Help identifying an old Luger Pistol

[mtenenhaus]

Hi, hope someone might be able to give us some information of a pistol that was inherited by a friend of mine. Unfortunately I don't yet have any photos but this is what we were able to find after looking it over with a magnifying glass.

He has a Luger Pistol chambered in 7.65x21
It has four digit serial number in the one thousand range (no letters)
It has the fancy scroll DWM marking on the toggle and a fancy script like letter n on the front under the barrel

All numbers match
The slide locks open on an empty magazine
It has the crown over N marking
It has one stamp that says Germany
The safety area is marked with the word Gesichert
There are no import markings, nazi symbol or Swiss cross or American eagle
It has a 3.5 inch barrel

We'd sure appreciate any help and guidance.
thank you

[ojisan]

Something like this?
https://www.proxibid.com/Firearms-Mi...ation/41025034

[mtenenhaus]

pretty similar but if i recall correctly his did not have a letter after the 4 digit serial number

and his had more markings...but it sure looks similar.

[sonofeugene]

Go to the http://www.lugerforum.com and ask there. Include lots of good, clear photos. They will tell you more than you'll ever want to know.

[SkyHawk]

Unless you detail stripped it down to the last part, it is not ripe to say 'all numbers match'. You will be very surprised at how many internal parts are numbered on these guns. A cursory exam of the gun with a magnifying glass will not reveal if all numbers match. A detailed exam of every last part will.

[Dgr1dman]

In the absence of pictures, there are a few things to describe further that might help to ID it better- at least for someone that knows the intricacies far better than me:

Are the sides of the toggle “dished” or are they fully knurled?
For reference, search: Luger dished toggle

Is the front of the grip straight below the trigger guard?
For reference, search: Swiss pattern Luger 1929

Is the “gesichert” visible with the safety lever up or down?

These might be helpful to those that know more than I! (I really wished I’d paid more attention when my pop rambled on about such things! RIP pop!)


Cheers,
Digger1

[mtenenhaus]

thank you everyone

i appreciate the comments and information

....i'll also see if he will send me photos to share.

[Supersapper]

Sonofeugene (post #4) has the winning answer. He's also correct in that you need very clear photos of all markings.

PM me; I have a manual that was written to help identify Lugers based on designs and markings. Without a significant amount of additional information this is a bit iffy, but based on what you wrote you likely have a post WW1 DWM US import, but the 4 digit date code on top of the chamber will shed light on that.

[Mike A]

If you fire that 7.65, WEAR EAR PROTECTION! Don't ask me how I know this, in fact, don't ask me because I probably won't hear you....

The 3.5" barrel probably indicates that this is a post-WWI pistol because after the end of WWI with the Versailles Treaty Germany was forbidden to produce pistols of military caliber with barrels over that length (actually the maximum length was in mm, but 3.5" is close).