DWM commercial bith year

Major Tom · 04-16-2018, 05:30 AM

I have a nice DWM commercial luger in cal. 30 luger. Serial #4694m. I was told it was made in 1920, but, I have doubts with that. Would someone give me the correct date?
I thank you

HerrKaiser · 04-16-2018, 08:23 AM

Not sure about actual date made, but the early postwar commercial lugers had 5 digit serial numbers at first IIRC (I have one of the 5 digit ones) and those were made in 1919-20 and into early 1921. After awhile they switched back to the military style lettering like yours, these commercials are sometimes referred to as “Alphabet Lugers”. Unfortunately, since the alphabet lettering block reset every year, it’s difficult to discern when yours would have been made. Could have been any year from 1921-30/1 when the DWM inventory was finally exhausted and it was absorbed into Mauser.

DonVoigt · 04-16-2018, 10:33 AM

I'd "pick" 1925, as "m" falls about mid way from "i" to "u"; but that is just a SWAG.

rhuff · 04-16-2018, 02:43 PM

I own an "i" series Luger made in 1921. With the "m" series, I would estimate 1924-25. As Don stated, about in the middle of the run.

Edward Tinker · 04-16-2018, 06:03 PM

oh, and as an FYI, although during the war years the suffix started over each year, the alphabet lugers did not.

lots of odd ducks out there, military numbering (and suffixes), the commercial series, the contract lugers (DWM and Mauser) - so no easy answers....

04-16-2018, 05:30 AM	#1
Major Tom User Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: S.E. Iowa Posts: 484 Thanks: 533 Thanked 227 Times in 124 Posts	DWM commercial bith year I have a nice DWM commercial luger in cal. 30 luger. Serial #4694m. I was told it was made in 1920, but, I have doubts with that. Would someone give me the correct date? I thank you __________________ I Build Custom Pistol Boxes

04-16-2018, 08:23 AM	#2
HerrKaiser User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: South Carolina Posts: 848 Thanks: 784 Thanked 861 Times in 411 Posts	Not sure about actual date made, but the early postwar commercial lugers had 5 digit serial numbers at first IIRC (I have one of the 5 digit ones) and those were made in 1919-20 and into early 1921. After awhile they switched back to the military style lettering like yours, these commercials are sometimes referred to as “Alphabet Lugers”. Unfortunately, since the alphabet lettering block reset every year, it’s difficult to discern when yours would have been made. Could have been any year from 1921-30/1 when the DWM inventory was finally exhausted and it was absorbed into Mauser. __________________ -QM Looking for Mauser S/42 toggle train #22

04-16-2018, 10:33 AM	#3
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,441 Thanked 4,350 Times in 2,040 Posts	I'd "pick" 1925, as "m" falls about mid way from "i" to "u"; but that is just a SWAG. __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

04-16-2018, 02:43 PM	#4
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,291 Thanks: 2,709 Thanked 972 Times in 717 Posts	I own an "i" series Luger made in 1921. With the "m" series, I would estimate 1924-25. As Don stated, about in the middle of the run. __________________ Need DWM breechblock #21

04-16-2018, 06:03 PM	#5
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,935 Thanks: 2,033 Thanked 4,533 Times in 2,093 Posts	oh, and as an FYI, although during the war years the suffix started over each year, the alphabet lugers did not. lots of odd ducks out there, military numbering (and suffixes), the commercial series, the contract lugers (DWM and Mauser) - so no easy answers....