WWI German DWM P.08 9mm Luger Military Semi-Automatic Pistol, MFD 1916 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,025.00
WOA#: WY240419GT021
Make: DWM
Model: P.08
Serial#: 4879g
Year of Manufacture: 1916
Caliber: 9mm Luger
Action Type: Striker-Fired Toggle-Locked Short-Recoil Semi-Automatic Pistol fed by Detachable Magazine
Markings: The front face of the frame is marked “4879 / g”, the left of the barrel extension is marked “4879”. The takedown lever, trigger, safety extractor, and each toggle link are marked “79. The firing pin’s marking is not legible, nor is the barrel’s. The bolt-stop is marked “16”, the bolt “77”, the sear-bar “82” and the sideplate “25”. There are Imperial German inspection marks on the right of the barrel extension and left of the bolt.
Barrel Length: 4”
Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a serrated blade dovetailed to a serrated base integral to the barrel at the muzzle. The rear sight is a “V”-notch integral to the rear toggle link.
Stock Configuration & Condition/ Grip: The grips are two-piece checkered wood panels. The left panel has a loss at the top-rear below the safety. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches with a couple of more notable dings. The right panel has some smoothed checkering, the left’s checkering is well defined. There are no cracks. Overall, the grips are in Good condition as not original to the frame.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Refinished, some parts replaced (see Markings)
Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is scattered light erosion and stubborn fouling in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates about 6 out of 10.
Overall Condition: The handgun retains about 94% of its current metal finish. The new finish is generally strong. There is some minor handling wear in the grip areas, scattered minor surface oxidation, and infrequent minor erosion under the finish. There are some light nicks and scratches with thinning at some edges. There is oxidation on the frame under the grips. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings range from clear to worn and incomplete. Overall, the pistol is in about Very Good condition as refinished and not parts-original
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The barrel assembly has barely perceptible play on the frame. We have not fired this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box Paperwork and Accessories: This pistol comes with a single 8-round wood floorplate magazine. There is a loss on the left of the floorplate.
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 Luger was made in 1916. It has since been refinished and has some parts replaced including the barrel. The proof and inspection marks are correct for a 1916 DWM military issue pistol, but it isn’t clear if the new finish and replaced parts were performed as part of an arsenal refurbishment or after it went into commercial circulation. This is a neat find for Luger collectors and those with an interest in German military arms as used in WWI. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
