My .30 cal luger

Zbro19 · 09-13-2018, 06:03 PM

Hey everyone. So I have a german .30cal luger. Can anyone tell me anything about it? It has matching serial numbers,no numbers on the magazine and it is marked dwm on the top if the toggle. If anyone has any info I would appreciate the help. Thank you.

HerrKaiser · 09-13-2018, 06:47 PM

You have an interwar “alphabet” commercial Luger as indicated by the 4 letter serial number and the “i” suffix as well as the crown n proof mark. The blank wood based bottom is a correct style of magazine for this gun. Iirc “i” suffix Lugers are actually quite rare so this may have been a real steal for you, especially given its 9000 level serial number preceding the suffix. Need more pictures to tell you anything beyond that and I’m sure the others will enjoy the look at this too. Congrats on your piece of history and welcome to the forum. I’m sure one of the moderators will direct you to the FAQ and new collectors forum if you wish to look up some other basic pertinent information about your gun.

mrerick · 09-13-2018, 07:03 PM

Hi Tyler, and welcome to the forum.

Check out our FAQ PDF document for quite a bit of reference material.

Lugers can be quite addictive. I got my start on a DWM Alphabet Commercial similar to yours.

Marc

Zbro19 · 09-13-2018, 07:47 PM

Thank you for all the responses I super appreciate it!! Helps alot. I stumbled across this luger at a cabelas and snagged it for about 1200 bucks. They had no idea it was a .30 luger. And what other kind of pictures would I need?

HerrKaiser · 09-13-2018, 08:50 PM

Pictures of all numbered parts you can see, all proof marks you can see, pictures of the barrel's rifling and such, and the muzzle for starters. To get pictures of some parts, you'll have to disassemble the pistol. Though on commercial pistols, they aren't always fully numbered and many parts are instead unnumbered (like the firing pin, grips, toggle pins/axles).

cirelaw · 09-13-2018, 09:23 PM

Well Done!

DonVoigt · 09-13-2018, 09:57 PM

I would not use the word "rare" with a luger that comprised a near complete block of 8,000 pistols.
It is not significantly "scarcer" than any other letter block of commercial 1920 luger pistols, JMHO.

Cartridge counter luger pistols are "rare", 1902 carbines are scarce, US test trial pistols are fairly easy to find, as they survived in reasonable numbers and all were present in the US. I know all it is pedantic semantics. Again JMHO.

Zbro19 · 09-13-2018, 11:04 PM

Alright I will try to snag pictures. From what I've seen in the pistol there's almost no numbers anywhere.

HerrKaiser · 09-13-2018, 11:11 PM

Your numbers are “hidden” in the commercial variations like this. On the bottom of the takedown lever and side plate is a number, the one for your breech block is also one you’ll need to take down to find. Same with extractor (if numbered). Bottom of safety lever will have one (if numbered) and will the sear block. Again, many don’t. My all matching commercial has only a numbered barrel, frame, toggle train, takedown lever, and sideplate. Those are the bare minimum, after that it’s spotty on whether the other parts get numbered or not from the reports of others.

Zbro19 · 09-13-2018, 11:28 PM

Here's a few more pictures if those help

rhuff · 09-14-2018, 04:20 PM

Congrats on your First Luger.......it likely won't be your last one!! I also have an "i" series alphabet Luger,only a bit earlier in the production range. The 7.65Para(30Luger) round is a fun cartridge to shoot, and shoots quite flat at distance. These Lugers like to be kept clean and well lubed if you are going to shoot them at the range. Gather up your spent brass, because even if you don't plan to reload it, others might/will buy it from you to reload. Some Lugers can be pretty ammo sensitive.....Fiocchi and PPU ammo is what most non-handloaders are shooting. Enjoy!! Oh, and welcome to the forum!!

Zbro19 · 09-14-2018, 04:38 PM

Thank you!! And yes I already want to get a artillary or navy luger to add to my collection. And I have shot it before a few times. I grab every casing I can and I do reload just haven't started reloading 7.65 para yet

rhuff · 09-14-2018, 05:53 PM

Glad to have another handloader on this forum. The 7.65P can be a bit tricky compared to 9mm, and straight walled brass. There is a lot of info in the reloading sub-section of this forum.

09-13-2018, 06:03 PM	#1
Zbro19 User Join Date: Sep 2018 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	My .30 cal luger Hey everyone. So I have a german .30cal luger. Can anyone tell me anything about it? It has matching serial numbers,no numbers on the magazine and it is marked dwm on the top if the toggle. If anyone has any info I would appreciate the help. Thank you. Attached Thumbnails

09-13-2018, 06:47 PM	#2
HerrKaiser User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: South Carolina Posts: 848 Thanks: 784 Thanked 861 Times in 411 Posts	You have an interwar “alphabet” commercial Luger as indicated by the 4 letter serial number and the “i” suffix as well as the crown n proof mark. The blank wood based bottom is a correct style of magazine for this gun. Iirc “i” suffix Lugers are actually quite rare so this may have been a real steal for you, especially given its 9000 level serial number preceding the suffix. Need more pictures to tell you anything beyond that and I’m sure the others will enjoy the look at this too. Congrats on your piece of history and welcome to the forum. I’m sure one of the moderators will direct you to the FAQ and new collectors forum if you wish to look up some other basic pertinent information about your gun. __________________ -QM Looking for Mauser S/42 toggle train #22

09-13-2018, 07:03 PM	#3
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	Hi Tyler, and welcome to the forum. Check out our FAQ PDF document for quite a bit of reference material. Lugers can be quite addictive. I got my start on a DWM Alphabet Commercial similar to yours. Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.

09-13-2018, 07:47 PM	#4
Zbro19 User Join Date: Sep 2018 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	The luger Thank you for all the responses I super appreciate it!! Helps alot. I stumbled across this luger at a cabelas and snagged it for about 1200 bucks. They had no idea it was a .30 luger. And what other kind of pictures would I need?

09-13-2018, 08:50 PM	#5
HerrKaiser User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: South Carolina Posts: 848 Thanks: 784 Thanked 861 Times in 411 Posts	Pictures of all numbered parts you can see, all proof marks you can see, pictures of the barrel's rifling and such, and the muzzle for starters. To get pictures of some parts, you'll have to disassemble the pistol. Though on commercial pistols, they aren't always fully numbered and many parts are instead unnumbered (like the firing pin, grips, toggle pins/axles). __________________ -QM Looking for Mauser S/42 toggle train #22

09-13-2018, 09:23 PM	#6
cirelaw Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PORT ST LUCIE, FLORIDA Posts: 12,216 Thanks: 6,209 Thanked 4,133 Times in 2,173 Posts	Well Done!

09-13-2018, 09:57 PM	#7
DonVoigt User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: near Charlotte NC Posts: 4,681 Thanks: 1,442 Thanked 4,350 Times in 2,040 Posts	I would not use the word "rare" with a luger that comprised a near complete block of 8,000 pistols. It is not significantly "scarcer" than any other letter block of commercial 1920 luger pistols, JMHO. Cartridge counter luger pistols are "rare", 1902 carbines are scarce, US test trial pistols are fairly easy to find, as they survived in reasonable numbers and all were present in the US. I know all it is pedantic semantics. Again JMHO. __________________ 03man(Don Voigt); Luger student and collector. Looking for DWM side plate: 69 ; Dreyse 1907 pistol K.S. Gendarmerie

09-13-2018, 11:04 PM	#8
Zbro19 User Join Date: Sep 2018 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Alright I will try to snag pictures. From what I've seen in the pistol there's almost no numbers anywhere.

09-13-2018, 11:11 PM	#9
HerrKaiser User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: South Carolina Posts: 848 Thanks: 784 Thanked 861 Times in 411 Posts	Your numbers are “hidden” in the commercial variations like this. On the bottom of the takedown lever and side plate is a number, the one for your breech block is also one you’ll need to take down to find. Same with extractor (if numbered). Bottom of safety lever will have one (if numbered) and will the sear block. Again, many don’t. My all matching commercial has only a numbered barrel, frame, toggle train, takedown lever, and sideplate. Those are the bare minimum, after that it’s spotty on whether the other parts get numbered or not from the reports of others. __________________ -QM Looking for Mauser S/42 toggle train #22

09-13-2018, 11:28 PM	#10
Zbro19 User Join Date: Sep 2018 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Here's a few more pictures if those help Attached Thumbnails

09-14-2018, 04:20 PM	#11
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,291 Thanks: 2,709 Thanked 972 Times in 717 Posts	Congrats on your First Luger.......it likely won't be your last one!! I also have an "i" series alphabet Luger,only a bit earlier in the production range. The 7.65Para(30Luger) round is a fun cartridge to shoot, and shoots quite flat at distance. These Lugers like to be kept clean and well lubed if you are going to shoot them at the range. Gather up your spent brass, because even if you don't plan to reload it, others might/will buy it from you to reload. Some Lugers can be pretty ammo sensitive.....Fiocchi and PPU ammo is what most non-handloaders are shooting. Enjoy!! Oh, and welcome to the forum!! __________________ Need DWM breechblock #21

09-14-2018, 04:38 PM	#12
Zbro19 User Join Date: Sep 2018 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Thank you!! And yes I already want to get a artillary or navy luger to add to my collection. And I have shot it before a few times. I grab every casing I can and I do reload just haven't started reloading 7.65 para yet

09-14-2018, 05:53 PM	#13
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,291 Thanks: 2,709 Thanked 972 Times in 717 Posts	Glad to have another handloader on this forum. The 7.65P can be a bit tricky compared to 9mm, and straight walled brass. There is a lot of info in the reloading sub-section of this forum. __________________ Need DWM breechblock #21