WWI German DWM Long P.08 Artillery Luger 9mm Semi-Automatic Pistol 1917 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,730.00
LSB#: LSB260224HE220
Make: DWM
Model: 1914 Artillery Luger
Serial Number: 2120
Year of Manufacture: 1917
Caliber: 9mm Parabellum
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine
Markings: The front sight, the rear sight base at the top-left-front, the right side of the slider, the top-rear of the rear sight arm, the sear bar safety, the left of the breech-bolt, the top of the front toggle, the back of the rear toggle, firing pin, the left side of the trigger, and the sideplate are each marked “20”. The top of the front toggle is also marked with “DWM” in script. The chamber ring is marked “1917” on the top, the left of the barrel extension is marked “2120”. The front face of the frame is marked “2120”. The right side of the chamber is marked with crown script letter and Imperial eagle inspection marks. There is another Eagle on the left side of the breechblock and the right of the barrel. The left side of the frame under the safety is marked “Gesichert”.
Barrel Length: 8”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated, ramped blade dovetailed to a base integral to the barrel at the muzzle. The tangent artillery rear sight is flat topped with a “V” notch and the elevator has graduated markings from 1-8. Both sights are “fine-tune” able to be finely adjusted using a spanner wrench (not included).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered black synthetic, the interior of each is threaded to hold the grip screws while removed. The grips have light handling wear with a few scattered marks. The right panel has a little play to the frame. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good condition as not original to the gun.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Refinished, it is likely that some parts have been replaced and/or force-matched.
Bore Condition: The lands are semi-bright, the grooves are gray. The rifling is well defined. There is erosion and stubborn fouling scattered through the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates about 6/10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 90% of its current metal finish. The finish is generally strong with most of the balance in scattered light oxidation, primarily under the grips and on interior surfaces. There is scattered erosion and polish marks under the finish. Some areas have a slight plum hue. There are some scattered light marks, most under the finish. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are sharp. The markings range from clear to worn and incomplete. Overall, this gun rates in Good condition as refinished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a single 8-round magazine with a blued body and wood floorplate marked “2972”.
Our Assessment: This Artillery version of the Luger pistol is also known as the “Long Barrel P.08”. The model was originally issued to field artillery, airmen and fortifications. The model had a longer, 8? barrel and was equipped with more precise sights than the standard P.08. Later, it was designated for use by Sturmtruppen and other assault forces trying to breach the trench lines. It was the first Luger to use the 32 shot Trommel or “snail” magazine.
This pistol is a Model 1914 DWM Artillery Luger made in early 1917, still equipped with both front and rear “fine-tune” sights. It has matching serial numbers on the pistol itself, though some parts do not have numbers and some were likely force-matched. This pistol’s new blue finish and black grips would be typical of a Russian-capture, but it isn’t clear how many 1917 Artillery lugers would have been captured and refurbished during the Soviet era, much less made it to America without an import mark.
The bore is in decent shape for its age and service and the mechanics are still quite strong. The artillery models are always collectable, and this would be a good addition to a collection that doesn’t have one, yet. It is also an interesting piece if it can be confirmed that it is in fact a Russian-capture, the rare long “black widow”. Please see our photos and good luck!
-Bud