WWI German DWM Model 1914 P.08 P08 Luger 9mm Semi-Auto Pistol, MFD 1915 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,869
LSB#: 191004JH16
Make: DWM
Model: 1914 Military Luger
Serial Number: 3618e
Year of Manufacture: 1915
Caliber: 9mm Luger
Action Type: Toggle Action Single Action Semi-Auto, Removable Magazine Fed (no magazine included).
Markings: The left side of the trigger, sideplate, sear bar, sear bar safety, takedown lever, extractor, the back of the rear toggle link and the top of the front toggle link are marked “18”. The left side of the frame behind the trigger is marked “T” and “P”. The rear toggle is marked with a script “DWM”. The front of the frame under the barrel and the underside of the barrel are marked “3618 / e” and the barrel is also marked “8,82”. The top of the receiver at the chamber is marked “1915” and the left side of the chamber is marked “3618”. The right side of the receiver is marked with three crowned scripted characters and an eagle as resembling the four characters shown on line 10, pg. 234 of “Luger Variations” by H.E. Jones, for DWM military pistols, and the top rear of the barrel is marked with the 5th character, a sideways Eagle. The left side of the breechblock is marked with an Eagle. The left side of the frame in front of the safety is marked “GESICHERT”. The inside surface of the right grip is marked “I”, “36” and “T6”. The inside surface of the left grip is marked “P”, “W” and “21”, with a name and “1923” written in pencil. The bottom of the barrel lug is marked “N”, in front of the lug with “T” and on the sides with “M”, “5”, “V”, “3” and “a”. The underside of the front toggle is marked “K”. The front strap is marked with the unit marking “134.R.10.K.13” (Our best guess: Company 10 of Infantry Regiment 134, Gun No. 13). .
Barrel Length: 4”
Sights / Optics: This pistol is mounted with a “V” notch in the back of the toggle and a serrated ramped blade front sight in a dovetail on the base on the front barrel band. The rear face of the base is also ramped and serrated.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered walnut. The grips show light to moderate wear in the checkering, with heavy wear around the bottom edges. There is a marred spot near the front of the left grip. The grips rate in about Very Good to Fine overall condition.
Type of Finish: The finish is blued. The ejector, trigger, takedown lever and the right side of the magazine release have a straw color. The sear bar spring and the pin holding the rear toggle to the receiver have a fire blue finish.
Finish Originality: The finish is original.
Bore Condition: The bore is gray, with sharp rifling. There is light erosion scattered throughout the bore.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 90% of its metal finish. There are tiny spots of surface frosting on the ejector and the sides of the trigger, and light handling marks scattered over the remaining surfaces. There is finish loss on the edges of the barrel band, receiver, sideplate, and frame, at the bottom of the front strap and on the stock lug at the bottom of the backstrap. There are a few tiny dings in the right side of the receiver, a ding in the trigger guard, and tool marks in the edges of the left frame rail above the takedown lever. The serrations and knurling on the toggle knobs are sharp and the knurling on the small parts is sharp with light wear around the outside edges. The grip screws are sharp and the markings are clear, with most crisp. Overall, this pistol rates in about Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The receiver is tight to the frame. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol does not come with a magazine.
Our Assessment: The Luger (Pistole Parabellum or P-08) is perhaps the most aesthetically and ergonomically pleasing of all autoloading centerfire pistols. It is also one of the strongest, most accurate and most recognizable service pistols ever made. Georg Luger developed his famous pistol in 1898-1899 (starting with the Borchardt/Luger transitional pistol). The Luger is, essentially, a much improved Borchardt type pistol, which was itself based on the toggle action concept used by Sir Hiram Maxim in the world’s first practical machine gun. The Maxim shot its way to bloody fame in World War One, which also became the combat proving ground for the Luger Pistol. The Luger was so well liked and reliable that it was still being made and issued to German troops well after the P38 was adopted by the army. This DWM Military 1914 was made in 1915 and all of the serial numbers on the metal parts of the pistol are matching. The proof and inspection marks are also correct. The pistol does not include a magazine. The pistol is in about Fine condition with about 90% of its original finish remaining. The bore is gray with sharp rifling and light erosion scattered throughout the bore. The receiver is tight to the frame and the pistol is in great mechanical condition for being over 100 years old. This is a very nice find for Luger collectors and those with an interest in German military arms as used in WWI and WWII.