1913 dwm

Dradzk · 10-29-2022, 07:52 PM

Hello all, thanks for having me.

Semi recently I picked up a 1913 DWM. I'm pretty sure the gun has been refinished and reblued. Probably re-stamped too, but it was an ok price and I wanted something I could afford and wouldn't be afraid to use. The toggle does not lock open on empty chamber.

I am curious how many of the stamps are legitimate, and if anyone knows anything about the unit mark.

Thanks!

https://imgur.com/a/DSEfTY4

Doubs · 10-29-2022, 09:17 PM

Your 1913 DWM Luger was made early in that year as it doesn't have a letter suffix and is without a hold open devise. The military directive to include the hold open in all new Lugers was issued in May, 1913. Some early Lugers were returned to the Erfurt Rifle Factory to be modified for the hold open but many issued to Bavarian units were not.

The unit marking appears to be Bavarian Infantry regiment 19, company 3, weapon 10. All stamps that I see appear to be original and legitimate.

Your Luger has been refinished. As such it has lost some of it's collector value but is still a desirable pistol.

Karl · 10-30-2022, 09:53 AM

Dan,

The photos are dark and markings are difficult to see clearly, however, it appears to me that the serial numbers on the frame, barrel, and receiver have been added. The numbers are in a sans serif font, and the "4" has a closed top, which is not correct (see all the contemporary examples in Still's works), and they appear to be a little too large. The barrel serial number appears to be only the last two digits, which is not correct.

I would add that the sideways-numbered magazine base is not correct for this year and the number may have been added.

Better photos would help.

KFS

Dradzk · 10-31-2022, 08:29 AM

I added some more photos to the link. Thanks for your thoughts and opinions. Glad to hear that more of the numbers might be legitimate than I had initially thought. I just noticed while taking these pictures that there is a little of the previous serial left on the underside of the barrel.

Just for further note, the mag is an 8 round. The gun shoots well, if quite high.

Also, does anyone have or able to point me to information about the 19th Regiment? After a brief search I'm not coming up with anything.

Edit: Apparently this gun popped up here back in 2015 if you search for "19th Bavarian" in the unit markings section.

Doubs · 10-31-2022, 11:03 AM

[QUOTE=Dradzk;346005]The gun shoots well, if quite high./QUOTE]

The reason it shoots high is because for the first years of production, Luger sights were zeroed somewhere between 80 & 110 meters. Later they were zeroed for 50 meters. Early Lugers not equipped with the hold open that were sent to Erfurt to be fitted with the hold open also had the front sights replaced to lower the zero distance to 50 meters. Yours wasn't returned so the zero remains at the longer distance.

ithacaartist · 11-01-2022, 02:42 PM

G.T. had a selection of replacement front sights made. If you're going to shoot this gun at less than 100 yards, consider ordering one from him that will bring results closer to point of aim.

10-29-2022, 07:52 PM	#1
Dradzk New User Join Date: Oct 2022 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	1913 dwm Hello all, thanks for having me. Semi recently I picked up a 1913 DWM. I'm pretty sure the gun has been refinished and reblued. Probably re-stamped too, but it was an ok price and I wanted something I could afford and wouldn't be afraid to use. The toggle does not lock open on empty chamber. I am curious how many of the stamps are legitimate, and if anyone knows anything about the unit mark. Thanks! https://imgur.com/a/DSEfTY4

11-01-2022, 02:42 PM	#6
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,347 Thanks: 7,285 Thanked 2,579 Times in 1,366 Posts	G.T. had a selection of replacement front sights made. If you're going to shoot this gun at less than 100 yards, consider ordering one from him that will bring results closer to point of aim. __________________ "... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894

10-29-2022, 09:17 PM	#2
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,700 Thanks: 792 Thanked 1,692 Times in 555 Posts	Your 1913 DWM Luger was made early in that year as it doesn't have a letter suffix and is without a hold open devise. The military directive to include the hold open in all new Lugers was issued in May, 1913. Some early Lugers were returned to the Erfurt Rifle Factory to be modified for the hold open but many issued to Bavarian units were not. The unit marking appears to be Bavarian Infantry regiment 19, company 3, weapon 10. All stamps that I see appear to be original and legitimate. Your Luger has been refinished. As such it has lost some of it's collector value but is still a desirable pistol.

10-30-2022, 09:53 AM	#3
Karl Lifer - Twice Over Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Savannah Posts: 522 Thanks: 0 Thanked 271 Times in 118 Posts	Dan, The photos are dark and markings are difficult to see clearly, however, it appears to me that the serial numbers on the frame, barrel, and receiver have been added. The numbers are in a sans serif font, and the "4" has a closed top, which is not correct (see all the contemporary examples in Still's works), and they appear to be a little too large. The barrel serial number appears to be only the last two digits, which is not correct. I would add that the sideways-numbered magazine base is not correct for this year and the number may have been added. Better photos would help. KFS

10-31-2022, 08:29 AM	#4
Dradzk New User Join Date: Oct 2022 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I added some more photos to the link. Thanks for your thoughts and opinions. Glad to hear that more of the numbers might be legitimate than I had initially thought. I just noticed while taking these pictures that there is a little of the previous serial left on the underside of the barrel. Just for further note, the mag is an 8 round. The gun shoots well, if quite high. Also, does anyone have or able to point me to information about the 19th Regiment? After a brief search I'm not coming up with anything. Edit: Apparently this gun popped up here back in 2015 if you search for "19th Bavarian" in the unit markings section.

10-31-2022, 11:03 AM	#5
Doubs User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Byron, Georgia Posts: 1,700 Thanks: 792 Thanked 1,692 Times in 555 Posts	[QUOTE=Dradzk;346005]The gun shoots well, if quite high./QUOTE] The reason it shoots high is because for the first years of production, Luger sights were zeroed somewhere between 80 & 110 meters. Later they were zeroed for 50 meters. Early Lugers not equipped with the hold open that were sent to Erfurt to be fitted with the hold open also had the front sights replaced to lower the zero distance to 50 meters. Yours wasn't returned so the zero remains at the longer distance.