Luger question

[xtarheel]

Trying to find out more about a Luger that I have had for quite some time. It is a DWM 1920. I understand most of these were .30 Luger caliber. Mine is 9mm (barrel marked 8.82) The safety is marked "Gesichert". It has a three digit serial number 4XX. Same number or last two digits marked on all numbered parts except the magazine. Under the barrel the serial number appears with a "N" below. Three lightly stamped proof marks on the right side of the barrel extension. There are no other markings. Condition is very good. Any idea when it was made? I understand 1920 was a series and not necessarily year of production. Rough value, etc. Thank you.

 

[jonnyc]

Can't tell too much without pics, but your pistol was more likely an original military gun in 9mm, especially if the serial number on the barrel matches the rest of the pistol. The "1920" was simply a military property marking to discourage soldiers from taking their guns home after service.

 

[HexHead]

1920 was the year Weimar Republic police took possession of military guns to meet the military's arms reductions required under the a Treaty of Versailles. This enabled the military to replace existing hardware with new hardware and appear to be in compliance. Guns that were transferred to the police were marked 1920.

 

[Jim K]

Collectors refer to the common post-WWI Luger exports as "1920 commercials." Since German makers were banned from making or selling 9mm pistols except to the government, most of those guins, whether newly made or converted military guns, were chambered for 7.65mm Parabellum, which is called .30 Luger in the U.S. The "1920 commercial" and the "1920" marked guns indicating military/police ownership are not the same thing.

Jim

 

[xtarheel]

So since mine is marked 1920 and is in 9mm it would have been a WW-I piece? Since the serial number has no letter prefix is it possible to determine the date of manufacture?

 

[1911WB]

Commercial Luger

It seems that you may have a 1920 Commercial (more commonly called Alphabet Commercial nowadays). The letter below the serial number is a suffix and part of the serial number. I'm guessing yours was made in the early 20's. The caliber 9mm was much more scarce than .30 in the Commercials, so they are worth slightly more than the .30's. Without knowing the condition % and whether it is all matching numbers inside and out it would be hard to venture a guess on value.

However, forget my first paragraph if in fact your Luger has a date on top of the chamber. Is taht what you mean by the "1920", or is the top of the chamber blank? If 1920 is stamped on it, then it is probably a "Weimar" period Luger rather than a Commercial. If the top of the chamber is blank, then see paragraph above. WB

 

[Jim K]

If the receiver ring is marked 1920, or is double dated, Hexhead has given us the information. A double dated pistol is a military pistol that was reclaimed by the Weimar government and marked with the 1920 date added as a property mark. Some new pistols were also made for the government and also dated 1920, without any other date. Those were all in 9mm; the German military - Imperial, Weimar, or Nazi - never issued Lugers in 7.65 Parabellum caliber, and the caliber was not in the German military supply system.

The commercial export pistols called "1920 commercial" were not dated, 1920 or any other date. Most are in 7.65 but some 9mm's were exported. Many were re-finished ex-millitary with new barrels and with the military date and serial numbering removed.

Jim

 

[xtarheel]

I'll try to take pictures. The 1920 date stamped on the receiver ring is the only date on the pistol.

 

[weimar]

The 1920 can be a date or a Weimar property stamp - usually you can tell by the placement of the numbers - the acceptance and proofs on the right or left tell the story of its time period - plus it could have a sear safety (a 1930) police requirement


Ed

 

[xtarheel]

Here are some pictures

 

[1911WB]

Luger

O.K.- what you have is not a Commercial, but a military DWM possibly made in 1920. Looks nice from what little we can see of it in the pictures. WB

 

[xtarheel]

Unable to post further pictures for some reason. I guess the Nazis didn't mark Lugers already made prior to their take over.