[George]

Dear Friends:

I have the opportunity to purchase a 1918 DWM Artillery Luger. Guy is asking $750.00 but I think it is to much and plan on offering $500.00.

I was not all that interested when I was inspecting it as I did not note it's serial number. After giving the matter some thought it may not be a bad deal.

All numbers match including front adjustable and rear sight. Barrel is original and much of the finish is worn and appears a dull blue. Most of the blue wearing on the barrel. Grips are original but loose. One of the grip screws appears to have been replaced. Not much strawing is left either but Luger has to pitting and rifling is good. The front and rear straps are in good shape with much of the blue remaining.

Please let me know your feelings regarding this Artillery Luger.

Regards,

George

 

[keoki7]

George, photos would help. Fine tune front sights are quite rare on 1918 LP08s but not unheard of so do recheck serial numbers. With no pitting and all matching, $750 is pretty much a steal if you want a shooter and it may be better than a shooter.

 

[George]

Dear George:

I am not at all familiar with Artillery Lugers. With that said, I did notice that on the front sight, the last two digits #39 were stamped on the base of the front sight on left side. On the right side there is what appears to be a screw with round/flat head and two holes. I assume this is what is referred to as adjustable front sight.

Perhaps I should reconsider buying this Luger. I will see if I can work a deal with the seller and take some pictures. Will advise.

Regards,

George

 

[George]

Dear George:

I have attached a picture of an Artillery Luger that is for sale at Simpson Ltd item #D4871. This 1917 Luger has the same front sight as on the DWM 1918 I am looking at. This 1917 is priced at $1395.00 and there appears to be much pitting. I guess price of $750.00 is not out of line. I'll make return to this shop today and will keep you posted.

Regards,

George


Download Attachment: 1917 Artillery Luger.jpg
63.74KB

 

[keoki7]

George please be sure to confirm that the serial number at the base of the barrel matches the number on the frame just below it and on the left side of the barrel extension. Even if it's mixed, the price is still fair for a good shooter.

 

[Ron Smith]

George, If you're not interested in it. I am.

Ron

 

[George]

Dear George:

I checked the numbers on this Luger and they all match, I am sure, I think? Now I am second guessing myself.

Yesterday was the second time I was in this gunshop and again inspected this 1918 Artillery Luger. I am 99% sure the numbers on barrel, frame & slide match! But if you say that 1918 models are not very common with fine tune front sights, I will go along with you.

I am going to take my digital camera to this gunshop and put this matter to rest! My feeling is that Luger has matching numbers. If all numbers match on this 1918 Artillery and does have fune tune front sight, what do I have here? Possibly I should buy it on the spot and not let it get away?

The batteries for my digital camera are charging. I will head out in about two hours and report back upon my return.

I own all of Jan Still books plus just about every book on Lugers. At present I own 3 Lugers. My problem is that we are living in an apartment as our new house is being built. All my reference library is in a self storage where I have no access to it. Figures this would happen, oh well.

Regards,

George

 

[keoki7]

Put your extra pair of shoes in self storage but keep your references handy, along with two pair of shorts and a toothbrush.

Fine tune front and rear sights were phased out in 1917 but I have seen some 1918s with either one or the other. Very scarce but not any more valuable.

 

[George]

George, I stopped by the gunshop and inspected the 1918 Artillery Luger. I took a ton on pictures but most were blurry so I guess I was to close. With the digital set for close-ups,I need to determine how far away I need to get for future pictures. Sorry.

All the numbers match and serial number is #9839! The number #39 is stamped on all the small parts. The barrel has the same serial number and the stamping has a halo around it so I guess original. The witness mark mating the barrel to slide is 100% as well.

This 1918 Artillery does have a fine tune front sight as the pictures show. Sorry about being so blurry.

Please let me know your thoughts. We agreed on $700.00!

Regards,

George


Download Attachment: DCP_0411.JPG
147.1KB


Download Attachment: DCP_0412.JPG
99.06KB


Download Attachment: DCP_0413.JPG
77.94KB


Download Attachment: DCP_0415.JPG
74.52KB


Download Attachment: DCP_0417.JPG
68.86KB


Download Attachment: DCP_0428.JPG
94.52KB


Download Attachment: DCP_0429.JPG
71.67KB


Download Attachment: DCP_0430.JPG
103.12KB


Download Attachment: DCP_0438.JPG
84.58KB


Download Attachment: DCP_0441.JPG
80.89KB


Download Attachment: DCP_0446.JPG
84.98KB


Download Attachment: DCP_0449.JPG
83.93KB


Download Attachment: DCP_0450.JPG
63.69KB


Download Attachment: DCP_0452.JPG
119.5KB


Download Attachment: DCP_0457.JPG
117.54KB

 

[tomathvl]

George,
IMHO $700 is a deal. If you haven't already bought it, grab it.
Tom

 

[keoki7]

George, it is easily a $1500-$1800 gun in today's market. Quit dicking around and buy it. At anything under a grand I would have had that gun gone in a heartbeat.

 

[taudelt]

George........ $700 is a gift.......... go buy a lottery ticket....

 

[George]

Dear All:

I did, I did! I purchased it for $700.00! Thanks for all you encouragement.

Without my books, I am at a loss. George you said DWM stopped production of fine tune front sights in 1917? Maybe this Artillery is a early 1918 model.

Any thought or commits would be appreciated. Every small part was numbered to the gun including firing in & hold open. Now I need to get the tool for adjusting the front sights and a nice wood bottom magazine to go with. It came with an aluminum bottom eagle 63 as I recall.

Regards,

George

 

[Guest]

HI George,

You have made a buy of a lifetime!
YOU lucky DOG!
Geo. (Keoki7) helped me look for and buy a 1917DWM about 5-6 weeks ago.
I bought mine for $1800 and it compaired to others at the show going for $2800( mine has one matching mag)I have had two dealers look at it and they tell me it's worth every penny I paid for it.

Let us know were the gun shop is ,so we can help him get rid of all the old guns he has in stock!

Best of luck with it,
broomhandle

 

[George]

No way Jose! I aint telling nothing! If I was too tell you guys where my secret gunshops are, you all with deep pockets will grab all the good stuff before us poor folks have a chance to count our loose change to see if we can afford it!

Thanks for your kind words Keoki7,Point622000 and the rest of you!

Hey George(Keoki7) by the poor pictures I uploaded, this 1918 Artillery would you say is correct? I will forward addition pictures once I get it home and my wife is not around! The only other handgun I have that is as long as the Artillery Luger is my Smith & Wesson model 500 .50 caliber revolver and these two don't look anything a like and my wife would be suspicious!

Regards,

George

 

[RockinWR]

George/George,
* Mr. Harry D. MacTague wrote an article for AutoMag in Sept., 1997 based on his and much of the research previously done by Mr. Al Winter. The following are some pertinent excerpts relative to the 1918 fine tune sights:
(A) "There appears to be no standardization of the installation of the fine tuning adjustment in the 1917-1918 years of assembly. It is not unusual to find consecutive serial numbered pistols with different sight configurations."
(B) "The use of the fine tuned sights during the 1918 assembly period continued through the 'b' suffix in one of the following configurations:
(1) Fine tuned front and rear - 3%
(2) Fine tuned rear only - 9%
(3) Fine tuned front only - 10%
(4) No fine tuning - 79%"
(C) "The fine tuned front and rear configuration(1 above) disappeared after the "n/s" assemblies. Configuration 2 & 3 continued through the "b" suffix, and then became practically nonexistent thereafter."
* George S. - You received a wonderful buy on your Artillery. From the pics, as best as I can tell, your pistol #9839 bears no suffix lower case letter. This denotes early 1918 assembly; probably in January, 1918 if I were to guess.
* Trust this helps.

PS: A histogram of the four 1917 fine tune sight configurations by suffix block is included in Mr. MacTague's article.

 

[George]

Dear Rockinwr(Mr. Weiss)

Many thanks for your response to my 1918 Artillery Luger! I will take additional pictures once I pick it up!

I am at a terrible lose without my reference library of books. Thanks for your help!

Regards,

George

 

[Ron Smith]

George,
Outstanding!
Congratulations! Ron

 

[keoki7]

George, I have a 1918 serial numbered 246a, it too has a fine tune front sight. Mine also has birch grips, something common to many 1918's and some 1917's.

As to the wife/gun problem I have found that three is the magic number; once you have three they are unable to count. I am also always going and coming with pistols and long guns in cases. They just can't keep track of them.

You might also get a friend to bring it to your house while you are away. Have it in a pouch or case of yours. Have your friend hand it to your wife and say he is returning George's gun. She may ask if it's loaded but nothing more. Your wife will bring it into the house and put it away for you.

It's kinda like the old devil myth that he must be invited across the threshold. Works every time.

 

[taudelt]

George........ Another thought relative to the GUN/WIFE thing.... When returning from a gun show you can announce something like..."would you believe....$5.00 gun raffle........life is good" and show her your latest toy.

I would not attempt to use this more than once a month as some of these wives are pretty sharp.