My "new" 1917 DWM

[tbarker13]

I mentioned this on the New Collector's area. Bought this Monday morning from a guy who is liquidating some deceased fellow's gun collection.
Paid $900 for it.
As far as I can tell, all numbers (other than the grips) are matching.
If anyone can tell me anything about the gun, I would love to hear about it.
I've wanted one of these since I was about 7 years old when I saw one that belonged to a friend of my father. Took a long time, but I have one now.

[alanint]

It looks all original, including finish and you got quite a deal on it at $900

[Norme]

Hi Tim, Congratulations on your "new" Luger, they don't get any better than that. I can't believe that the grips are not original. Regards, Norm

[DavidJayUden]

Beautiful, first, second or 15th Luger. Funny how once you lust for one, that never goes away until you have one, or more.
Welcome.
dju

[FNorm]

You're gonna wanna so...

http://www.wonderhowto.com/search/luger/

FN

[tbarker13]

Great. Thanks for those links.
Living in St. Louis, I'm also going to take it over to Lugerdoc for a checkup.

[Delkal]

Nice pistol at a great price.

I noticed there was vertical sanding /scratches under the safety before bluing. I have a 1916 with the same marks. Usually you see the round bit marks from the milling machine. How common is this?

[Arizona Slim]

I'm also going to take it over to Lugerdoc for a checkup.

tbarker13, excellent idea to take it to Lugerdoc for a checkup, I failed to have my all-matching 1917 Artillery checked before firing it, I purchased it at auction in 1964, took it to the range and after about six rounds it locked up, after a brief examination I noticed that the receiver was cracked. I put it away and forgot about it. Forty six years later I located another receiver and had Lugerdoc make the necessary repairs. He did a fantastic job and kept me informed every step of the way. A great guy to do business with. Lon

[LUIS22]

Beautiful rust blue !! Congrats!!

[augustJ]

Why is there a letter under the serial? Is this one of the commercial makes?

[drbuster]

August, the letter suffix is military and allowed the factory to continue 4 digit numbering up to 10000. The first 10000 had no suffix, then "a", "b", etc. Commercial numbering went into 5 digits. This numbering system has been thoroughly explained many times on the Forum.

[MFC]

August is obviously thinking of the Alphabet commercials which are so plentiful here in the US. The simple answer to the difference is the military acceptence stamps and proofs as apposed to commercial proofs.

[tbarker13]

So, my luger spent a couple days with Lugerdoc. After inspecting it (we found the hold open is not a matching no.), he put together a breech assembly with firing pin and extractor that'll let me shoot the thing without fear of breaking the original numbered parts.

So I took it out this evening and put about 50 rounds through it. Other than one misfeed (I blame my reloads), it functioned wonderfully. Loving this gun.

[Ron Smith]

"I noticed there was vertical sanding /scratches under the safety before bluing. I have a 1916 with the same marks. Usually you see the round bit marks from the milling machine. How common is this?"

Bob,

It's very common. Some original finish Lugers exhibit what appear to be erratic scratch marks in the ear recesses. It depends on the year and the maker. This has been discussed at length and determined to be normal on original Lugers.

Ron

[Delkal]

Ron,

Thanks for the info about the "scratches". My Luger is in excellent condition (except for a replaced barrel). I started worrying that it was a period reblue when I noticed the marks. I feel much better now that I saw other original pistols with the same marks.

Bob