Breslau P08 Police 9mm Luger 1920 Versailles Semi-Automatic Pistol 1918 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1775
LSB#: 210913BM31
Make: DWM
Model: P.08 Luger
Serial Number: 5199b
Year of Manufacture: 1918
Caliber: 9mm Luger
Action Type: Toggle Type Striker-Fired Semi-Auto, Removable Magazine
Markings: The barrel extension is marked “1920 / 1918” on the chamber ring, the left is marked “5199”. The sear is marked “99”, found again on the trigger, sideplate, safety, bolt stop, the left of the firing pin, breech-block, the top of the extractor, the toggle pin, top of the front toggle link, and the rear of the back toggle link. The takedown lever does not have a serial marking. The top of the front link is also marked with a “DWM” logo. The left of the extractor is marked “GELADEN”. The front face of the frame is marked “5199 / b”. The right of the barrel extension has Imperial German inspection marks, the eagle inspection mark is also on the top-right of the barrel at the rear and the left of the bolt. The barrel has two other marks which are likely police inspection/acceptance marks. The bottom of the barrel is marked “5 / 8.83”. The magazine floorplate is marked “5199” and with “”2”. The frontstrap is marked “S. Br. 1. 1838”, a Prussian Breslau police marking.
Barrel Length: 4”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated blade dovetailed to a serrated base at the muzzle. The rear sight is a “V”-notch integral to the rear toggle link.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered walnut panels. The grips show light-moderate handling wear with some nicks, scuffs and areas of smoothed checkers, mostly around the edges. There is a more notable compression on the right panel. Most checkering is well defined, some is compressed. There are no chips or cracks. The right panel has minor play to the frame. Overall, the grips are in about Good-plus condition.
Type of Finish: Blued & Strawed Small Parts
Finish Originality: Refinished, some parts may have been replaced and/or force-matched (see Mechanics, Our Assessment).
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is infrequent very minor erosion in the bore and some stubborn copper fouling.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 82% of its current metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. Most of the balance is handling wear in the grip areas, there is also some light wear on the front toggle link around the DWM logo. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches with some under and some through the finish. There is infrequent minor erosion under the finish and some minor surface oxidation, mostly under and around the grips. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings are generally clear, some of the inspection/acceptance marks are worn and incomplete. Overall, this pistol is in about Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. There is no play between the barrel assembly and frame. This pistol has a sear safety installed, typical of Police-issued Luger pistols and it functions properly, preventing the sear from being tripped while the sideplate is not installed. The frame has a hole in the left above the trigger for a magazine safety, but the left flat is not slotted for the magazine safety. 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 brown leather flap-holster and a single alloy-floorplate magazine. The magazine has minor operational wear, intact feed lips and a strong spring. The holster has “FRANZ COBAU / BERLIN / 1929”, a sunburst and an over-marked unit marking on the back, appearing to be “L. Sd. 64.” and “2703”. The holster has moderate wear and discoloration with some surface cracking, some broken or missing stitching including on the front belt loop and the flap for the takedown tool pouch (no tool included) is broken across the hole for the stud.
Our Assessment: The Luger was adopted by the German Army in 1908 and was so reliable and well liked that it was still being made and issued to German troops well after the P38 was adopted by the army in 1938. The largest percentage of Lugers were made by DWM, which became Mauser in 1930. This is a Luger pistol which was most likely produced during the Great War and which remained in German inventory following the Great War. Its “1920” marking on the chamber ring is a reference to compliance with the severe restrictions placed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles. It has some interesting features which make it a bit of an odd piece. The barrel extension’s chamber ring has a notch for a Long P.08’s adjustable rear sight, a feature which was seen on DWM Long P.08s, but also was common to see on standard P.08 barrel extensions produced by the Erfurt Arsenal during the later parts of the war, so it is unclear if the extension was re-barreled or not. When these pistols were issued as sidearms to various German Police departments, it was common to have them updated with additional safeties. This pistol still has a functioning sear safety, which prevents the sear from being tripped when the sideplate is not installed. Intriguingly, the frame has a hole for a magazine safety, but the left flat is not slotted for this safety. These features were used on Police pistols, and this pistol is marked as being issued to the Breslau Schutzpolizei. It comes with a holster which also has a unit marking, but it is not matching. The pistol has survived the last century fairly well, in Very Good condition, with about 82% of its new finish remaining, a nice bore and strong mechanics. For fans of the Luger, this pistol’s interesting mix of features and Breslau police marking will make a nice addition to a collection. It should also still make for a fun shooter. Please see our photos and good luck!