[Guest]

I just purchased my first, of many I hope, Luger last Friday and I need some help with identification. When I purchased it, it was labelled a 'converted artillery' Luger 9mm w/ 4" barrel. Breech is stamped '1915'. There are 3 'crown S' proof marks and 1 herald eagle on right side. The handle has a lug for stock. There are no unit markings on the handle but there is a uppercase scroll 'W' stamped on trigger guard right where the guard and handle meet. All other parts are matched to the frame, except the barrel. There no serial numbers on the barrel and only match marks at 6 o'clock to mate with breech and at 12 o'clock there is a small dimple in the barrel about 1/2" from breech and the breech which has indentation for field sight. The thing is, the rear toggle link, which is also matched to the frame, has a fixed sight( needed for 5,6 and 8" barrels W/O field sights) but not needed for 8" artillery barrel with field sight. The other thing is, if there was a barrel w/o field sight installed originally(5,6 or 8"), why the indentation at the top of the breech? My photograph file is too big to post here but if anyone wanted to be confused, my e-mail is [email protected]. Thanks again for any help you can give.


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[Edward Tinker]

Pictures posted for clubcoz

 

[Ron Smith]

Ed, Ya know. If you keep posting photos for them, they'll never learn to do it on their own. What a hard a** you turned out to be!

Ron

 

[Edward Tinker]

I know, but if I have time, I'd rather see the pictures, then piss them off!

Now, take a look at this gun and use your Imperial Lugers and give this guy some answers LOL

Ed

 

[Ron Smith]

Hi Rich, welcome to the forum. What you got is a DWM 1915 artillery luger that had a 4" barrel installed after WWI. The Treaty of Versailles mandated that the maximum lenght barrel on a Military pistol could not exceed 100mm. Therefore all military pistols with longer barrels , had new shorter barrels installed. This one appears to be a cut down artillery barrel, with the sight set back. I don't believe that was a common practice during this period. It may have been done later by a gunsmith.I have a 6" S/42 with a similar barrel. You are correct that the clearance cut on the chamber was for the artillery sight leaf.
Now as for the "W" , I don't have a clue. Maybe an officer, privately purchased pistol. And he had his initial stamped or engraved on it. Maybe some other member knows? Congratulations! You are now a Luger Head. There is no escape BWOOOOOHAHAHA!
Ron

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the help. I e-mailed weimar_police for directions on shrinking photos (I beg forgiveness for my ignorance). Would I be degrading what value the gun does have by re-installing an artillery barrel, provided I could even find one?

 

[Dwight Gruber]

Rich,

You would not be "degrading" any value of this Luger, but you would not be enhancing it, either. Take this gun to the range and enjoy shooting it often, save the money you would spend on a barrel and its installation for a Luger with true collector's value.

--Dwight

 

[Edward Tinker]

I would be careful, I posted the pictures, but didn't look really close. If it is an aresenal new barrel, this modification is acceptable and doesn't mean you have a mismatch at all. If it is a bubba rebarrel, that is different.

Let me look at the pictures closer, the larger versions tonight.

Ed

 

[Ron Smith]

Rich, No forgiveness to be begged. No offense intended. Just a private joke between Weiner Police and me. BTW, Dwight's one of the members to listen to. He knows more about this obsession than I will ever know. He is really into the technical aspects of it.
Ron

 

[Guest]

The barrel bore is in fair condition,that is, there are grooves(6) and valleys but not 'like new' by any means. No offense taken, Ron. Just having a little fun of my own. Ed, if you need a better picture of barrel, let me know. I'd like to think, since it's my first one, that I got something special. Paid enough for it.

 

[Edward Tinker]

Send a few of the underneath of the barrel, and both sides to my e-mail if you can.

Any acceptance markings on it?

Ed

 

[Guest]

No markings at all except the dimple.

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[Edward Tinker]

Rich, I am not happy with the bluing difference in the frame versus the barrel... I was leaning towards the barrel being era replacement, but I am thinking it isn't now. Color is close, but seems to me a difference in the bluing...

Ed

 

[Guest]

I'm not sure if it's the pictures but I can't see a difference. The grains of the metals appear to be consistent with each other and if the gun was used and holstered a lot would the barrel wear at the same rate as the frame? While on the subject of barrels, is the standard 4" barrel milled from one piece of steel? There is a parting line on the barrel just behind the front sight. Is the font sight usually a separate piece?

 

[Ron Smith]

Rich, The barrel and front sight band should be intregal, all one piece of steel. That's what I suspected earlier. The barrel was originally an eight inch artillery barrel. Someone has cut it to 4" and sleeved the front sight back on. They cut off the sight band. Drill out the center. Put the barrel in a lathe, and turn down the diameter of the barrel, and then slide the barrel band on. And silver solder it to hold it in place. Kind of like supergluing a ring on your finger tip.There should'nt be any lines on an original barrel. Another tell tale sign is the narrow barrel flange , where the barrel meets the receiver. The flared part that butts up against the front of the receiver is much thinner than it should be.
Ron

 

[Guest]

A barrel rework might explain why there's no stamps or proofs left and also Ed's comment on the slight difference in blueing. After I read his comment, I took the gun and did good clean on the outside and I have to agree with him, There is a slight difference between the parts. Well, chalk this one up to a learning experience. All I've learned on this forum will make my next purchase more informed. Have a great Labor day, Everyone.

 

[Ron Smith]

Rich, It's been fairly well done. And it's a unique Luger. Would make a neat shooter.
Ron

 

[jcoe]

For a number of years, I have been watching for the “W” mark and have seen 3 other DWM LP08 with a similar mark and in same location. So in my limited experience it is not all that rare. Its significance is unknown to me and also Mr. Kornmayer as of 10 –15 years ago. I started new topic (with pictures) about the “W” mark in LP08 category of this forum.Because of its size and location,the mark can be missed.
John

 

[Guest]

I just found out how the gun could have notches for artillery sights on chamber and fixed rear sight on matched rear toggle. The rear sight was grafted onto the toggle. You'd thought it it would've been easier to slap mismatched parts on it instead of doing all this machining.

 

[garfield]

quote:Originally posted by clubcoz1

I just found out how the gun could have notches for artillery sights on chamber and fixed rear sight on matched rear toggle. The rear sight was grafted onto the toggle. You'd thought it it would've been easier to slap mismatched parts on it instead of doing all this machining.

"Grafted"?