Got this today at a show

iKokomo · 06-18-2011, 11:15 PM

Ok I got this gun pretty cheap today at a gun show, can you guys tell me about it? The person that sold it said it is a 1920 gun. I love Lugers and would love to know more about this model, It has 1920 on the top and 20s written on the side

iKokomo · 06-18-2011, 11:17 PM

Pictures

DavidJayUden · 06-18-2011, 11:45 PM

I can see that it has been refinished. Apparently a police gun with both the sear and mag. safety? Can't tell much else from the dark photos.
dju

iKokomo · 06-19-2011, 12:22 AM

More info, And updated pics. I think it is made by DWM

alanint · 06-19-2011, 07:30 AM

This is a DWM 1920s Police Reissue that has since been heavily buffed and reblued. Please post photos of the top of the chamber and the proofs on the right side og the chamber area.

sheepherder · 06-19-2011, 07:30 AM

Yup; police Luger, both safeties; mag safety mutilated. The 1920 on the chamber is a gov't property mark, no relation to year. Serial number looks like 6720 (can't see if there's a suffix). Yes to DWM toggle, I don't know enough to say if the frame is matching.

Refinished it's worth about $700 - $900 to Joe Average-gun-show-browser-with-cash. Most collectors don''t bother with refinished Lugers, except as 'shooters'.

A good 'shooter' for a start to your collection...

iKokomo · 06-19-2011, 08:35 AM

That's fine, I got it mostly as a shooter, more then a collector

What caliber is this? Is it the 9mm or the 7.65mm (can I use a .32 in it) What ammo can I use in it? We put 9mm in the mag and it fed properly, but we haven't fired it or chambered the live 9mm rounds ( for safety)

Ron Smith · 06-19-2011, 09:26 AM

To determine if it's a 1920 production date, we need to see the proofs on the right side.

Ron

lugerholsterrepair · 06-19-2011, 10:14 AM

John, It should be 9MM and most likely is..take a # 2 pencil and if the eraser and metal part fit into the barrel it's 9MM. If the pencil fits but the metal part does not it's a .30 Luger and NO you cannot use .32 in it. ONLY .9MM or .30 Luger. Determine the calibur before you attempt to fire any rounds.
The magazines will accomodate either 9MM or .30. The base of the cartridge on both are the same.

sheepherder · 06-19-2011, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Smith

To determine if it's a 1920 production date, we need to see the proofs on the right side.

Ron

Were there any 1920 + 1920 chamber stampings??? That would be...weird...

iKokomo · 06-19-2011, 12:11 PM

Here is the proofs on the right side! It is an eagle with writings underneath that I cant distinguish (there are 3 of them, each one more faint then the other)

EricW · 06-19-2011, 07:43 PM

see #31...

http://www.lugerforum.com/lugermarkings/proof-3.html

iKokomo · 06-19-2011, 08:59 PM

Yes, thats it exactly! thanks a lot for all your help! My uncle (who is big into guns) says it is a 9mm as well, just by seeing it.

Edward Tinker · 06-20-2011, 05:14 AM

yes, there are 1920/1920 and also 1920/1921 and 1920

the 1920 by itself is the date, but see the FAQ for 1920 property markings.

I would not call it a 1920 'reissue' as that is a misnomer, but call it a new made 1920 DWM that went into police service, likely in 1920, but perhaps later.

The sear and magazine safety were added in the 1930's.

Any markings on the front of the frame? These might be unit markings, such as L.Sta.112

The last two of the serial number is on many areas (see FAQ) and the front of the frame will have either a suffix letter or no suffix and is considered part of its actual serial number.

Ed

sheepherder · 06-20-2011, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Tinker

yes, there are 1920/1920 and also 1920/1921 and 1920

the 1920 by itself is the date, but see the FAQ for 1920 property markings.

...???...So how do you tell a single-stamp 1920 date from a 1920 property stamp???

Do you have one of each side-by-side somewhere???

(BTW: Searching the FAQ for "1920 property markings" does not turn up anything)

Edward Tinker · 06-20-2011, 06:12 PM

Quote:

#40 What is a double date?

Here is another area that is brought up, especially in the GunShow circuit. Double dates. True double dates are fairly rare, and what most folks call a double date is really a Reichswehr 1920 property stamping. I quote Jan Still:The 1920 stamp was added sometime between August 1920 and April 1921. It is a Reichswehr property stamp applied to identify the Luger as German Army property to prevent theft. Civilians were paid a bounty for turning in their unauthorized weapons to be destroyed. The Army feared the theft of its unmarked Lugers for the bounty.(Weimar Lugers page 20-23)

See the date is 1917, while the 1920 is NOT a date, but a property stamping.

A 1920 date will have dove type acceptance stamps and 1920 property stamps on a pre-1920 will usually be a WW1, so will have crown acceptance stamps on the right.

Ed

MFC · 06-21-2011, 12:45 AM

In addition to Ed's explaination... A 1920 property stamp is usually sloppy looking compared to a very neat, straight, and centered 1920 date. There are also a few commercials that ended up with property stamps.

06-18-2011, 11:15 PM	#1
iKokomo User Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Got this today at a show Ok I got this gun pretty cheap today at a gun show, can you guys tell me about it? The person that sold it said it is a 1920 gun. I love Lugers and would love to know more about this model, It has 1920 on the top and 20s written on the side

06-18-2011, 11:17 PM	#2
iKokomo User Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Pictures Attached Thumbnails

06-19-2011, 07:30 AM	#6
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,182 Thanks: 1,400 Thanked 4,441 Times in 2,329 Posts	Yup; police Luger, both safeties; mag safety mutilated. The 1920 on the chamber is a gov't property mark, no relation to year. Serial number looks like 6720 (can't see if there's a suffix). Yes to DWM toggle, I don't know enough to say if the frame is matching. Refinished it's worth about $700 - $900 to Joe Average-gun-show-browser-with-cash. Most collectors don''t bother with refinished Lugers, except as 'shooters'. A good 'shooter' for a start to your collection... __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

06-19-2011, 09:26 AM	#8
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	To determine if it's a 1920 production date, we need to see the proofs on the right side. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

06-19-2011, 10:14 AM	#9
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,766 Thanks: 4,883 Thanked 3,121 Times in 1,432 Posts	John, It should be 9MM and most likely is..take a # 2 pencil and if the eraser and metal part fit into the barrel it's 9MM. If the pencil fits but the metal part does not it's a .30 Luger and NO you cannot use .32 in it. ONLY .9MM or .30 Luger. Determine the calibur before you attempt to fire any rounds. The magazines will accomodate either 9MM or .30. The base of the cartridge on both are the same. __________________ 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."

06-18-2011, 11:45 PM	#3
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	I can see that it has been refinished. Apparently a police gun with both the sear and mag. safety? Can't tell much else from the dark photos. dju

06-19-2011, 12:22 AM	#4
iKokomo User Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	More info, And updated pics. I think it is made by DWM Attached Thumbnails

06-19-2011, 07:30 AM	#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	This is a DWM 1920s Police Reissue that has since been heavily buffed and reblued. Please post photos of the top of the chamber and the proofs on the right side og the chamber area.

06-19-2011, 08:35 AM	#7
iKokomo User Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	That's fine, I got it mostly as a shooter, more then a collector What caliber is this? Is it the 9mm or the 7.65mm (can I use a .32 in it) What ammo can I use in it? We put 9mm in the mag and it fed properly, but we haven't fired it or chambered the live 9mm rounds ( for safety)

06-19-2011, 12:11 PM	#11
iKokomo User Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Here is the proofs on the right side! It is an eagle with writings underneath that I cant distinguish (there are 3 of them, each one more faint then the other) Attached Thumbnails

06-19-2011, 07:43 PM	#12
EricW User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: CA, USA Posts: 62 Thanks: 4 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	see #31... http://www.lugerforum.com/lugermarkings/proof-3.html __________________ I'm looking for a D suffix DE154 G Date mag. The closer to #457d the better PM me if you have one you are willing to sell, trade, or if you have a lead

06-19-2011, 08:59 PM	#13
iKokomo User Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Yes, thats it exactly! thanks a lot for all your help! My uncle (who is big into guns) says it is a 9mm as well, just by seeing it.

06-20-2011, 05:14 AM	#14
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,926 Thanks: 2,014 Thanked 4,523 Times in 2,089 Posts	yes, there are 1920/1920 and also 1920/1921 and 1920 the 1920 by itself is the date, but see the FAQ for 1920 property markings. I would not call it a 1920 'reissue' as that is a misnomer, but call it a new made 1920 DWM that went into police service, likely in 1920, but perhaps later. The sear and magazine safety were added in the 1930's. Any markings on the front of the frame? These might be unit markings, such as L.Sta.112 The last two of the serial number is on many areas (see FAQ) and the front of the frame will have either a suffix letter or no suffix and is considered part of its actual serial number. Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

06-21-2011, 12:45 AM	#17
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	In addition to Ed's explaination... A 1920 property stamp is usually sloppy looking compared to a very neat, straight, and centered 1920 date. There are also a few commercials that ended up with property stamps. __________________ Mike C.