Another newbie with a DWM Luger

rum runner · 03-20-2010, 05:23 PM

I stumbled onto a .30 Luger last week with a relatively low serial number, 3322 m. Matching numbers except the magazine, which is serial # 1000 with an eagle stamp.

Other markings on the gun are N under a crown.

Does anyone have any clue as to what year this gun was manufactured?

Thanks in advance.

FNorm · 03-20-2010, 06:30 PM

Commercial, what is now called the Alphabet series, block M, was late 1923 to first half of 1924.
Your serial number should put it early in 1924.

FN

rum runner · 03-21-2010, 08:33 AM

Yes, I knew it was for commercial sale in Germany, or possibly for export. I think I understand a little more about the collectability of these guns by looking at the pictures of your 3 Lugers. I never did think this DWM version was all that rare or I wouldn’t have been able to pick it up at a coin shop for $490 last Tuesday. I like the early versions; I’m not really into all the Nazi memorabilia of the 1940’s. I also like the original chambering of the 7.65mm. I will make it a shooter. I just need to locate some decent .30 Luger FMJ rounds.

Thanks for your info on the date of manufacture. Glad you were here.

R. Kyzer

alvin · 03-21-2010, 08:50 AM

ammunitiontogo.com carries high quality 7,65mm new ammo. $18.95 per box price is also good. In the past, one box asks $30+. Nowadays, ammo price also goes down.

rum runner · 03-21-2010, 10:32 AM

Thanks for the tip.

Have you had any hiccups shooting Fiocchi soft-points in a 7.65 Luger? Would like to hear.

Another option would be rummaging thru ammo boxes at a gun show. Sometimes you can find old Remington or Winchester rounds that are no longer in production.

zenithman · 07-11-2010, 09:44 AM

Rum Runner: I have a 1920 commercial 7.65 shooting Fiocchi and it functions flawlessly. In fact I have another two boxes on the way to me right now. The 30 cal version is a joy to shoot with very little recoil. This was my first luger but it won't be my last, Art.

antonio_liviero · 07-11-2010, 05:51 PM

Hi,
I own an alphabet DWM Finnish contract (marked SA on the frame) since two years.
It's from about the same period and I shoot it using Fiocchi FMJ ammunitions, 7,65 Parabellum caliber (i.e. 30 Luger).
These ammos are easy to find for me, because I live in Italy, but I must say they shoot very good, I'm not a sharpshooter but most of the rounds hit the standard pistol target in the black area at 25 meters.
In addition, I shot in these two years about 200 rounds and I never had any problem of incorrect feeding of ammos or jamming during shooting.
This is my opinion, hope can help.

P.S.
I don't think Fiocchi manufactures also soft points 30 Luger ammos, maybe if you have seen them they were recharged.
Anyway, it is better shoot only FMJ ammos with a Luger pistol, they were made for war!

Regards
Antonio

mrerick · 07-12-2010, 01:22 PM

I've had good experiences with the Fiocchi 7.65 luger in my 1923 Alphabet commercial (also in the M Block, about 5,000 guns later...).

Your aluminum base magazine is not contemporary with the gun. It's from later production, probably the mid 1930s to 1942...

If you have any feed problems you may need to replace the recoil spring. Wolff Springs has a complete set available.

BTW, Welcome to the forum. This is a great place to learn about Luger pistols. Oh yes... by way of warning, these beautifully engineered guns are addictive...

Marc

Don M · 07-12-2010, 01:49 PM

See http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=24371

calibrator · 07-13-2010, 01:21 PM

I bought the Wolff springs for my shooters (.30 cal and 9mm). Even though they state their springs are for either cal, the lighter spring is still too strong for the .30. Saw a post here once (think it was from LugerDoc) stating that you had to remove 2 coils from a spring for it to work in the .30. I just kept the original spring that came in my .30 and it shoots 93gr FMJ Fiocchi through MecGar mags just fine (yes, that is my ammo on the trader board). Thanks for the plug Don.

03-20-2010, 05:23 PM	#1
rum runner New User Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Another newbie with a DWM Luger I stumbled onto a .30 Luger last week with a relatively low serial number, 3322 m. Matching numbers except the magazine, which is serial # 1000 with an eagle stamp. Other markings on the gun are N under a crown. Does anyone have any clue as to what year this gun was manufactured? Thanks in advance. Attached Thumbnails

07-12-2010, 01:49 PM	#9
Don M Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,429 Thanks: 67 Thanked 292 Times in 191 Posts	See http://forum.lugerforum.com/showthread.php?t=24371 __________________ Regards, Don [email protected] Author of History Writ in Steel: German Police Markings 1900-1936 http://www.historywritinsteel.com

03-20-2010, 06:30 PM	#2
FNorm Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 978 Thanks: 68 Thanked 127 Times in 108 Posts	Commercial, what is now called the Alphabet series, block M, was late 1923 to first half of 1924. Your serial number should put it early in 1924. FN

03-21-2010, 08:33 AM	#3
rum runner New User Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Yes, I knew it was for commercial sale in Germany, or possibly for export. I think I understand a little more about the collectability of these guns by looking at the pictures of your 3 Lugers. I never did think this DWM version was all that rare or I wouldn’t have been able to pick it up at a coin shop for $490 last Tuesday. I like the early versions; I’m not really into all the Nazi memorabilia of the 1940’s. I also like the original chambering of the 7.65mm. I will make it a shooter. I just need to locate some decent .30 Luger FMJ rounds. Thanks for your info on the date of manufacture. Glad you were here. R. Kyzer

03-21-2010, 08:50 AM	#4
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	ammunitiontogo.com carries high quality 7,65mm new ammo. $18.95 per box price is also good. In the past, one box asks $30+. Nowadays, ammo price also goes down.

03-21-2010, 10:32 AM	#5
rum runner New User Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the tip. Have you had any hiccups shooting Fiocchi soft-points in a 7.65 Luger? Would like to hear. Another option would be rummaging thru ammo boxes at a gun show. Sometimes you can find old Remington or Winchester rounds that are no longer in production.

07-11-2010, 09:44 AM	#6
zenithman User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bethel, CT Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Rum Runner: I have a 1920 commercial 7.65 shooting Fiocchi and it functions flawlessly. In fact I have another two boxes on the way to me right now. The 30 cal version is a joy to shoot with very little recoil. This was my first luger but it won't be my last, Art.

07-11-2010, 05:51 PM	#7
antonio_liviero User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Italy Posts: 43 Thanks: 8 Thanked 12 Times in 8 Posts	Hi, I own an alphabet DWM Finnish contract (marked SA on the frame) since two years. It's from about the same period and I shoot it using Fiocchi FMJ ammunitions, 7,65 Parabellum caliber (i.e. 30 Luger). These ammos are easy to find for me, because I live in Italy, but I must say they shoot very good, I'm not a sharpshooter but most of the rounds hit the standard pistol target in the black area at 25 meters. In addition, I shot in these two years about 200 rounds and I never had any problem of incorrect feeding of ammos or jamming during shooting. This is my opinion, hope can help. P.S. I don't think Fiocchi manufactures also soft points 30 Luger ammos, maybe if you have seen them they were recharged. Anyway, it is better shoot only FMJ ammos with a Luger pistol, they were made for war! Regards Antonio

07-12-2010, 01:22 PM	#8
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,909 Thanks: 1,374 Thanked 3,110 Times in 1,510 Posts	I've had good experiences with the Fiocchi 7.65 luger in my 1923 Alphabet commercial (also in the M Block, about 5,000 guns later...). Your aluminum base magazine is not contemporary with the gun. It's from later production, probably the mid 1930s to 1942... If you have any feed problems you may need to replace the recoil spring. Wolff Springs has a complete set available. BTW, Welcome to the forum. This is a great place to learn about Luger pistols. Oh yes... by way of warning, these beautifully engineered guns are addictive... Marc

07-13-2010, 01:21 PM	#10
calibrator User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cave Creek Posts: 315 Thanks: 55 Thanked 242 Times in 92 Posts	I bought the Wolff springs for my shooters (.30 cal and 9mm). Even though they state their springs are for either cal, the lighter spring is still too strong for the .30. Saw a post here once (think it was from LugerDoc) stating that you had to remove 2 coils from a spring for it to work in the .30. I just kept the original spring that came in my .30 and it shoots 93gr FMJ Fiocchi through MecGar mags just fine (yes, that is my ammo on the trader board). Thanks for the plug Don.