My first Luger - an M23 Finn

drman60 · 01-26-2015, 12:05 PM

I bought this M23 off Gunbroker last week for $830. Seems like a lot for a mixmaster but I have a soft spot for Finnish firearms and really wanted a Luger that I could shoot without worrying about breaking a part on an all matching gun. Since this is my first Luger, I am still learning and would be interested in any comments or observations you might care to make. I beleive that it started life as a 1920s commercial (alphabet) luger. I've attached a link to lots of photos. Here's what I think I know :
•Serial number appears to be 3138q but the q is very faint having been partially scrubbed or lightly stamped. Please take a look and see what you think. If it is a q, that number would fit nicely with other M23s on the sticky list, 3139q was an SA stamped M23 in .30 cal.
•3 3/4" Tikka barrel is bright and shiny
•Loads and shoots great
•No import stamps
•Side plate numbered 51
•Take down liver numbered 11
•Trigger is the only matching part (38)
•Most other numbers have been scrubbed.
•41 dated barrel extension with a strange, purple brownish finish. Seems strange that the 41 was not scrubbed and the part reparked. Maybe it was an urgent repair during the Continuation War?
•Faint crown over N on the toggle
•A "T" shaped stamp mark in two spots on the inside of the receiver. An "X" in one spot
•Many SA stamps visible. Looks like it might have gone through many, many refurbs
•Safety lever chipped LH grip. Empty spot for brass tag on RH. Neither are numbered
•Wood bottom mag with two different numbers, neither matching the receiver.
•Marks on the bottom of the toggle seem to match those on the receiver, making me think it really is a DWM receiver.
•Finnish front sight with rear notch widened to match

Here's a link to the photos:

http://s273.photobucket.com/user/DRM...innish%20Luger

DavidJayUden · 01-26-2015, 12:29 PM

Link is not working for me.
dju

drman60 · 01-26-2015, 01:02 PM

Fixed link. Thanks for catching that.

Angus Magnus · 01-26-2015, 01:41 PM

That's a very decent price for a finn luger. I've been meaning to pick up one in .30 mauser to complement my 4 3/4" 9mm. Frankly, I'm JEALOUS!

They bring a premium over a regular mixed shooter, and I haven't seen one for under $1k in a while.

Mine also has some plum coloring showing, although it is a commercial DWM while yours appears to be part Mauser.

The finns are chock full of history, most have refurb Tikka barrels in exc/new condition AND provide guilt-free shooting. Love 'em!

drman60 · 01-26-2015, 01:45 PM

Thanks for the comments. What part appears to be part Mauser?

Angus Magnus · 01-26-2015, 02:05 PM

I am by no means an expert, but I think that "41" is not a chamber date. I believe that is the Mauser production code.

I will defer to the real experts to chime in...

By the way, if you search for info on finnish lugers on this forum and the other one, there is a gentleman who was writing a book on Finn handguns that is chock full of interesting data. He had at one point listed in PDF format.

DavidJayUden · 01-26-2015, 03:07 PM

We'll have to wait for real experts, but the barrel extension with "41" is Mauser, and that is what's referred to as the 2 digit date, for 1941 obviously. You aren't showing the top of the toggle, so I'm not sure about the rest. The grip frame/receiver is definitely not LATE Mauser.
dju

drman60 · 01-26-2015, 04:36 PM

The toggle is DWM with a faint crown over N. The serial number on the frame I think says it's a 20's DWM too.
Thanks

Doug Richardson · 02-16-2015, 06:58 PM

Great pictures

alvin · 02-21-2015, 08:20 AM

A little bit curious on Finnish stuffs. How do you know it's created by Finnish? Just by that triangle on the barrel?

Ron Wood · 02-21-2015, 10:23 AM

That plus the Finn front sight and right grip inlet for a brass unit ID disk.

Lugerdoc · 02-21-2015, 12:21 PM

drman. Without seeing the frame, it's hard to say if your Finnish luger started off life as one of the 5000 m23 7.65mm Commericals sold to them by DWM. Even if the frame is DWM, with the 41 dated mauser receiver and Finnish made 9mm barrel, it has been highly modified. TH

Sergio Natali · 02-21-2015, 02:26 PM

I agree with Tom, I would ask you to post some more close and detailed pictures of it.

Sergio

jussi16 · 02-21-2015, 07:03 PM

Put together during the WWII. Germans and Finns were together against the soviets.
Not a m/23.

01-26-2015, 12:05 PM	#1
drman60 New User Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	My first Luger - an M23 Finn I bought this M23 off Gunbroker last week for $830. Seems like a lot for a mixmaster but I have a soft spot for Finnish firearms and really wanted a Luger that I could shoot without worrying about breaking a part on an all matching gun. Since this is my first Luger, I am still learning and would be interested in any comments or observations you might care to make. I beleive that it started life as a 1920s commercial (alphabet) luger. I've attached a link to lots of photos. Here's what I think I know : •Serial number appears to be 3138q but the q is very faint having been partially scrubbed or lightly stamped. Please take a look and see what you think. If it is a q, that number would fit nicely with other M23s on the sticky list, 3139q was an SA stamped M23 in .30 cal. •3 3/4" Tikka barrel is bright and shiny •Loads and shoots great •No import stamps •Side plate numbered 51 •Take down liver numbered 11 •Trigger is the only matching part (38) •Most other numbers have been scrubbed. •41 dated barrel extension with a strange, purple brownish finish. Seems strange that the 41 was not scrubbed and the part reparked. Maybe it was an urgent repair during the Continuation War? •Faint crown over N on the toggle •A "T" shaped stamp mark in two spots on the inside of the receiver. An "X" in one spot •Many SA stamps visible. Looks like it might have gone through many, many refurbs •Safety lever chipped LH grip. Empty spot for brass tag on RH. Neither are numbered •Wood bottom mag with two different numbers, neither matching the receiver. •Marks on the bottom of the toggle seem to match those on the receiver, making me think it really is a DWM receiver. •Finnish front sight with rear notch widened to match Here's a link to the photos: http://s273.photobucket.com/user/DRM...innish%20Luger Last edited by drman60; 01-26-2015 at 01:01 PM. Reason: Fix link to pictures

02-21-2015, 10:23 AM	#11
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,022 Thanks: 1,090 Thanked 5,179 Times in 1,703 Posts	That plus the Finn front sight and right grip inlet for a brass unit ID disk. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

02-21-2015, 12:21 PM	#12
Lugerdoc Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: POB 398 St.Charles,MO. 63302 Posts: 5,089 Thanks: 6 Thanked 736 Times in 483 Posts	drman. Without seeing the frame, it's hard to say if your Finnish luger started off life as one of the 5000 m23 7.65mm Commericals sold to them by DWM. Even if the frame is DWM, with the 41 dated mauser receiver and Finnish made 9mm barrel, it has been highly modified. TH __________________ Tom Heller POB 398 ST.Charles, MO. 63302 Tel 636-447-3006 [email protected]

02-21-2015, 02:26 PM	#13
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,082 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	I agree with Tom, I would ask you to post some more close and detailed pictures of it. Sergio __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.

01-26-2015, 12:29 PM	#2
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Link is not working for me. dju

01-26-2015, 01:02 PM	#3
drman60 New User Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Fixed link. Thanks for catching that.

01-26-2015, 01:41 PM	#4
Angus Magnus User Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Miami Posts: 133 Thanks: 8 Thanked 22 Times in 16 Posts	That's a very decent price for a finn luger. I've been meaning to pick up one in .30 mauser to complement my 4 3/4" 9mm. Frankly, I'm JEALOUS! They bring a premium over a regular mixed shooter, and I haven't seen one for under $1k in a while. Mine also has some plum coloring showing, although it is a commercial DWM while yours appears to be part Mauser. The finns are chock full of history, most have refurb Tikka barrels in exc/new condition AND provide guilt-free shooting. Love 'em!

01-26-2015, 01:45 PM	#5
drman60 New User Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Thanks for the comments. What part appears to be part Mauser?

01-26-2015, 02:05 PM	#6
Angus Magnus User Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Miami Posts: 133 Thanks: 8 Thanked 22 Times in 16 Posts	I am by no means an expert, but I think that "41" is not a chamber date. I believe that is the Mauser production code. I will defer to the real experts to chime in... By the way, if you search for info on finnish lugers on this forum and the other one, there is a gentleman who was writing a book on Finn handguns that is chock full of interesting data. He had at one point listed in PDF format.

01-26-2015, 03:07 PM	#7
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	We'll have to wait for real experts, but the barrel extension with "41" is Mauser, and that is what's referred to as the 2 digit date, for 1941 obviously. You aren't showing the top of the toggle, so I'm not sure about the rest. The grip frame/receiver is definitely not LATE Mauser. dju

01-26-2015, 04:36 PM	#8
drman60 New User Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The toggle is DWM with a faint crown over N. The serial number on the frame I think says it's a 20's DWM too. Thanks

02-16-2015, 06:58 PM	#9
Doug Richardson New User Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: California Posts: 4 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Great pictures

02-21-2015, 08:20 AM	#10
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	A little bit curious on Finnish stuffs. How do you know it's created by Finnish? Just by that triangle on the barrel?

02-21-2015, 07:03 PM	#14
jussi16 User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Finland Posts: 250 Thanks: 77 Thanked 52 Times in 31 Posts	Put together during the WWII. Germans and Finns were together against the soviets. Not a m/23.