also a ball park value. Thanks Attached Thumbnails

10-09-2010, 03:26 PM	#2
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	Post 1918..Marked GERMANY for export to an English speaking country during the 1920's. It has a 5 digit serial # which makes it a commercial. I wouldn't reblue it. The pistol is maybe worth 600-800 as is? Some guys may say more but Crown N commercials in .30 are not super collectable. Ammo is expensive. A good basic shooter though and nothing to sneeze at. Looks to be in good condition. Not sure the grips are original..neither are the mags, reproductions. Welcome to the Forum, I am sure that someone who knows more than I do about these will come along shortly. Jerry Burney __________________ 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."

10-09-2010, 04:39 PM	#3
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	Hi, Congratulations, and welcome to the forum! You asked about finish condition and how things get that way... Your gun was originally rust blued (an older, slower, more expensive process than the more common hot bluing done with salts). It's about 90 years old. In that time, it's probably been cleaned many times, carried in some kind of holster and used well. It's also possible that someone tried to deal with rust and pitting (some is visible on top of the receiver) by using naval jelly, iron out or a similar oxide reducing chemical. Since bluing is an oxide of iron (a different one FeO3 rather than FeO2 which is common rust) both the rust and bluing would disappear. So, as they say, it is what it is... I agree with Jerry's estimate. You have an all original (not messed with) matching Luger. Collectors prefer Lugers that are as close as possible to the way they originally left the factory. Should .30 cal DWM 1920s commercial Lugers rise in value in the future, you would probably eliminate collector interest by refinishing it. I think that Jerry's valuation may be a bit generous, and would price it at the lower end of that scale due to finish condition. If you've read much in the forum here, you know that it's hard to stop at just one Luger. Welcome to the addiction! Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

10-09-2010, 08:13 PM	#4
c141b User Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I thank you all for your comments . I will be looking for a 9mm shooter in the future.