DWM 1900 Prototype Luger

This Luger keeps me awake nights. I would really like to know its story.

At 10 A.M on 21 May 1903, Georg Luger personally presented 5 Lugers to the Ordnance Board at Springfield Armory. Two of these Lugers were in 7.65mm and three were 9mm. The 9mm Lugers were in three different barrel lengths 3 7/8” (10cm), 4 11/16 (12cm) and 5 13/16” (15cm).

From the account of the test review, “The pistols submitted differed only in a few minor details from those previously tested. The form of the extractor had been slightly changed, the ejector, firing spring and recoil spring had been strengthened, the safety grip made wider, the lug on the safety lever made higher and the front sight slightly changed in form. The two calibers differed only in the barrels, all the remaining parts including the magazine being identical.”

This test preceded the purchase of the 50 “Cartridge Counter” pieces. One wonders what the changes were to the extractor, firing spring and recoil spring. There is some conjecture that this may have marked the introduction of the coil mainspring, but this is highly unlikely since the Cartridge Counter examples that followed did not incorporate this feature. What is interesting about these weapons is that according to Walter (“The Luger Story”), “Two of these have been identified as 10030B and 10060B, with a special 12cm barrel and a standard 15cm barrel respectively.”

This could possibly indicate that the beautiful “DWM 1900 prototype luger” with the serial number 10060B in the possession of Ms Terri might have indeed been one of the pieces presented by Georg to the Board that has subsequently been modified. Consider these points:

1. By the records and accounts, 10060B was in 9mm. That would explain the short frame/short receiver of this piece. The Test Trial Cartridge Counters (and 1902 “Fat Barrel” commercial models) that followed subsequently were of this configuration.

2. The Luger at Treasure Hunt Arms wears a 7.65mm barrel. It bears the same serial number as the frame, and would seem to be a factory installation as it has been marked with the shield-shaped DWM barrel inspection proof. It could be assumed that the piece returned to Germany with Georg after the test, and was subsequently re-barreled to the then more readily abundant 7.65mm cartridge. This would account for the caliber and the seemingly anomalous “mating of the dished toggle of the long frame first model with the short frame of the second model”

All of this is of course pure conjecture, but I sure wish I was rich...I would love to own this Luger. Then I could spend my sleepless nights pondering its mysteries up close and personal.


If it is made after 1918...it is a reproduction.

Ron,
Take a look at the witness mark area of this pistol. I appears to have been filed away.
What do you think?

Wes,

I am not sure what you mean by “filed away”? I have enlarged the witness mark area a little, and it appears that the mark is intact. If you are referring to the two small light areas, I believe that they are the result of the metal being upset on this narrow edge when the mark was struck. Since they are on a thin edge, this higher upset area is much more vulnerable to wear than the surrounding metal, so these two tiny points have been polished bright, but I don’t think they have been deliberately filed.

MarkHighlight.jpg

If it is made after 1918...it is a reproduction.

Ron,
The area that I am looking at is where the radius meets the flange of the barrel. The junction of these two features looks a little weird as it comes around the horizon to the near view point. Nothing to do with the witness mark itself.
It may be just lighting that would cause an optical illusion.

On second consideration, that is exactly what it is: the distortion of lighting.



Regards,
wes

Heinz,

The uppercase B is unusual, but not in a 10,000 serial number Luger. This 10000 series uppercase B designation was primarily reserved for special production or prototype pieces. Most 10000B Lugers will exhibit some special feature that is unique. Also many of them will have the GL proof on the rear of the toggle indicating personal specification/supervision/inspection by Georg Luger.

After Wes pointed out more specifically that the radius appeared flattened at the witness mark, I had to agree. It may well be an illusion caused by the lighting, or maybe not. Look at this other view of the area (this is a thumbnail image - click to enlarge). The radius seems constant from this angle.

Post-37-135-Mvc_006f.jpg

If it is made after 1918...it is a reproduction.

Heinz,
20-30 years ago, I attempted to develop the skill of the art of engraving. The masters who create illusions in metal, such as the busts on a coin, have my admiration. However, I have created nothing that I would care to display.

If I owned a very rare pistol that had suffered major damage to the barrel (for who knows what reason), and wanted (because of lack of integrity) -(certainly not the case of the present owner)- to 'restore' it with a similar barrel at hand, I would approach it in the following manner:
1. Obtain a 'circa' barrel with similar number. This would not be easy! 100x would be about as close as a person could possibly do, and consider himself very fortunate indeed! Forget the 15cm, much less the 9mm. Then overstamp the x and add a 0. This would take several years of searching.
2. Hand fit the barrel to the receiver. No small task, that. The witness mark would have to be of secondary consideration.
3. Then, restrike the witness mark to appear original. This would necessitate the removal of the original witness marks on the receiver and the barrel flange. And must be done by hand to get a good blend, but the skill of the engraver would have to be employed to bring the radius to appear untouched and not be distinguished from the co-joining radius and flange.

If this is not the original barrel for this pistol, the last touch of the engraver was overlooked. You know, a man cannot work on a pistol forever! There has to be a point that you say, "Enough, it is finished".

Now, mind you, I cannot say that this pistol has been touched, for I am not looking at it with a loop at the moment. And if it has been rebarreled, it may have been done at the factory, as has been suggested. Does the 6 on the barrel serial look stamped over to you?

Ron,
From the view that you posted, I have puzzled at this and must state that a gradual deepening of the area of removal will be un-noticeable from that view. It would have to be measured with calipers or an indicator.

I like your suggestion that this is a factory barrel replacement.



Regards,
wes

Hello Wes,

I did not want to enter the discussion too quickly because I realized that my friend Ron would have preferred to make the first comments! He just loves talking about this stuff!

If this pistol was to be considered a 'Presentation Luger', it would have probably had a 'GL' hallmark. I cannot state with any degree of certainity that a presentation piece would require a proof mark to be imported into the US in the early 1900's. I have examined a couple of 'GL' Lugers which have a 'Crown N' proof mark, but the existence of this proof mark on a 'GL' pistol can 'open a can of worms'. It is an acceptable conclusion that test guns such as the 1900 US Test Trail Lugers and the 1902 Cartridge Counter Lugers will not have proof marks, except for the factory applied 'flaming bomb' proof mark which appears on some of these Lugers.

Albert

[image]http://imperialarms.home.att.net/Images/Thumbnails/Lugers/1900Swiss.jpg[/image]

"If it does not show any patina, it is not original"

Imperial Arms Web Site: http://imperialarms.home.att.net

Professor Wood!!! Now how in the world am I going to live up (or down) to that appellation!

If it is made after 1918...it is a reproduction.