1915 DWM 9mm - What do I have?

Leather Neck · 03-21-2017, 04:19 PM

Hello all,

My first Luger arrived in the mail today, and I am hoping you all can give me a better idea of its history. About all I know is it's a 1915 DWM 9mm that became a police pistol at some point. The serial number is 4787, with what I believe is an e suffix. The frame is marked "S. Mg. 16." on the front strap. The pistol appears to be all matching except for the magazine, which is a Mec-Gar, and the firing pin. The firing pin is the later, fluted-type, and it appears to be marked 81. The rest of the gun is marked 87. Hopefully these pictures are helpful. I can provide more if needed. Thanks in advance for your help!

-Dustin

Leather Neck · 03-21-2017, 05:52 PM

More pictures...

DonVoigt · 03-21-2017, 06:49 PM

I can't see the pictures either, are those "links" or did you put them on the forum server?

Leather Neck · 03-21-2017, 08:37 PM

Ok, hopefully I have the picture issue figured out. Please let me know if you still can't see them.

Also, on second look, the serial number suffix might actually be a C. Are the letters lowercased or capitalized?

Please let me know if you need pictures of anything else. I didn't include pictures of every numbered part, but I can if anyone needs them. Additionally, I noticed after taking the photographs there is another stamp on the breach block. I believe it is an eagle. I'll try to take a picture of it and get it posted.

DonVoigt · 03-21-2017, 08:41 PM

Yes,
the suffix letters are lower case script, and sometimes hard to discern.

You have a 1915 military DWM P 08, later taken into police service and marked to the Schupo of Magdeburg. Striker is mismatched and has been "fluted" according to 1930 directives, and could likely have been done about 1932 or so when the safety sear was added.

DavidJayUden · 03-21-2017, 09:24 PM

Nice looking gun. Possibly re-blued, but what does that matter? If the price was reasonable I'd say you are off to the races (or off to the range).
dju

Leather Neck · 03-21-2017, 11:24 PM

I believe the price was very reasonable. It was one of the Lugers posted by Guns Plus on this forum. It hadn't occurred to me that it has been re-blued; I will trust y'alls opinion on that front as I simply don't know enough at this point. It doesn't bother me in any case, because I intend to shoot and enjoy it. Thank you very much for the replies. Do you guys have an opinion on what the suffix is? If it is lowercase, I'm thinking "e."

Leather Neck · 03-22-2017, 12:02 AM

It appears the pin for the trigger lever has been modified. There is a pin in the lever, but it does not extend beyond the lever. Please see the attached picture. Was this done as part of the police safety modifications? Do I need to get a replacement pin to ensure proper function?

ecoman · 03-22-2017, 12:52 AM

It looks like you can see a small portion of the inside of the frame in the 4th photo and it appears to be in the white, so maybe not reblued. Also, the test fire proof and army acceptance stamps look fairly sharp. Nice Luger.

DavidJayUden · 03-22-2017, 06:39 AM

I based my "possibly reblued" comments on the lack of halos around the numbers, but again, this gun is mismatched, modified for police use, and reasonably priced. It was obviously not buffed before rebluing, so again, it doesn't matter anyway. At least it would not to me.
Nice gun to really enjoy.
dju

DonVoigt · 03-22-2017, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leather Neck

It appears the pin for the trigger lever has been modified. There is a pin in the lever, but it does not extend beyond the lever. Please see the attached picture. Was this done as part of the police safety modifications? Do I need to get a replacement pin to ensure proper function?

Police mod? No, the "s" pin is broken
I'd replace it.
It will work ok as is though - if what's left of the pin is peened or loctited in place. If not thus secured, it will likely move around and cause a function problem.

Finish-
Many or most police modified pistols were at least partially reblued when re-worked. Maybe just the upper, or perhaps not at all depending on condition at the time. Not a big issue, it looks like it was well used after the re-work and has the finish it had in 1932 or so. JMHO.

Leather Neck · 03-22-2017, 10:30 AM

Thanks, Don. I will start tracking down a new pin.

03-21-2017, 04:19 PM	#1
Leather Neck User Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Maryland Posts: 33 Thanks: 31 Thanked 15 Times in 12 Posts	1915 DWM 9mm - What do I have? Hello all, My first Luger arrived in the mail today, and I am hoping you all can give me a better idea of its history. About all I know is it's a 1915 DWM 9mm that became a police pistol at some point. The serial number is 4787, with what I believe is an e suffix. The frame is marked "S. Mg. 16." on the front strap. The pistol appears to be all matching except for the magazine, which is a Mec-Gar, and the firing pin. The firing pin is the later, fluted-type, and it appears to be marked 81. The rest of the gun is marked 87. Hopefully these pictures are helpful. I can provide more if needed. Thanks in advance for your help! -Dustin Attached Thumbnails __________________ Semper Fidelis Last edited by Leather Neck; 03-21-2017 at 08:26 PM.

03-21-2017, 05:52 PM	#2
Leather Neck User Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Maryland Posts: 33 Thanks: 31 Thanked 15 Times in 12 Posts	More pictures... Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Leather Neck; 03-21-2017 at 08:31 PM.

03-21-2017, 06:49 PM	#3
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,677 Thanks: 1,440 Thanked 4,348 Times in 2,038 Posts	I can't see the pictures either, are those "links" or did you put them on the forum server? __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

03-21-2017, 08:37 PM	#4
Leather Neck User Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Maryland Posts: 33 Thanks: 31 Thanked 15 Times in 12 Posts	Ok, hopefully I have the picture issue figured out. Please let me know if you still can't see them. Also, on second look, the serial number suffix might actually be a C. Are the letters lowercased or capitalized? Please let me know if you need pictures of anything else. I didn't include pictures of every numbered part, but I can if anyone needs them. Additionally, I noticed after taking the photographs there is another stamp on the breach block. I believe it is an eagle. I'll try to take a picture of it and get it posted. __________________ Semper Fidelis

03-21-2017, 08:41 PM	#5
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,677 Thanks: 1,440 Thanked 4,348 Times in 2,038 Posts	Yes, the suffix letters are lower case script, and sometimes hard to discern. You have a 1915 military DWM P 08, later taken into police service and marked to the Schupo of Magdeburg. Striker is mismatched and has been "fluted" according to 1930 directives, and could likely have been done about 1932 or so when the safety sear was added. __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

03-21-2017, 09:24 PM	#6
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Nice looking gun. Possibly re-blued, but what does that matter? If the price was reasonable I'd say you are off to the races (or off to the range). dju

03-21-2017, 11:24 PM	#7
Leather Neck User Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Maryland Posts: 33 Thanks: 31 Thanked 15 Times in 12 Posts	I believe the price was very reasonable. It was one of the Lugers posted by Guns Plus on this forum. It hadn't occurred to me that it has been re-blued; I will trust y'alls opinion on that front as I simply don't know enough at this point. It doesn't bother me in any case, because I intend to shoot and enjoy it. Thank you very much for the replies. Do you guys have an opinion on what the suffix is? If it is lowercase, I'm thinking "e." __________________ Semper Fidelis

03-22-2017, 12:02 AM	#8
Leather Neck User Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Maryland Posts: 33 Thanks: 31 Thanked 15 Times in 12 Posts	The plot thickens... It appears the pin for the trigger lever has been modified. There is a pin in the lever, but it does not extend beyond the lever. Please see the attached picture. Was this done as part of the police safety modifications? Do I need to get a replacement pin to ensure proper function? Attached Thumbnails __________________ Semper Fidelis

03-22-2017, 12:52 AM	#9
ecoman User Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Oregon Posts: 8 Thanks: 2 Thanked 10 Times in 2 Posts	It looks like you can see a small portion of the inside of the frame in the 4th photo and it appears to be in the white, so maybe not reblued. Also, the test fire proof and army acceptance stamps look fairly sharp. Nice Luger.

03-22-2017, 06:39 AM	#10
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	I based my "possibly reblued" comments on the lack of halos around the numbers, but again, this gun is mismatched, modified for police use, and reasonably priced. It was obviously not buffed before rebluing, so again, it doesn't matter anyway. At least it would not to me. Nice gun to really enjoy. dju

03-22-2017, 10:30 AM	#12
Leather Neck User Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Maryland Posts: 33 Thanks: 31 Thanked 15 Times in 12 Posts	Thanks, Don. I will start tracking down a new pin. __________________ Semper Fidelis