Could anybody help me?

cprosperi · 05-05-2009, 02:08 PM

Dear Sirs,
It was a great pleasure for me finding this Luger forum, which I have recently joined.
I own a Swiss Luger that my father obtained in Buenos Aires from an officer of the Graff Spee at the end of the war.

Following yor Luger identification form, these are its characteristics:
1.Toggle inscription: DWM
2.Chamber inscription: Swiss Cross
3.Toggle knob type: Dished
4.Grip safety: present
5.Stock lug: not present
6.Caliber: 7.65 mm / .30 luger
7.Grip type: walnut, checkered
8.Thumb safety: safe in forward position
9.Has no markings, only serial numbers: 37198 is under the barrel; 98 is repited on the dismounting lever and the side plate on the left.
10.Barrel: 4 inches
11.Markings on left edge of extractor: none
12.Front and rear sights: fixed
13.Magazine bottom plug material and markings: has three magazines, two have wood bottom plugs and the other is in alluminium. No markings in anyone

The bluing is original and I would say is 98%. Working conditions are excellent too: I shoot about two boxes of Lapua FMJ bullets without a single jam and a nice grouping at 15 and 30 mts.

I know this is an early Luger, but I would like to get the probable year of manufacture. Also, I would greatly appreciate if you could tell me the approximate value, just as a curiosity, because I am not willing to sell it by the moment.

Please, find attached some pictures.

Thanking you in advance for your courtesy, I remain yours sincerely,

Dr. Carlos Prosperi
CÃ?Â³rdoba, Argentina

Navy · 05-05-2009, 03:10 PM

Welcome to the forum Doc.
Hard to say exactly without better pictures, but I'd bet your pistol is a 1900 Swiss.

Interesting that a privately purchased piece would be on a Kriegsmarine man-o-war.
If you have some documentation from your father, the German, or whomever, your gun would have serious value as a historic artifact. Without the documentation, in the condition you describe, the gun should command Between $5500 and $6500 USD.

Hope this helps.
Tom A

cprosperi · 05-05-2009, 03:57 PM

Tom,
Thanks a lot for your answer.
Unfortunatelly I have no documentation about the history of this weapon: just what my father said.
Cheers,
Carlos

WG dog · 05-05-2009, 04:36 PM

Dr. Prosperi,

You could check the Swiss Luger offerings at Simpson to help determine what you have and what it might be worth, at high end retail.

Gene

http://www.simpsonltd.com/index.php?...96356c5410879b

I would love to visit Argentina. One of these days....

Dwight Gruber · 05-05-2009, 10:06 PM

By serial number, this gun should be a model 1906 Swiss Commercial. Could you please report if the gun has crown/B, c/U, c/G proofs?

If so, this gun was likely made in 1908.

--Dwight

cprosperi · 05-06-2009, 07:29 PM

Hi everyone.
Gene, if you visit Argentina you should go to the Army Museum in Buenos Aires. They have very interesting pieces.
Dwight, I am sorry, but do not have that info.
Thanks again,

Carlos

Ron Wood · 05-06-2009, 08:05 PM

Dr. Prosperi
Your information is a bit of a puzzle. The photos are too small to determine any detail. You state that the toggle knobs are dished, which would indicate a Model 1900 as Tom guessed. However, the serial number falls well within the Model 1906 range as Dwight indicated.
Does the right side toggle knob look like the following photo?

05-05-2009, 02:08 PM	#1
cprosperi New User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: I live downtown CÃ?Â³rdoba City, Argentina Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Could anybody help me? Dear Sirs, It was a great pleasure for me finding this Luger forum, which I have recently joined. I own a Swiss Luger that my father obtained in Buenos Aires from an officer of the Graff Spee at the end of the war. Following yor Luger identification form, these are its characteristics: 1.Toggle inscription: DWM 2.Chamber inscription: Swiss Cross 3.Toggle knob type: Dished 4.Grip safety: present 5.Stock lug: not present 6.Caliber: 7.65 mm / .30 luger 7.Grip type: walnut, checkered 8.Thumb safety: safe in forward position 9.Has no markings, only serial numbers: 37198 is under the barrel; 98 is repited on the dismounting lever and the side plate on the left. 10.Barrel: 4 inches 11.Markings on left edge of extractor: none 12.Front and rear sights: fixed 13.Magazine bottom plug material and markings: has three magazines, two have wood bottom plugs and the other is in alluminium. No markings in anyone The bluing is original and I would say is 98%. Working conditions are excellent too: I shoot about two boxes of Lapua FMJ bullets without a single jam and a nice grouping at 15 and 30 mts. I know this is an early Luger, but I would like to get the probable year of manufacture. Also, I would greatly appreciate if you could tell me the approximate value, just as a curiosity, because I am not willing to sell it by the moment. Please, find attached some pictures. Thanking you in advance for your courtesy, I remain yours sincerely, Dr. Carlos Prosperi CÃ?Â³rdoba, Argentina Attached Images

05-06-2009, 08:05 PM	#7
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,022 Thanks: 1,090 Thanked 5,179 Times in 1,703 Posts	Dr. Prosperi Your information is a bit of a puzzle. The photos are too small to determine any detail. You state that the toggle knobs are dished, which would indicate a Model 1900 as Tom guessed. However, the serial number falls well within the Model 1906 range as Dwight indicated. Does the right side toggle knob look like the following photo? Attached Images __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

05-05-2009, 03:10 PM	#2
Navy RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dc 'burbs in Virginia Posts: 2,482 Thanks: 0 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	Welcome to the forum Doc. Hard to say exactly without better pictures, but I'd bet your pistol is a 1900 Swiss. Interesting that a privately purchased piece would be on a Kriegsmarine man-o-war. If you have some documentation from your father, the German, or whomever, your gun would have serious value as a historic artifact. Without the documentation, in the condition you describe, the gun should command Between $5500 and $6500 USD. Hope this helps. Tom A

05-05-2009, 03:57 PM	#3
cprosperi New User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: I live downtown CÃ?Â³rdoba City, Argentina Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Tom, Thanks a lot for your answer. Unfortunatelly I have no documentation about the history of this weapon: just what my father said. Cheers, Carlos

05-05-2009, 04:36 PM	#4
WG dog Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 142 Thanks: 1,282 Thanked 37 Times in 24 Posts	Dr. Prosperi, You could check the Swiss Luger offerings at Simpson to help determine what you have and what it might be worth, at high end retail. Gene http://www.simpsonltd.com/index.php?...96356c5410879b I would love to visit Argentina. One of these days....

05-05-2009, 10:06 PM	#5
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,902 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,318 Times in 431 Posts	By serial number, this gun should be a model 1906 Swiss Commercial. Could you please report if the gun has crown/B, c/U, c/G proofs? If so, this gun was likely made in 1908. --Dwight

05-06-2009, 07:29 PM	#6
cprosperi New User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: I live downtown CÃ?Â³rdoba City, Argentina Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi everyone. Gene, if you visit Argentina you should go to the Army Museum in Buenos Aires. They have very interesting pieces. Dwight, I am sorry, but do not have that info. Thanks again, Carlos