Unusual 1918 DWM

EPENROD · 02-01-2011, 01:00 AM

Hello all, I am new to the forum and helping my father in law research this unusual Luger he has had for quite some time. It is stampted 1918 and appears to have been modified maybe?

I tried to photograph every angle and hopfully one of you can help me out here.

pic's in next post....

Dan44 · 02-01-2011, 01:38 AM

With three holes drilled into the chamber area, some sort of dewat (deactivated war trophy) I’ve seen that on some rifles so they can’t be fired again.

Edward Tinker · 02-01-2011, 01:42 AM

it is interesting, but only as a conversation piece

That said, I would gladly own it as a conversation piece

Ed

lfid · 02-01-2011, 03:53 AM

perhaps to hold an inserted barrel in place - maybe 22 ?

is the barrel collar / stub drilled straight thru cleanly or does it show a partial chamber ?

are holes threaded ?

maybe an offset 22 barrel so that standard luger firing pin hits the rim of cartridge

Bill

John Sabato · 02-01-2011, 08:42 AM

I think this was a theatrical prop gun that had a dummy barrel put on it. It may also have been a deactivated war trophy... but the reality is that the three holes in the chamber area of the upper receiver are not a death blow to this pistol. The barrel can be replaced and the the holes in the receiver will be of no consequence. This gun would make a perfectly acceptable shooter class Luger...

The magazine has been modified. It is a machined (extruded) body that was a police magazine... that has had the original aluminum bottom replaced with a wood bottom... Pity, as these magazines in original condition are quite collectible all on their own.

sheepherder · 02-01-2011, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Sabato

... but the reality is that the three holes in the chamber area of the upper receiver are not a death blow to this pistol. The barrel can be replaced and the the holes in the receiver will be of no consequence. This gun would make a perfectly acceptable shooter class Luger...

...If the threads are intact...Those holes might be for setscrews to hold in a dummy barrel because the threads have been drilled out...

...Can't figure out what that spherical ended plug would be used for...

alanint · 02-01-2011, 09:47 PM

I don't think the barrel threads have been drilled out. It looks like that end plug is either threaded in using the original barrel threads, (thus the flats for unscrewing the plug) or held in using set screws placed in the three holes, (or both). The "end plug" looks like it has a chamber for a round in it, or as others mentioned, a step to hold some sort of barrel, sub-caliber device or other extention.
I don't think this is a "demill" job, but some sort of purpose built modification.
Perhaps for a suppressor?

EPENROD, will this end plug chamber a 9mm round?

Ron Wood · 02-01-2011, 10:19 PM

Looks like the rear end of an artillery barrel to me. A really serious deactivation of a barrel/receiver but not of the gun. A replacement barrel and receiver and the gun is back in action.

Douglas Jr. · 02-02-2011, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Wood

A replacement barrel and receiver and the gun is back in action.

Lugers are tough animals. They simply refuse to die!

02-01-2011, 01:00 AM	#1
EPENROD New User Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Unusual 1918 DWM Hello all, I am new to the forum and helping my father in law research this unusual Luger he has had for quite some time. It is stampted 1918 and appears to have been modified maybe? I tried to photograph every angle and hopfully one of you can help me out here. pic's in next post.... Attached Thumbnails Last edited by EPENROD; 02-01-2011 at 01:13 AM. Reason: Pics

02-01-2011, 08:42 AM	#5
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,156 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,308 Times in 1,098 Posts	I think this was a theatrical prop gun that had a dummy barrel put on it. It may also have been a deactivated war trophy... but the reality is that the three holes in the chamber area of the upper receiver are not a death blow to this pistol. The barrel can be replaced and the the holes in the receiver will be of no consequence. This gun would make a perfectly acceptable shooter class Luger... The magazine has been modified. It is a machined (extruded) body that was a police magazine... that has had the original aluminum bottom replaced with a wood bottom... Pity, as these magazines in original condition are quite collectible all on their own. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

02-01-2011, 10:19 PM	#8
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,040 Thanks: 1,106 Thanked 5,257 Times in 1,724 Posts	Looks like the rear end of an artillery barrel to me. A really serious deactivation of a barrel/receiver but not of the gun. A replacement barrel and receiver and the gun is back in action. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

02-01-2011, 01:38 AM	#2
Dan44 User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 78 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	With three holes drilled into the chamber area, some sort of dewat (deactivated war trophy) I’ve seen that on some rifles so they can’t be fired again.

02-01-2011, 01:42 AM	#3
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,967 Thanks: 2,066 Thanked 4,596 Times in 2,117 Posts	it is interesting, but only as a conversation piece That said, I would gladly own it as a conversation piece Ed

02-01-2011, 03:53 AM	#4
lfid Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wichita, KS USA Posts: 453 Thanks: 573 Thanked 96 Times in 53 Posts	perhaps to hold an inserted barrel in place - maybe 22 ? is the barrel collar / stub drilled straight thru cleanly or does it show a partial chamber ? are holes threaded ? maybe an offset 22 barrel so that standard luger firing pin hits the rim of cartridge Bill

02-01-2011, 09:47 PM	#7
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,193 Posts	I don't think the barrel threads have been drilled out. It looks like that end plug is either threaded in using the original barrel threads, (thus the flats for unscrewing the plug) or held in using set screws placed in the three holes, (or both). The "end plug" looks like it has a chamber for a round in it, or as others mentioned, a step to hold some sort of barrel, sub-caliber device or other extention. I don't think this is a "demill" job, but some sort of purpose built modification. Perhaps for a suppressor? EPENROD, will this end plug chamber a 9mm round?