WWI German DWM P.08 P08 P-08 9mm Luger Semi-Automatic Pistol, MFD 1917 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1675
LSB#: 210608MW64
Make: DWM
Model: P.08 Luger
Serial Number: 4933g
Year of Manufacture: 1917
Caliber: 9mm Luger
Action Type: Toggle Action Striker-Fired Semi-Auto, Removable Magazine.
Markings: The left side of the trigger, sideplate, sear, bar safety, takedown lever, extractor, back of the rear toggle link, the top of the front toggle link, left of the breech-block, left of the striker, and the slide-stop are each marked “33”. 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 “4933 / g”. The bottom of the barrel is also marked “8,82”. The top of the barrel extension at the chamber is marked “1917” and the left is marked “4933”. The right side of the barrel extension is marked with three crowned script characters and an eagle, the eagle is also marked on the top-right of the barrel and the left of the breech block. The left side of the frame at the safety is marked “GESICHERT”. The left of the extractor is marked “GELADEN”. The inside of each grip panel is marked “33”.
Barrel Length: 4”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated blade dovetailed to a serrated base fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a “V”-notch in the top of the rear toggle link.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered walnut. The grips have light handling wear with some scattered minor nicks, scuffs and handling marks. There is some pooled finish at the front edge of the right panel. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good-plus condition as refinished.
Type of Finish: Blued, Small Parts Strawed
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is gray. The rifling is worn, but visible. There is light-moderate erosion and pitting scattered through the bore.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 90% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There are some other spots of finish wear, most notable at the top-rear of the barrel extension’s “ears”, the front of the right frame rail and the chamber ring. There are a few scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is infrequent minor oxidation. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Good condition (see Mechanics).
Mechanics: The magazine well appears tight, it is very difficult to remove the magazine. We tried the pistol with a few other magazines and experienced the same issue with all of them. Otherwise, the action functions correctly. We did not fire 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 tin-plated 8-round magazine with wooden base marked “3820”. The magazine has light operational wear, intact feed lips and a strong spring, in about Very Good condition as not original to the gun.
Our Assessment: The Luger (Pistole Parabellum or P-08) is perhaps the most aesthetically and ergonomically pleasing of all autoloading centerfire pistols. 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 Luger was made in 1917, in the middle of Germany’s wartime production. The pistol is in about Good condition with much of its original finish remaining. The pistol shows honest wear in its original finish with all numbered parts matching, a fair bore and generally strong mechanics, though the magazine well seems to be tight for some reason. This will make a great addition to a WWI or German military arms collection. Please see our photos and good luck!