Info on a Luger would be appreciated!

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phil.luger

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Over the weekend my Dad gave me a Luger. I have been very interested in them and would really appreciate any information anyone could provide...as I know close to nothing! I'm new to this site...my local gun range turned me onto this site as a resource to get some basic information. If the pics aren't too great...it has "1921" on the top barrel and a serial # of 7666 on the bottom. The 66 is repeated on parts throughout, except on the side plate (it is stamped 67). I know this is an issue but how much? Where was it made? When? For what service? Any info would be great! Any good site to do some info gathering myself? Thanks in advance to anyone who replies! Phil
 

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It looks like a very nice re bluing Job, nice shiny trigger, soft edges and contours, could be wrong , been wrong before and will be again.
 
Thanks...

Yeah it looks "brand new" for a gun I think is 60+ years old...I'm going to try and attach a higher res pic. Any info on the age, make, service? Any info would be appreciated...Phil
 

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Some more pics!

Here are some better pics...
 

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Lugers with 1920 or 1921 dates were refurbished WW I German military or assembled from leftover wartime parts. Can you tell if yours is a 9mm or a .30? Many were barrelled or rebarrelled to .30 Luger (7.65x22) because of strict regulation on how many military weapons could be made under the terms of the Versailles Treaty.

There is a specialist board
http://www.lugerforum.com/
 
luger identification...

Hello Phil. luger

I would suggest that you obtain some recent reference material on luger pistols in order to properly id your pistol.

The Standard catalog of Lugers by Aaron Davis is a start. Books from Europe translated are even better. Some of the info in older American books is inaccurate. Luger collecting is not my bag but I do enjoy reading about them and it can be very complicated or confusing. Unfortunately there are also unscrupulous persons out there who will try capitalize on lack of knowledge so dont sell it to someone who is going to " help" you out. I had a very nice German K98 that had matching numbers with the exception of the floorplate that was 2 digits off . Who knows why? Maybe it happened at the factory or whatever. Dont let that cause you to sell it for a song. Also a proper appraisal can not be made over the computer with several photographs..

Since your Dad gave it to you it has sentimental value and I would keep it.

You should just enjoy researching it and even shooting it. Have fun.
 
Many Thanks

Absolutely I'm not selling it! I want to shoot it and enjoy it (if it is capable). My main interest is to find out as much as I can. If it is a fraud...fine. If it is real...fine. Actually, I don't care. I would just like to know as much as I can about its history...good or bad! Either way I believe it has a story and I would like to know what it is. Thanks for your input...Phil
 
...

beautyful piece that is.

Have u checked the bore ... caliberwise? ( 9mm, .30)

U r one lucky B******.
 
A DWM Luger in that kind of shape is going to be worth a shiny penny. I agree its possible it's had a refinish/touch up in places but the markings are crisp.

LugerForum is chock full of info as well as a nice downloadable schematic 'documenting' your Luger.
 
Thanks for the thoughts...any ideas of when/where it was made or for what service (military, police etc.). I would just like a little history on it if possible...I understand if it was "frankensteined" that would be kinda tough to be exact. FYI, my Dad paid about $825 for it about a month ago at an Ohio gun show...so I'm not looking to sell it, but fire it off now and again if it checks out safe.
 
The Simpson Ltd link I posted in #12 has 191 DWM Lugers for sale.

Suggest you wade through them all and see if there are any with similiar markings to yours.

rc
 
Has anyone noticed that very unusual takedown lever and the way it interlocks with the sideplate? I have never seen anything like that and can't find anything in my books on it.

The 1920/1921 dates don't necessarily mean refinished guns or ones made from parts. In 1920, the Weimar republic passed a law banning private ownership of military weapons; guns that were surrendered in compliance with the law were marked with the date received, thus showing legal ownership by the state. Later, those guns were issued to the military or police like any other guns.

Many thousands of military pistols were refurbished and converted to 7.65mm (because making pistols in 9mm for commercial sale was also illegal) for sale on the world market to obtain desperately needed hard currency. But those have all receiver ring markings removed and are not dated. They are, incidentally, good pistols and the ".30 Luger" is a dream to shoot.

Jim
 
Yes, I saw the funny takedown lever. Not in either of my books on the subject.

I think the history of the .30 kind of knocks the common claim that 9mm Lugers require "hot" loads. A 93 gr bullet at 1250 fps is not a hot load and there is no difference in Lugers by caliber except the barrel.
 
In fact, Lugers should not be fired with "hot" 9mm loads. The gun is strong enough, but the ejectors break.

Jim
 
Thanks for the info...I have a box of ammo given to me with the gun. It says "9mm Luger 115 GR. Jacketed H.P. R9MM1 " I am assuming this is the correct ammo for it, but of course I'll have the guys at the range check it out first! Would any different picture/angle of the lever you talked about be helpful? Thanks, Phil
 
Also, I was told I may look into trying to find a replica clip if I was going to fire it regularly...basically, I'm assuming, because of the age of the spring in the original. Any thoughts on that?
 
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The ammo is jacketed hollow point, but is there a maker's name on the box? Most JHP loads are OK; the problem is not that they are too hot, but that the bullets are shaped in such a way that they won't feed in a Luger. I doubt any ammo maker even tests that ammo in a Luger since they are now considered collectors' items, not using guns.

Ammo that is too hot is some of the +P stuff and the SMG ammo that has turned up on the market.

Lugers are very sensitive to magazine problems because of the sharp angle of the grip, but I would not worry about the current magazine until you have a chance to try it. Of course, a spare mag is always a good thing to have.

Luger magazine springs are usually not a problem as far as weakening goes. The problems come with the feed lips and follower areas.

Jim
 
No way to tell the year the gun was made, since the original date has apparently been removed. (It was not made in 1921; that date is explained above.)

It probably dates to the years of the first World War, but it could be any year from 1908 to 1918.

Jim
 
Wow, I had no idea the gun was around 100 years old! I'm still planning on shooting it...but definately will get it checked out at the range. Is there a specific name this model of luger goes by and was it most likely made in Germany?
 
DWM = Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken Aktien-Gesellschaft (German Weapons and Munitions Works), known as DWM, was an arms company in Imperial Germany created in 1896 when Ludwig Loewe & Company decided to unite its weapons and ammunition production facilities within one company. (Wiki)

So yes, it was made in Germany. DWM is the fancy scroll lettering on the toggle.
 
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