1917 Artillery Luger Id help

[Thantos]

Hello All,
I am trying to gather as much correct information on this Luger I inherited from my father as I can. I have two and this is the Second.

I have found that identifying a Luger correctly is not easy, as everyone seems to interpret thing a little differently. This will stay in the family and be passed down to my sons when the time comes.

Here is what I think I have, and please correct me if I am wrong, especially about the grade or value as I need these for insurance reasons.

A WWI DWM Military Artillery:
Year:1917
Proofs :Unsure on this one
Serial#:3812
Cal:9mm Para.
Land Dia.:8,83
Grade:90%
Value:$3175.00

Thanks Gene

http://s182.photobucket.com/user/tha...rary/Artillery

Above is a Photobucket link for very large Zoomable Pictures.

[Thantos]

Added more pics.

[Thantos]

Added more pics.

[NoncomRetired]

Real nice, almost makes me want to add an artillery to my small time collection.

[Norme]

Hi Gene, Welcome to the forum! Your Father left you some nice stuff. The 1917 Artillery is very nice and your valuation is spot on, however, I think you should figure it $4,000.00 for insurance purposes. The drum magazine and dust cover are the real deal (there are a lot of fakes out there) and are worth $1,250.00 to $1,500.00. Once again you should insure them for more. The leather pouch is a fake.
Regards, Norm

[lugerholsterrepair]

Gene, Yes! A handsome pistol. Someone has been drilling and beating on your 32 round Bing snail drum I think! The 3 rivets on the short arm of the fold out lever should be rounded top or at least flush. These look very strange..like someone attempted to drill them out? I don't have one near enough to this serial number to compare but none of mine look anywhere near like this.

Yes..as Norm says the leather carrier is a fantasy piece but I can't remember seeing one marked 1916? They areusually another date..14 or 15 I think. At any rate the germans never manufactured these. They used a canvas bag type.

[Thantos]

Thanks all for the great responses, yes my father was an amazing collector, he left me some really fine fire arms to add to my collection.

As to the leather case for the drum mag, who would have made it? Are they being made as reproductions and trying to be passed off as real? Or is it possible someone a (soldier) had it made to order? Because this is thing seems very labor intensive and a correct for fit too the mag to just make a fake?

[lugerholsterrepair]

who would have made it? A Pakistani Are they being made as reproductions and trying to be passed off as real? Yes and No..Many are sold to decieve some sold as reproductions. Or is it possible someone a (soldier) had it made to order? Being a philosopher I would say anything is possible..probable..NO.
Because this is thing seems very labor intensive and a correct for fit too the mag to just make a fake?
Ok you want proof? Put your drum in the leather case. Spend a week in the mud, rain and slime of the WW1 trenches..and I can assure you any attempt on your part to recreate such would not be a 10th of what it actually was and then try to extract your rusted drum from the shrunken leather. In a hurry mind you because many Amerikanish are crossing no mans land with bayonets attached to kill you!
Gene, all kidding aside it is and always be a fantasy item. The real German infantry who employed these weapons use a much simpler fool proof method of carrying snail drums in harsh conditions. A simply canvas bag where a buckle was loosed and the drum literally fell into the Soldiers hands.

[MFC]

Very nice artillery!!!
BTW the S# is 3812g.

[FNorm]

The proofs should be TSS, and these appear to be correct

[Thantos]

Jerry,
Thanks for the info, never thought it would be used in combat, more of a dress uniform thing, something to be worn at parades or inspections is what I imagined. But good to know its a fake, any Idea where I can get the correct holster for it, not a repo, but the real deal???

[ithacaartist]

Gene,

Welcome to the forum. I must say, you have 2 gorgeous Lugers! (Time to get out my drool bucket and attach it under the chin!) I didn't notice any mention of the internal parts, many of which should also be numbered--usually last 2 digits of sn. I hope they are, as not matching would affect value.

For the holster, board stock, strap, and double mag pouch to complete your rig, there is no easy answer. The WTS section of the forum has had them, but also check other forums, esp. Jan Still's; Simpson's is another possible source, but be prepared to pay top dollar retail for anything there; other sellers and outlets offer them sporadically; they will appear on various auction sites. I think you may get the idea...networking, research, diligence, and PATIENCE will all pay off for you, in varying combinations. Did I mention luck?

You may be having the early symptoms of "Luger-itis". There is no cure, but the condition can be maintained by acquiring more Lugers!

David Parker