Military or Police Luger???

byerseller · 01-09-2008, 04:09 PM

Hi, I am having problems identifying my Luger. The toggle is marked S/42 (Mauser Werke). The frame is marked with a double date 1920 (DWM or Erfurt Arsenal) and has matching numbers on all parts including the magazine 4171. There are three eagles (not stick wings) on the right side of the frame with what looks like Af A. IX under their legs. The barrel has a nitro proof. The grips are Bakelite not wood. The gun is in super shape. I took it to a gun show and a Luger dealer told me it was either a military or police pistol and he had no idea on value (he took maybe 10 seconds to look at my Luger). Any help on clarifying what I have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Steinar · 01-09-2008, 04:22 PM

Welcome,
sounds like your luger is a mix of various parts, at least the frame is not 'matching' to the toggle.
The grips can be worth quite a bit btw. If you take close pictures of both sides, we can determine if they look original or not.

You say the frame is marked 1920, but I quess you mean the receiver (barrel extension)? If not, you may look for a crown/U on the left side. If so, the upper would come from a police Luger.

byerseller · 01-09-2008, 05:03 PM

Thanks for your help. I'll try to reduce the size of my pictures and attach them. Thanks Steinar!

John Sabato · 01-09-2008, 05:48 PM

Welcome to the Lugerforum. Good clear photos of both sides, the top, and the front of the frame would go a long way to answering your questions.

byerseller · 01-09-2008, 08:20 PM

Thanks for the welcome! Here's some pics:

Thanks a bunch!

Edward Tinker · 01-09-2008, 08:35 PM

Welcome to the forum.

Your luger has a lot of history. Made in 1920, it was also Reichswehr property stamped 1920. Then in the 1930's it received a sear safety, most likely served during WW2, and was reissued by the East German police after WW2.

Ed

Dwight Gruber · 01-09-2008, 09:08 PM

John,

A vey nice example of a DVP Luger. It looks to me that the sideplate is original, the top appears to be cut for the sear safety. The DVP (Deutsches Volkspolizei) did not favor the sear safety, and this one, characteristically, has been removed.

What are the markings on the underside of the barrel?

--Dwight

byerseller · 01-09-2008, 09:14 PM

Dwight, the underside of the barrel have a crown with a "N" under it. I read that this means "nitro" but I don't know what that means. I bought the gun in 1986 at a sporting goods store in Denver for $250. I wonder what the value of it is today....any ideas? Thanks

byerseller · 01-09-2008, 09:15 PM

And thanks ED!

Dwight Gruber · 01-09-2008, 09:49 PM

John,

What are the numbers on the barrel? Most DVP Lugers were rebarrelled, the c/N proof is probably the East German commercial proof. If this is the case, the number--in the form of month and year--is the date of the rebarrel.

Your gun has easily tripled in value.

--Dwight

byerseller · 01-09-2008, 09:54 PM

Dwight, no numbers at all on the barrel. Only the crown with a "N". Thanks, I shoot this gun about every other year and it is great!. Thanks

01-09-2008, 04:09 PM	#1
byerseller User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Military or Police Luger??? Hi, I am having problems identifying my Luger. The toggle is marked S/42 (Mauser Werke). The frame is marked with a double date 1920 (DWM or Erfurt Arsenal) and has matching numbers on all parts including the magazine 4171. There are three eagles (not stick wings) on the right side of the frame with what looks like Af A. IX under their legs. The barrel has a nitro proof. The grips are Bakelite not wood. The gun is in super shape. I took it to a gun show and a Luger dealer told me it was either a military or police pistol and he had no idea on value (he took maybe 10 seconds to look at my Luger). Any help on clarifying what I have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

01-09-2008, 04:22 PM	#2
Steinar User Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,538 Thanks: 18 Thanked 36 Times in 21 Posts	Welcome, sounds like your luger is a mix of various parts, at least the frame is not 'matching' to the toggle. The grips can be worth quite a bit btw. If you take close pictures of both sides, we can determine if they look original or not. You say the frame is marked 1920, but I quess you mean the receiver (barrel extension)? If not, you may look for a crown/U on the left side. If so, the upper would come from a police Luger. __________________ Previously known as Morgan Kane

01-09-2008, 05:48 PM	#4
John Sabato Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Capital of the Free World Posts: 10,154 Thanks: 3,003 Thanked 2,306 Times in 1,097 Posts	Welcome to the Lugerforum. Good clear photos of both sides, the top, and the front of the frame would go a long way to answering your questions. __________________ regards, -John S "...We hold these truths to be self-evident that ALL men are created EQUAL *and are endowed by their Creator* with certain UNALIENABLE* rights, and among these are life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness..."*

01-09-2008, 08:35 PM	#6
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,935 Thanks: 2,034 Thanked 4,533 Times in 2,093 Posts	Welcome to the forum. Your luger has a lot of history. Made in 1920, it was also Reichswehr property stamped 1920. Then in the 1930's it received a sear safety, most likely served during WW2, and was reissued by the East German police after WW2. Ed __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

01-09-2008, 05:03 PM	#3
byerseller User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for your help. I'll try to reduce the size of my pictures and attach them. Thanks Steinar!

01-09-2008, 08:20 PM	#5
byerseller User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the welcome! Here's some pics: Thanks a bunch!

01-09-2008, 09:08 PM	#7
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,902 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,318 Times in 431 Posts	John, A vey nice example of a DVP Luger. It looks to me that the sideplate is original, the top appears to be cut for the sear safety. The DVP (Deutsches Volkspolizei) did not favor the sear safety, and this one, characteristically, has been removed. What are the markings on the underside of the barrel? --Dwight

01-09-2008, 09:14 PM	#8
byerseller User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Dwight, the underside of the barrel have a crown with a "N" under it. I read that this means "nitro" but I don't know what that means. I bought the gun in 1986 at a sporting goods store in Denver for $250. I wonder what the value of it is today....any ideas? Thanks

01-09-2008, 09:15 PM	#9
byerseller User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	And thanks ED!

01-09-2008, 09:49 PM	#10
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,902 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,318 Times in 431 Posts	John, What are the numbers on the barrel? Most DVP Lugers were rebarrelled, the c/N proof is probably the East German commercial proof. If this is the case, the number--in the form of month and year--is the date of the rebarrel. Your gun has easily tripled in value. --Dwight

01-09-2008, 09:54 PM	#11
byerseller User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Dwight, no numbers at all on the barrel. Only the crown with a "N". Thanks, I shoot this gun about every other year and it is great!. Thanks