New to me Luger

[Gatorade]

My my grandfather gave me this Luger. I know he bought it in the US. He brought back an Artillery Luger from Germany but that one is still in the safe. I tried to highlight all the proof marks I could find. I haven’t learned how to take it apart yet so taking the grip panels off is as far as I dare to go. Almost all the parts I see are “12” which matches with the serial number except the takedown lever which is marked “94”. I don’t know much about it so any info would be helpful in trying to determine things like history, and value. Thanks!

[AFJuvat]

Well,

Lets see what we have here.

1917 Luger, which would have made it an Imperial Luger (Made when Germany had an emperor.) Should be a DWM or Erfurt military contract 1914 - 1918.

Serial number 4912, series 'L'

Since many guns had a fair amount of individual parts fitting, many parts were stamped with either the serial number or the last 2 digits of the serial number, which explains the '12' you see on the parts. If the grips are original , they will have a serial number as well.

So will the magazines, with a suffix of 1, 2, or 3. Lugers were issues with three magazines.

Here is what I don't see that I would expect to see:

Side plate should have a number as well.
The toggle should say 'DWM' or 'Erfurt'

Proof marking on the extractor isn't a German proof.

No imperial acceptance proof marks on the left side of the receiver, just behind the barrel.

I suspect it was refinished at some point in its past.

[Gatorade]

Originally Posted by AFJuvat

Well,

Lets see what we have here.

1917 Luger, which would have made it an Imperial Luger (Made when Germany had an emperor.) Should be a DWM or Erfurt military contract 1914 - 1918.

Serial number 4912, series 'L'

Since many guns had a fair amount of individual parts fitting, many parts were stamped with either the serial number or the last 2 digits of the serial number, which explains the '12' you see on the parts. If the grips are original , they will have a serial number as well.

So will the magazines, with a suffix of 1, 2, or 3. Lugers were issues with three magazines.

Here is what I don't see that I would expect to see:

Side plate should have a number as well.
The toggle should say 'DWM' or 'Erfurt'

Proof marking on the extractor isn't a German proof.

No imperial acceptance proof marks on the left side of the receiver, just behind the barrel.

I suspect it was refinished at some point in its past.

You can tell all that from my pics?!? JK Mike had this Luger in his hands for a few minutes a little while ago. To further add to the refinish theory, some of the stamping are very light, a couple I had trouble getting crayon into the grooves so it was probably scrubbed and reblued at some point in its hundred years. Someone on the Luger board thought the grips may be East German era.

[Caleb]

Super nice! If Mike don’t know, no one does.


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[sdmc530]

Super cool. I am jealous

[Caleb]

Originally Posted by sdmc530

Super cool. I am jealous

Me too!


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