1st Luger. I would like help on ID and value

[Jhon P]

I purchased this from a guy I know. $700.00
It is a double date stamped
1917 and 1920
I will see how many pictures I. Am getting posted

[Doubs]

Welcome to the forum. Once we see sharp, detailed pictures, we'll be able to tell you a lot more.

1917 was the year it was made. While commonly called "double date", the 1920 is a Weimar Republic property stamp and not an actual date. All arms owned by the government were to be stamped with 1920 to show government ownership and prevent theft of government arms.

[Jhon P]

Let’s see if it works this time. I am still learning how to navigate this site

[Jhon P]

Also was the price I paid a fair price?
Does this P08 have any collector value or is this just a shooter?
Thankyou
It appears to have matching numbers

[DonVoigt]

Originally Posted by Jhon P

Also was the price I paid a fair price?
Does this P08 have any collector value or is this just a shooter?
Thankyou
It appears to have matching numbers

It was a fair price- for you, maybe not for the seller.

Collectible is in the eye of the collector; you established the value when you bought it!

Given the condition and if matching I would call it a "collectible"; but
not really more valuable than others in similar condition.

[HerrKaiser]

At $700 for any functioning Luger, much less a 9mm, you did pretty well. Strawed small parts still look like they are strawed or otherwise patina'd, but not blued over like most re-blue jobs. The 1917 and 1920 dates look shallow though, which makes me suspect a re-finish even if it was long ago

[Edward Tinker]

See the FAQ for further information about matching numbers, but what I saw , was matching (last two).
Your price was great, as Quentin said, great price.

I see a DWM (maker) made in 1917 (year) - after the war it received the 1920 property marking. It then served in the Weimar army and then into WW2.
Either brought back by a GI after WW2 or as surplus, it made it to America .

[Jhon P]

I field stripped it and checked to makes sure that there was no damage or visible cracks. Everything appears to function correctly and smoothly. I will field strip it again and clean and oil it. Take to the range and put a few rounds through it.
I would like to find a correct period holster.
Thanks everyone for the info. I have wanted one for many years
What’s a good guess on the value. I have no plans to sell.

[lugerholsterrepair]

It appears you have a WW2 mag in the pistol? You might be looking for a wood bottom WW1 magazine, a holster & a DWM tool.
Part of your value is in the mag but you don't show it.

Around here a pistol like this wouldn't go for less than $1,000. Determining an actual value..how's the bore? Does the pistol function as it should? Do the grips match?
Your pistol appears to me to have it's original finish. When you have it apart, take a look at the insides. They should be in the white. The muzzle should also be un blued.

[Jhon P]

Thanks Jerry. The grips match and are wood. They look correct to me and I don’t see any damage.
The bore has some slight pitting but the grooves and lands are in good condition.
The bore does not appear to be blued. I know the magazine is not correct, it has the aluminum base.
Everything is working correctly as far as I can tell. I have not shot it yet but the guy I got it from has shot it in the past. He bought it around 1980

[Jhon P]

Sorry I meant to Wright that the muzzle does not appear to be blued

[ithacaartist]

Almost matching... Nobody so far has caught that the front toggle link is serialized with a 65, not a 64. This presents the conundrum of whether it was mixed up at the factory and slipped through all the inspectors, or was changed out later. There's a good chance that the price was fair to the seller after all. Let the squabbling begin!

[HerrKaiser]

Zooming in on it, it looks as if the rear toggle number was overstamped, but I do not know if that is a factory overstamp or a later stamp.

[Doubs]

Considering that the final price on this completely mismatched example sold last week for a total of $1003 after the premium and taxes were added, I'd say the OP did very well at $700.

https://www.proxibid.com/DWM-Luger-P...ation/58254250

[rhuff]

It appears that the left grip has the "million dollar chip", which can be repaired by our own Jim Soloman. Are the grips numbered to this Luger?

[Jhon P]

I have not removed the grips to find out.
I will see if I can find my loop and get a good look at the double stamp

[Jhon P]

It looks like a 64 was stamped over a 65

[Jhon P]

Is this the million dollar break?

[Jhon P]

This looks like a stamp over another number. It’s on the upper receiver, left side
Could this have been done by a German repair?
Or someone doing repairs and trying to pass it off as a complete
Matching numbers?

[rhuff]

Originally Posted by Jhon P

Is this the million dollar break?

Yep.....It happens often if one is unfamiliar with Lugers.....gets in a hurry to remove the left grip....shooting Luger with loose grip...etc.



As mentioned above, it can be repaired if those grips are numbered to your Luger. If not matching numbers, then your choice as to what to do.