WWI Imperial German Navy DWM 1914 6″ 9mm Luger Semi-Auto Pistol, 1916 C&R
SOLD FOR: $3000
LSB#: 210609MW25
Make: DWM
Model: 1914 Naval Luger
Serial Number: 2152
Year of Manufacture: 1916
Caliber: 9mm Parabellum
Action Type: Toggle Action Semi-Automatic with Removable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the barrel extension is marked with a crown and twice with crowned “M”, the chamber ring is marked “1916”. The left-rear of the barrel had a crown which has been defaced, the bottom is marked with a Crowned “M” over “2152”, the crowned “M” has been defaced. The left side of the frame at the chamber and the left side of the front sight base are each marked “1916”. The front face of the frame is marked “2152”. The front toggle is marked with a script “DWM”. The top of the rear toggle is marked “100” and underneath the rear sight, visible when pushed back to its higher position, there is a bright flat marked “200”. The bottom of the takedown lever, the bottom of the sideplate, left of the trigger, the sear bar, the sear bar safety, the top of the bolt stop, left of the breech-block, bottom of the front toggle link, and the back of the rear toggle link are each marked “52”. The left of the breech-block has a crown. The left of the frame is marked “Gesichert” at the safety, the left of the extractor is marked “GELADEN”.
Barrel Length: 6”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated, ramped blade dovetailed to a serrated, ramped base fixed to a boss at the muzzle. The rear sight is a two-position “V”-notch assembly at the back of the rear toggle link. There is a button on the right of the notch assembly which allows the sight to be moved forward or rear to the 100 or 200 yard position, respectively.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered wood. The grips have light handling wear with a few nicks and scuffs. The checkering is generally well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good-plus condition.
Type of Finish: Blued, some small parts Strawed, the interior of the barrel extension and frame are Bright
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is dark gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion on the lands and moderate erosion in the grooves.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 90% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There are spots of finish loss at the markings on the barrel which have been defaced. There is some scattered minor oxidation, mostly in the grip areas. There are a few other scattered light marks, most notably scratches at the muzzle on each side. There is light wear on the stock lug as from use. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear where not intentionally defaced. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good-plus condition.
Mechanics: The action works correctly. The barrel assembly has barely perceptible play to the frame. 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 one tin plated magazine with wood floorplate. The magazine has scattered light wear, some minor oxidation, intact feed lips and a strong spring, in Very Good condition.
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. This is a DMW 1914 Naval Luger made during WWI in 1916 with all matching numbers and the correct proofs, though the inspection and acceptance marks on the barrel appear to have been intentionally defaced. The pistol has about 90% of its original finish remaining and is in Very Good-plus overall condition. There were about 35,000 to 40,000 of these pistols made between 1914 and 1918 for the German Navy. This is a somewhat rare pistol; many of the Naval models were lost in the war and many of those that survived were badly eroded from salt air. It is not very often you come across one in this condition with all matching numbers. It is sure to gather the attention of the Luger collectors out there. Please see our photos and good luck!