DWM .30 Caliber (Pics)

mm6mm6 · 08-28-2007, 06:23 PM

My dad and I "roadtripped" to Simpson Ltd in Galesburg, Illinois many years ago to buy a Luger. My dad had gone over Simpson's list and picked out a few he was interested in.

In 2004, my dad passed away after battling cancer for five years. We discussed which guns I would keep and which I would sell to raise money for my mom. I asked him which of his two Lugers was the one we had gone to pick out together some 20 years before. He said it was the 9mm. But he wanted me to keep the .30 caliber DWM because it was nicer and worth more money. I replied that I didn't care about the money. I wanted to have the Luger to remind me of the time we spent together driving to pick it up at Simpson's.

My dad then said, "Keep the .30 caliber DWM and remember that it was the other one we went to pick up!" We laughed together at that.

So I sold the 9mm to a friend at work...which is nice that he has my dad's gun and will never sell it, but pass it on to his son.

What can you tell me about this DWM then?

mm6mm6 · 08-28-2007, 06:27 PM

My dad made the box for it. The serial number is 1214 and all numbers match. One magazine has a plain wood bottom and the other says GERMANY. The left side of the frame above the take down lever has the Crown Over N proof mark which is also on the left side top of the action. It's all original with just a little bit of edge wear and bright straw. The bore is mint and shiny. I'd love to know when it was made, if it's a desirable model and perhaps what it's value might be (all though, I can compare it to one's on GunBroker once I know more about it). I'll never sell it, but I'd like to know some more history.

Thanks! -Steve

Dwight Gruber · 08-28-2007, 08:00 PM

Steve,

Your .30 cal. Alphabet Commercial is a really excellent example, and its story is poignant. Quite a treasure.

The suffix letter o under the serial number on the front of the frame is actually, and legally, part of the serial number--thus, 1214o. This places the gun as being made in the latter part of 1925.

The GERMANY stamp on the frame indicates that the gun was manufactured for export to the U.S. market. Both magazines are proper for this gun, the unmarked magazine is proper for inclusion with a commercial Luger, and the GERMANY marked magazine is a U.S. commercial export replacement magazine.

The collector demand for plain .30 cal. Alphabet Commercial Lugers is rather low, but your gun, in such superb condition and with two commercial magazines in equally good shape, is easily valued at more than $1,000.

For your information, the era of this pistol predates the use of the eagle-with-hakenkreutz symbol of the Third Reich by eight years.

--Dwight

MFC · 08-28-2007, 11:37 PM

Hi Steve,
I know there not for sale, but I'd bet you could get $400 just for the 2 Mags.
Beautiful cased set. I know you must be proud of it.
Mike C.

Pete Ebbink · 08-29-2007, 12:18 PM

Steve,

If you go to the Simpson LTD web site on these 3 pages, you will be surprised at the "asking" prices of 1920's commercial Lugers with only 1 magazine.

http://www.simpsonltd.com/index.php?...sort=2a&page=2

Your Dad left you a very nice Luger. Sorry to hear that he passed.

Aaron · 08-29-2007, 09:34 PM

Simpson's prices are not at all out of line. After years of some collectors bashing the 1920 commercials, saying "they are the most common Luger," or that "the caliber is too expensive to shoot," these pistols have finally come into their own, and the prices are up where they should be.

Dwight Gruber · 08-30-2007, 03:38 AM

Aaron,

I'm sorry to have to disagree with you, but Simpson's retail asking prices are 20%-30% high in all circumstances.

--Dwight

jamese · 08-30-2007, 07:15 AM

I have to agree with Dwight, at least in Fla we can't get those prices

Aaron · 08-30-2007, 02:56 PM

I'm going by quality gun show asking prices for 99% examples. Anyway, if you still disagree with me, I think you will come to agree with me in another year or two.

wlyon · 08-30-2007, 03:26 PM

I would say that 20-30% high is very conservative. I am always amazed at their prices as compared to even gun show prices. As to 99% guns , have never seen one unless restored. Have to agree on next year or two.
Bill

Dwight Gruber · 08-30-2007, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Aaron
I think you will come to agree with me in another year or two.

And by then Simpson's prices will be 20%-30% higher than they are now...

--Dwight

the gunman · 08-30-2007, 08:22 PM

In TOTAL agreement with Dwight on simpson's prices. At least 30% higher. Some are rather socking.

08-28-2007, 06:23 PM	#1
mm6mm6 New User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Midwest Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	DWM .30 Caliber (Pics) My dad and I "roadtripped" to Simpson Ltd in Galesburg, Illinois many years ago to buy a Luger. My dad had gone over Simpson's list and picked out a few he was interested in. In 2004, my dad passed away after battling cancer for five years. We discussed which guns I would keep and which I would sell to raise money for my mom. I asked him which of his two Lugers was the one we had gone to pick out together some 20 years before. He said it was the 9mm. But he wanted me to keep the .30 caliber DWM because it was nicer and worth more money. I replied that I didn't care about the money. I wanted to have the Luger to remind me of the time we spent together driving to pick it up at Simpson's. My dad then said, "Keep the .30 caliber DWM and remember that it was the other one we went to pick up!" We laughed together at that. So I sold the 9mm to a friend at work...which is nice that he has my dad's gun and will never sell it, but pass it on to his son. What can you tell me about this DWM then?

08-28-2007, 11:37 PM	#4
MFC User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,237 Thanks: 183 Thanked 281 Times in 162 Posts	Hi Steve, I know there not for sale, but I'd bet you could get $400 just for the 2 Mags. Beautiful cased set. I know you must be proud of it. Mike C. __________________ Mike C.

08-30-2007, 07:15 AM	#8
jamese User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: South Florida Posts: 789 Thanks: 0 Thanked 84 Times in 34 Posts	I have to agree with Dwight, at least in Fla we can't get those prices __________________ The "truth" is a matter of Perception

08-30-2007, 03:26 PM	#10
wlyon Lifer 2X Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: May 2005 Location: Somewhere in Montana Posts: 2,636 Thanks: 3,174 Thanked 2,559 Times in 955 Posts	I would say that 20-30% high is very conservative. I am always amazed at their prices as compared to even gun show prices. As to 99% guns , have never seen one unless restored. Have to agree on next year or two. Bill __________________ Bill Lyon

08-28-2007, 06:27 PM	#2
mm6mm6 New User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Midwest Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	My dad made the box for it. The serial number is 1214 and all numbers match. One magazine has a plain wood bottom and the other says GERMANY. The left side of the frame above the take down lever has the Crown Over N proof mark which is also on the left side top of the action. It's all original with just a little bit of edge wear and bright straw. The bore is mint and shiny. I'd love to know when it was made, if it's a desirable model and perhaps what it's value might be (all though, I can compare it to one's on GunBroker once I know more about it). I'll never sell it, but I'd like to know some more history. Thanks! -Steve

08-28-2007, 08:00 PM	#3
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,902 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,318 Times in 431 Posts	Steve, Your .30 cal. Alphabet Commercial is a really excellent example, and its story is poignant. Quite a treasure. The suffix letter o under the serial number on the front of the frame is actually, and legally, part of the serial number--thus, 1214o. This places the gun as being made in the latter part of 1925. The GERMANY stamp on the frame indicates that the gun was manufactured for export to the U.S. market. Both magazines are proper for this gun, the unmarked magazine is proper for inclusion with a commercial Luger, and the GERMANY marked magazine is a U.S. commercial export replacement magazine. The collector demand for plain .30 cal. Alphabet Commercial Lugers is rather low, but your gun, in such superb condition and with two commercial magazines in equally good shape, is easily valued at more than $1,000. For your information, the era of this pistol predates the use of the eagle-with-hakenkreutz symbol of the Third Reich by eight years. --Dwight

08-29-2007, 12:18 PM	#5
Pete Ebbink User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The USA Posts: 5,919 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Steve, If you go to the Simpson LTD web site on these 3 pages, you will be surprised at the "asking" prices of 1920's commercial Lugers with only 1 magazine. http://www.simpsonltd.com/index.php?...sort=2a&page=2 Your Dad left you a very nice Luger. Sorry to hear that he passed.

08-29-2007, 09:34 PM	#6
Aaron Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vista, CA Posts: 1,008 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	Simpson's prices are not at all out of line. After years of some collectors bashing the 1920 commercials, saying "they are the most common Luger," or that "the caliber is too expensive to shoot," these pistols have finally come into their own, and the prices are up where they should be.

08-30-2007, 03:38 AM	#7
Dwight Gruber User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,902 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1,318 Times in 431 Posts	Aaron, I'm sorry to have to disagree with you, but Simpson's retail asking prices are 20%-30% high in all circumstances. --Dwight

08-30-2007, 02:56 PM	#9
Aaron Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vista, CA Posts: 1,008 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	I'm going by quality gun show asking prices for 99% examples. Anyway, if you still disagree with me, I think you will come to agree with me in another year or two.

08-30-2007, 08:22 PM	#12
the gunman User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Leland NC 28451 Posts: 1,017 Thanks: 1 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	In TOTAL agreement with Dwight on simpson's prices. At least 30% higher. Some are rather socking.