Help with 1921 Luger

Quincunx · 03-02-2007, 01:41 AM

Hello, all. Glad to have found this forum. I recently acquired my first Luger through a friend, and I'm trying to learn all I can about it. The previous owner (who is 60) told me that he had gotten it from his father about 25 years ago, but was never told where/when/how the pistol was obtained. Unfortunately, at the moment I have no way to post any pictures, though I will try at some point. I've been trying to puzzle through the various markings, and comparing them to charts elsewhere on the forum, but my eyes weren't what they once were and I'm having difficulty, even with a magnifying glass! Well, here goes......

Overall condition seems fair. It's a 9mm caliber, 4" barrel. There are some rust flecks and pitting on the front and backstrap, as well as a few on the barrel. The rifling, however, is quite sharp and there is no pitting in the barrel as far as I can see. No trace of any straw-colored finish anywhere, if it ever was present. The grips are checkered wood, the right one having a 2" crack in it near the trigger guard. The magazine is definitely non-original, as it has a plastic knob at the bottom and is marked "Made in Holland" in English. Now, on to the markings.......

Over the chamber is stamped '1921' but no other numbers. The top of the toggle has the script 'DWM' stamp, along with the number 94. Frame and chamber both have the number 4794, and the 94 appears twice more on the left side of the pistol. The front strap of the grip, in rather rougher-looking letters, is stamped '4./K.3.99.' (I'm pretty certain that's accurate). On the right side of the chamber are stamped two little marks (side by side) that look like eagles, plus anoth mark I can't quite make out. On the right side near the toggle, however, is a similar-looking eagle stamp that has something resembling 'M9AL' beneath it. On the frame beneath the barrel appears to be a small, lower-case script letter 'a' (I think).

Any help, suggestions, and/or information you can offer would be most welcome. My goal for now would be have it refinished (to protect it from the humid NC coastal air!) and use it as an occasional shooter, barring its being some shockingly rare/collectable Luger variant (which I tend to doubt). Thanks in advance for your help!

Edward Tinker · 03-02-2007, 02:03 AM

Chris, welcome to the forum! Yes, those eyes play tricks on us...

Without pictures, we can guess, and fairly close for some of it.

Made in 1921 by DWM, the 4794a would be the serial number. It sounds like you have weiamr army markings, but lets let some of the guys who know this talk about that.

I am betting the M9AL is something like an HZa stamping that is smeered or not stamped well.

These models were strawed, so if no trace of straw, then it has been reblued at some point.

Ed

Ron Smith · 03-02-2007, 10:03 AM

Hi Chris,

Your 1921 is one of approx. 10,000 1920 & 1921 maunfactured Lugers contracted by the Reichswehr military with no serial number suffix, a or b suffix. Yours obviously is an a suffix.

The unit mark 4./K.3.99. = 4th Company/ Kraftfahr-Abteilung 3 weapon #99. Kraftfahr-Abteilung transaltes to Driving Detachment, or what we would call a Transport Unit. The unit mark isn't rare, but not common, as fewer were issued to such units.

I would leave it as is. The value will be deminished by half if restored. Just keep it well oiled.

If you should decide to sell it. I would be interested seeing some photos. Reichswehr unit marked Lugers are my collecting interest.

The proofs should match the ones shown in this photo

Ron

Quincunx · 03-03-2007, 01:57 PM

Thanks very much, guys. I'll try to post some pictures here when I can. Will the value of this pistol be at all seriously compromised if I go ahead and shoot it occasionally? Or would I be better advised to sell this one and invest in another one as a shooter? Appreciate the input.

Chris

Ron Smith · 03-03-2007, 09:38 PM

Chris,

If you should break a numbered part. The value will be effected quite a bit. And finding a replacement part with the same number could be a challenge , not to mention expensive.

Ron

Aaron · 03-04-2007, 04:35 PM

A good restoration job costs hundreds of dollars, so you really don't want that. An ordinary refinish will only devalue the gun. Very few buyers like them that way.

03-02-2007, 01:41 AM	#1
Quincunx New User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Help with 1921 Luger Hello, all. Glad to have found this forum. I recently acquired my first Luger through a friend, and I'm trying to learn all I can about it. The previous owner (who is 60) told me that he had gotten it from his father about 25 years ago, but was never told where/when/how the pistol was obtained. Unfortunately, at the moment I have no way to post any pictures, though I will try at some point. I've been trying to puzzle through the various markings, and comparing them to charts elsewhere on the forum, but my eyes weren't what they once were and I'm having difficulty, even with a magnifying glass! Well, here goes...... Overall condition seems fair. It's a 9mm caliber, 4" barrel. There are some rust flecks and pitting on the front and backstrap, as well as a few on the barrel. The rifling, however, is quite sharp and there is no pitting in the barrel as far as I can see. No trace of any straw-colored finish anywhere, if it ever was present. The grips are checkered wood, the right one having a 2" crack in it near the trigger guard. The magazine is definitely non-original, as it has a plastic knob at the bottom and is marked "Made in Holland" in English. Now, on to the markings....... Over the chamber is stamped '1921' but no other numbers. The top of the toggle has the script 'DWM' stamp, along with the number 94. Frame and chamber both have the number 4794, and the 94 appears twice more on the left side of the pistol. The front strap of the grip, in rather rougher-looking letters, is stamped '4./K.3.99.' (I'm pretty certain that's accurate). On the right side of the chamber are stamped two little marks (side by side) that look like eagles, plus anoth mark I can't quite make out. On the right side near the toggle, however, is a similar-looking eagle stamp that has something resembling 'M9AL' beneath it. On the frame beneath the barrel appears to be a small, lower-case script letter 'a' (I think). Any help, suggestions, and/or information you can offer would be most welcome. My goal for now would be have it refinished (to protect it from the humid NC coastal air!) and use it as an occasional shooter, barring its being some shockingly rare/collectable Luger variant (which I tend to doubt). Thanks in advance for your help!

03-02-2007, 02:03 AM	#2
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,966 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,595 Times in 2,116 Posts	Chris, welcome to the forum! Yes, those eyes play tricks on us... Without pictures, we can guess, and fairly close for some of it. Made in 1921 by DWM, the 4794a would be the serial number. It sounds like you have weiamr army markings, but lets let some of the guys who know this talk about that. I am betting the M9AL is something like an HZa stamping that is smeered or not stamped well. These models were strawed, so if no trace of straw, then it has been reblued at some point. 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

03-02-2007, 10:03 AM	#3
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Hi Chris, Your 1921 is one of approx. 10,000 1920 & 1921 maunfactured Lugers contracted by the Reichswehr military with no serial number suffix, a or b suffix. Yours obviously is an a suffix. The unit mark 4./K.3.99. = 4th Company/ Kraftfahr-Abteilung 3 weapon #99. Kraftfahr-Abteilung transaltes to Driving Detachment, or what we would call a Transport Unit. The unit mark isn't rare, but not common, as fewer were issued to such units. I would leave it as is. The value will be deminished by half if restored. Just keep it well oiled. If you should decide to sell it. I would be interested seeing some photos. Reichswehr unit marked Lugers are my collecting interest. The proofs should match the ones shown in this photo Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

03-03-2007, 09:38 PM	#5
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Chris, If you should break a numbered part. The value will be effected quite a bit. And finding a replacement part with the same number could be a challenge , not to mention expensive. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

03-03-2007, 01:57 PM	#4
Quincunx New User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks very much, guys. I'll try to post some pictures here when I can. Will the value of this pistol be at all seriously compromised if I go ahead and shoot it occasionally? Or would I be better advised to sell this one and invest in another one as a shooter? Appreciate the input. Chris

03-04-2007, 04:35 PM	#6
Aaron Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vista, CA Posts: 1,008 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	A good restoration job costs hundreds of dollars, so you really don't want that. An ordinary refinish will only devalue the gun. Very few buyers like them that way.