Restored Luger

stanley miller · 03-26-2007, 01:47 PM

Hello again, I would like to identify a Luger that I was given a few years ago along with a handshake and a good luck. The story is that the pistol had been dug out of the sand in North Afrika and that it had clearly been in a fire. All of the information is hearsay accept for the part about it being in a fire at some point. The toggle was frozen in the half cocked position, the grips were missing and there was much rust and some pitting.
Thanks to some good advise and much TLC, I was able to free up the toggle to the point of being functional. I was also able to get the pistol apart and cleaned up enough to make it at least presentable. The fireing functions do not work. In other words no "click" when you pull the trigger.
But, having been told that the fire had probably affected the temper of the steel to the point that it might not be safe to shoot, I did not repace any parts to make it work. So , in other words, it still has all original parts.
It is most surely a wall hanger and not a shooter, but I am still proud to have it.
I would like to give you a description of the markings to see if we can determine if it might actually have been in North Afrika during WW II.
Here goes...under the barrel is a crown over N just above the serial number. The serial number also appears just above the trigger guard and below the barrel. The number is 4857. There is a letter m written in cursive just below the s/n.
The letters DWM appear on top of the toggel. Although its hard to see, it appears like GERMANY is printed on the right hand side of the breech. There were some markings on the left hand side but they are too faded to make out.
I realize that this is not much to go on....Any idea at all...? Thanks
throughout the gun.

George Anderson · 03-26-2007, 03:01 PM

The pistol you describe is a 1920's commercial Luger imported into the US for commercial sales between 1920 and 1930. It is quite likely a .30 calibre.

stanley miller · 03-26-2007, 09:13 PM

So chances are it never saw military service, correct? Oh well, it could have got the fire damage in a house fire in nebraska somewhere down the line.LOL I still think that it is cool, as are all Lugers. This Forum is the greatest...thanks

03-26-2007, 01:47 PM	#1
stanley miller User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: crestview florida Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Restored Luger Hello again, I would like to identify a Luger that I was given a few years ago along with a handshake and a good luck. The story is that the pistol had been dug out of the sand in North Afrika and that it had clearly been in a fire. All of the information is hearsay accept for the part about it being in a fire at some point. The toggle was frozen in the half cocked position, the grips were missing and there was much rust and some pitting. Thanks to some good advise and much TLC, I was able to free up the toggle to the point of being functional. I was also able to get the pistol apart and cleaned up enough to make it at least presentable. The fireing functions do not work. In other words no "click" when you pull the trigger. But, having been told that the fire had probably affected the temper of the steel to the point that it might not be safe to shoot, I did not repace any parts to make it work. So , in other words, it still has all original parts. It is most surely a wall hanger and not a shooter, but I am still proud to have it. I would like to give you a description of the markings to see if we can determine if it might actually have been in North Afrika during WW II. Here goes...under the barrel is a crown over N just above the serial number. The serial number also appears just above the trigger guard and below the barrel. The number is 4857. There is a letter m written in cursive just below the s/n. The letters DWM appear on top of the toggel. Although its hard to see, it appears like GERMANY is printed on the right hand side of the breech. There were some markings on the left hand side but they are too faded to make out. I realize that this is not much to go on....Any idea at all...? Thanks throughout the gun.

03-26-2007, 03:01 PM	#2
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,531 Times in 788 Posts	The pistol you describe is a 1920's commercial Luger imported into the US for commercial sales between 1920 and 1930. It is quite likely a .30 calibre.

03-26-2007, 09:13 PM	#3
stanley miller User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: crestview florida Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	So chances are it never saw military service, correct? Oh well, it could have got the fire damage in a house fire in nebraska somewhere down the line.LOL I still think that it is cool, as are all Lugers. This Forum is the greatest...thanks