Family WWI Souvenir; DWM 1915 Luger

[Texas Red]

My Luger has been passed down to me from my father, and his father took this (as the story goes) from a captured German officer in WWI. My grandfather was a 1st Lieutenant in the US Army serving in France during the 1st world war and brought this back. His sidearm, a S&W Model 1917 is another WWI keepsake that was passed down to me. This has been kept in original condition and rarely handled over the decades. Someday I'll pass it on to my son.

I know that it's fully functional, as I've fired several magazines of 9mm hardball ammo through it, but none recently. It cycled flawlessly. All the numbers match. The holster is in less than great condition, but the name "Kruger" is still faintly visible on the back.

It's marked on top of the toggle with DWM and on top of the chamber with 1915. The barrel is 4" in length.

Sorry the photos aren't better. My "good" camera is in my nephew's hands at the moment and this is the best I have available.






I know there are some real Luger experts on this forum and I'd appreciate any relevant info you gents might be able to give on this particular make and model.

[Edward Tinker]

Looks like a very decent, original 1915 to me, would have made a good story for my book (I sent it off to the publisher, but hey, vol III could always come out)


Welcome to the forum,


Ed

[Texas Red]

An old post, but thought I'd give this a bump to see if anyone can tell me much about my old P08. All numbers match and it's all original. The magazine has the wooden base, but its number doesn't match the gun's. I'm thinking its value is roughly $2000, but would appreciate the input of you knowledgeable members.

Thanks.

[DavidJayUden]

I think you are on track with your assessment of the gun. $2000 is top dollar, but anything is possible.
Did you have specific questions or concerns?
dju

[Zamo]

DON'T SELL IT, what ever you do. I'm hoping you are seeking a value for Insurance reasons...

[alvin]

$2000 could be hard. C&R dealer, with dealer profit counted, is listing lower than that and it has been listed there quite a while. Yours has a holster, may carry more.... in general, it's not a good time to sell a Luger. Better keep it if you can.

http://www.am-firearms.com/m13-luger.html

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[Edit] Currently, if you have a TT30, TT33, SKS, Polytech, etc, it's good time to sell. Not Luger, especially a Luger from family inheritance.

[Edward Tinker]

closer pictures, show the top, whether it is all matching on the inside parts.

does the magazine match?

Does the holster have a tool or extra magazine?

$2k is stretching it. And I laugh at folks always saying don't sell. Heck, don't sell the 1917 Smith!

[Edward Tinker]

I'd like to see name 'kruger' - if on the back of the holster, it won't affect value very much as the holster is pretty beat. If on the luger, it could add or more than likely detract from value.

[Texas Red]

Thanks for the feedback, guys.

I have no intention of selling any of my family war mementos. The P08, M1917, and a Browning 1922 with Nazi Eagle markings are all safe and will be passed on to other family members when the time comes. I'm just curious as to what the value of such antiques is currently.

All three weapons are in excellent original condition and totally functional, with matching numbers on all parts. Well, the Luger's magazine doesn't match, but all the metal does.

[kzullick]

Very nice and if it was mine I wouldn't fire it anymore.

[Texas Red]

I ran several magazines of fmj ammo through it about 25 years ago to confirm that it was functional. It is. After cleaning it and giving it a detailed stripping, putting that thing back together again is a task I don't care to repeat.

I doubt that I'll shoot it again. My son might when he gets it, just to reconfirm functionality. Otherwise, it's in retirement.

[Arizona Slim]

Good decision on setting that very nice Luger aside as part of your family's history, it's a great looking piece and cannot be replaced. If the urge returns to fire it again you might want to consider buying a decent "shooter" Luger, they can sometimes be had from other forum members and at a very fair price, all you need do is ask if you don't see one listed.

Lon

[glock30]

WOW Looks like my 1916 and it might go for 2 grand, but might be a bit steep. It all depends on what someone will pay for it, but that is a clean weapon. If you want to shoot it, I would throw a spare striker in there and extractor, for you keep the originals and if the tip breaks you have the originals, like I did with mine.

[RC20]

Maybe a bit of clarification on the matching numbers and what it means and my thoughts on it.

The pistol has a fair amount of value as the numbers all match.

Firing it once can wreck the extractor or the toggle part (or even others) and at that point is is a shooter.

Even if it stays in the family the question is would you want the value to get literally shot as a result of that happening? It may not make any difference to you now but possibly would in the future.

It also wrecks the historical value. My feeling is if a gun has that it should be preserved as best as possible. As time goes by more have things happen to them and they become fewer in number and more history is lost.

I collect Model of 1917 Rifles and for the something like 2.5 million made, its shocking how few are left intact.

[Thantos]

I'm gonna throw my two cents in the ring here and see what it gets me! This is a subject that has always really bothered me, I think the first thing that needs to be done or understood is what does the firearm mean to you, what is its purpose?

Is it an investment for future sale and profit or a family heirloom to be kept and passed down to future family members in as pristine a condition as possible, or is it a shooter? In my opinion you only have one choice. Once you have made that decision then stick to it and treat/use it as intended.

For me, I have shooters and I have keepers. My shooters get used as intended and my keepers are kept in an environmentally controlled gun safe, and if brought out for display or show are handled with white cotton gloves and then wiped down with a clean soft cotton rag coated with a light coat of gun oil, and then returned to the safe for storage.

I cant tell you how many times I have seen what could have been a very nice and expensive gun get its value ruined by a finger print that has become permanently etched into the bluing because the gun was returned to storage without proper care and handling.

And as to the need to fire a weapon to prove it works for added value, there are a hundred ways to see if a firearm is functional or not without firing it. This is a Hollywood reality show driven disaster of a myth. It seems every show on TV says "we have to shoot it to see if it works, otherwise its not worth anything!" A competent gun smith can tell you usually within 5 mins, after inspecting a weapon if it will shoot or not, or if it should be shot at all.

So, make the decision as to what the gun is going to be, then keep the shooters, shooting and the keepers handled properly and stored in a nice dry, slightly warm, gun safe ! ! !

Ok, I feel better now LOL.....

[alvin]

If you got a few of these guns, pick up the lowest one (relatively in the group) to shoot occasionally, that's not guilty.

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[Edit] And, if everyone does that, the "keepers", from value increasing point of view,,,,, you know,,,,, volume shrinks slowly. But unfortunately, some nice pieces no longer in production but with hidden cracks or damages will be out. But putting that aside, shooting a few nice C&R guns is exciting experience.

[Geo99]

History I get - these are historical objects that are, ultimately, irreplaceable. They are worth preserving for future generations.

Value I don't get - why do so many spend $30K-40K on a car or truck and proceed to beat it into the ground without a second thought, but buy a $1600 Luger (or other old gun) and then you're afraid to shoot it because it might break and be worth only $900?

I own only 3 Lugers, every one was bought to be a "nice" shooter. But then I get it in hand and find out how nice it is, and I'm afraid to shoot it. I hate that so now I consider anything under $2000 an occasional shooter. I'm a LOT more hesitant to shoot them when they are up over $2K. If I owned a $5K or 10K Luger, I'm sure I wouldn't shoot it.

- Geo

[alvin]

I also feel shooting guns over $2000 is too luxury. Shooting one piece under $2000 occasionally is not too crazy (if have a few). A little bit risky, sure, but still have other guns left.

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[Edit] The most exciting part of Sturgess video was watching him shooting Borchardt, Navy, Conehammer (rare 20CH), a few exotic carbines etc. Exciting! Unfortunately, we cannot fire those....