Show off your Wartime guns...

spacecoast · September 14, 2014, 12:49 PM

Starting a thread for you to display pictures and descriptions/history of pistols and revolvers you know were manufactured during wartime or were otherwise carried/used in wars. My submissions are below, with more pics of one of the Lugers at the bottom:

From the top -

1. Colt 1860 Army - this is a low serial number .44 caliber percussion revolver (625x) dating from 1861, marked US on the trigger guard under the serial number. This one has the 4th screw on the frame for the attachment of a longer stock. The action works well but the gun has no signs of a cylinder scene and may have been polished in the past. I haven't shot it but have thought of doing so.

2. Colt M1917 - .45 ACP revolver produced late in the war (March 1918, serial #204xxx, US Army serial #49002 marked on butt). While intended for use with moon clips, the cylinder is bored so .45ACP rounds will headspace on the case mouth. Due to production quotas during the war, this gun is not finished or blued nearly as nice as earlier and later Colts. I don't see much if any evidence of hard use or otherwise being issued or carried.

3. 1908 Bulgarian Contract DWM Luger - this 9mm pistol has a very interesting history. Manufactured around 1911 in the second phase of 5,000 pistols in the contract (10,000 total). This model is has some unique features, such as the Cyrillic writing on the extractor (which also serves as a loaded chamber indicator) and under the safety lever. The lanyard loop on the butt is also unique to this model of Luger, as is the Bulgarian crest on the toggle and the DWM logo inscribed on the chamber (on the toggle in all other Lugers). The guns delivered under this contract were used very hard in both Balkan Wars (1912-13) as well as in WWI and even WWII (and most show it). There are very few intact numbers-matching survivors, perhaps fewer than 1% of the originals, as many/most of them were broken up and used for parts. I have the sales receipt for this one when sold through a now closed Detroit gun shop in 1968 to a now-deceased relative.

4. 1918 over 1920 DWM Luger - this is a refinished numbers-matching 9mm shooter with military-style chamber proofs. Manufactured and presumably issued in 1918, restamped 1920 after the war by the Reichswehr.

5. Erfurt Luger - produced somewhere from 1914-18 (would like to pin it down better as the chamber date has been scrubbed), this 9mm also has military-style proofs and a mismatched barrel and trigger bar serial #. Also used as a shooter.

6. Spreewerk P38 - this 9mm pistol dates from May 1943 and is in nice original condition with all numbers matching and correct grips. I'd love to shoot it but haven't had the nerve yet to do it.

I also have another Colt 1860 Army from 1863 and an 1864 Remington New Model Army, both of which certainly could have been used during the Civil War, but neither are martially marked.

Hunter Customs · September 15, 2014, 07:35 AM

Here's the only picture I have of any of mine.

Best Regards
Bob Hunter
www.huntercustoms.com

Magnum Wheel Man · September 15, 2014, 09:44 AM

actual used in war handguns...

I have one revolver ( a 1917 Colt, which I don't have a good picture of )

& several Czech semi autos...

SaxonPig · September 15, 2014, 12:24 PM

Don't have too many military handguns.

spacecoast · September 15, 2014, 03:12 PM

SaxonPig -

Is that a S&W Model 1917 that you show in your third picture? Any details or info on that one? The barrel rollmark isn't what I would expect, which would be "S&W D.A. 45". Or do I have the wrong model?

sgms · September 15, 2014, 08:23 PM

Some of mine I had on the comp.. (bottom of 3)Colt M. 1909 .45 colt, (middle of 3) Colt M. 1917, .45 acp, (top of 3) S&W M. 1917 .45 acp, army issued Pettingill, Springfield 1911.

markallen · September 15, 2014, 09:14 PM

[IMG]

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Salmoneye · September 16, 2014, 07:42 AM

1943 Albion Enfield No2 Mk1**

spacecoast · September 16, 2014, 08:01 AM

Those Enfields are pretty cool, although I have to say that they look like a throwback to the 1800s. Why were the British reluctant to use a swing out cylinder? Were those designs protected by patents and not doable, or was the automatic ejection feature of the top breaks seen as a superior feature?

Sorry to sound ignorant about the Enfields (which I am), just wanting to learn...

SaxonPig · September 16, 2014, 05:33 PM

It's a British contract Victory Model in 38 S&W. All original except for the poat-war Magna stocks I put on for shooting comfort. I hate the old service style. It came with the original wood but I swapped them out.

spacecoast · September 16, 2014, 05:44 PM

I should have known, it didn't look big enough to be the 1917, thanks.

Salmoneye · September 17, 2014, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Those Enfields are pretty cool, although I have to say that they look like a throwback to the 1800s. Why were the British reluctant to use a swing out cylinder? Were those designs protected by patents and not doable, or was the automatic ejection feature of the top breaks seen as a superior feature?

Sorry to sound ignorant about the Enfields (which I am), just wanting to learn...

Danged if I know...

Would love an education also if anyone can add info...

highpower3006 · September 17, 2014, 10:01 AM

I only have a couple that are definitely wartime guns and oddly enough they are both from WWI.

DWM Luger, chamber dated 1913. All matching except the magazine.

1911 as manufactured by Springfield Armory in 1914.

Hurryin' Hoosier · September 17, 2014, 04:20 PM

"... manufactured during wartime ..."? That's kind of vague. During what period of history was there not a war going on somewhere?

spacecoast · September 17, 2014, 04:50 PM

Quote:

"... manufactured during wartime ..."? That's kind of vague. During what period of history was there not a war going on somewhere?

I hope it was clear that the implied condition was that the war was imminent or in progress that involved the country where the gun was manufactured (even if it was a Civil War) and that the gun was issued to the country's military or otherwise used in a military role.

PzGren · September 18, 2014, 07:18 AM

PzGren · September 18, 2014, 07:23 AM

PzGren · September 18, 2014, 07:26 AM

I actually shoot this one quite a bit and retired the fragile grips.

Spreewerke, another shooter

Magnum Wheel Man · September 18, 2014, 07:38 AM

Thought I recognized the shape of a Model 27... nice guns BTW...

highpower3006 · September 19, 2014, 12:47 PM

I kind of forgot that I have these two Mausers. Produced after WWI for export primarily to China, they were used by the Nationalist Chinese to fight warlords, the communists and the Japanese.

sgms · September 23, 2014, 01:44 PM

A couple of Pacific theater bring-backs, a pair of Nambus

IdahoG36 · September 24, 2014, 04:19 PM

I just picked up a nice all numbers matching Spreewerke P38 yesterday. By serial number, it was made in June 1944. It has the incorrect grips for the gun. They are Walther grips, MD 38/Z3 with mold marks of 1529/left grip, 1528/right grip. The magazine is also incorrect. It's marked P38v, e/359 which is a late ac43, early ac44 Walther magazine. Overall the gun is in fantastic condition. I will be on the lookout for grips and an e/88 magazine now. I am not sure yet if I will shoot this one.

I also picked up a nice RC, bnz 42 k98 at a gunshow last week.

sgms · September 24, 2014, 08:22 PM

Great looking pistol you found Idaho. I found a very nice one a few years ago and do shoot it once in a while. But for shooting I found a early P-1 that has a war time upper and use it for a shooter.

IdahoG36 · September 24, 2014, 09:49 PM

That is what I am thinking. I can find early P1's for around $300, and shoot them when I want. With this Spreewerke being a numbers matching gun, I sure would hate to have a part break on me. That could knock the value down considerably. I might shoot a mag or two of lower powered target ammo through it one day though.

Bozz10mm · September 24, 2014, 09:56 PM

Roth Steyr Model 1907 Semi-Auto Budapest, Hungary Cal 8mm

Brought back by Dad, from Germany after WWII ended

September 14, 2014, 12:49 PM	#1
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	Show off your Wartime guns... Starting a thread for you to display pictures and descriptions/history of pistols and revolvers you know were manufactured during wartime or were otherwise carried/used in wars. My submissions are below, with more pics of one of the Lugers at the bottom: From the top - 1. Colt 1860 Army - this is a low serial number .44 caliber percussion revolver (625x) dating from 1861, marked US on the trigger guard under the serial number. This one has the 4th screw on the frame for the attachment of a longer stock. The action works well but the gun has no signs of a cylinder scene and may have been polished in the past. I haven't shot it but have thought of doing so. 2. Colt M1917 - .45 ACP revolver produced late in the war (March 1918, serial #204xxx, US Army serial #49002 marked on butt). While intended for use with moon clips, the cylinder is bored so .45ACP rounds will headspace on the case mouth. Due to production quotas during the war, this gun is not finished or blued nearly as nice as earlier and later Colts. I don't see much if any evidence of hard use or otherwise being issued or carried. 3. 1908 Bulgarian Contract DWM Luger - this 9mm pistol has a very interesting history. Manufactured around 1911 in the second phase of 5,000 pistols in the contract (10,000 total). This model is has some unique features, such as the Cyrillic writing on the extractor (which also serves as a loaded chamber indicator) and under the safety lever. The lanyard loop on the butt is also unique to this model of Luger, as is the Bulgarian crest on the toggle and the DWM logo inscribed on the chamber (on the toggle in all other Lugers). The guns delivered under this contract were used very hard in both Balkan Wars (1912-13) as well as in WWI and even WWII (and most show it). There are very few intact numbers-matching survivors, perhaps fewer than 1% of the originals, as many/most of them were broken up and used for parts. I have the sales receipt for this one when sold through a now closed Detroit gun shop in 1968 to a now-deceased relative. 4. 1918 over 1920 DWM Luger - this is a refinished numbers-matching 9mm shooter with military-style chamber proofs. Manufactured and presumably issued in 1918, restamped 1920 after the war by the Reichswehr. 5. Erfurt Luger - produced somewhere from 1914-18 (would like to pin it down better as the chamber date has been scrubbed), this 9mm also has military-style proofs and a mismatched barrel and trigger bar serial #. Also used as a shooter. 6. Spreewerk P38 - this 9mm pistol dates from May 1943 and is in nice original condition with all numbers matching and correct grips. I'd love to shoot it but haven't had the nerve yet to do it. I also have another Colt 1860 Army from 1863 and an 1864 Remington New Model Army, both of which certainly could have been used during the Civil War, but neither are martially marked. Last edited by spacecoast; September 14, 2014 at 06:19 PM.

September 15, 2014, 09:44 AM	#3
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	actual used in war handguns... I have one revolver ( a 1917 Colt, which I don't have a good picture of ) & several Czech semi autos... __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

September 15, 2014, 09:14 PM	#7
markallen Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2008 Location: N E Ohio Posts: 221	[IMG][/IMG] __________________ Don't do anything Stupid. And don't let Stupid do anything to you.

September 18, 2014, 07:38 AM	#19
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	Thought I recognized the shape of a Model 27... nice guns BTW... __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

September 15, 2014, 07:35 AM	#2
Hunter Customs Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2005 Location: Osborn, Missouri Posts: 2,697	Here's the only picture I have of any of mine. Best Regards Bob Hunter www.huntercustoms.com

September 15, 2014, 12:24 PM	#4
SaxonPig Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2006 Posts: 1,900	Don't have too many military handguns.

September 15, 2014, 03:12 PM	#5
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	SaxonPig - Is that a S&W Model 1917 that you show in your third picture? Any details or info on that one? The barrel rollmark isn't what I would expect, which would be "S&W D.A. 45". Or do I have the wrong model?

September 16, 2014, 07:42 AM	#8
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,076	1943 Albion Enfield No2 Mk1**

September 16, 2014, 08:01 AM	#9
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	Those Enfields are pretty cool, although I have to say that they look like a throwback to the 1800s. Why were the British reluctant to use a swing out cylinder? Were those designs protected by patents and not doable, or was the automatic ejection feature of the top breaks seen as a superior feature? Sorry to sound ignorant about the Enfields (which I am), just wanting to learn...

September 16, 2014, 05:33 PM	#10
SaxonPig Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2006 Posts: 1,900	It's a British contract Victory Model in 38 S&W. All original except for the poat-war Magna stocks I put on for shooting comfort. I hate the old service style. It came with the original wood but I swapped them out.

September 16, 2014, 05:44 PM	#11
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	I should have known, it didn't look big enough to be the 1917, thanks.

September 17, 2014, 10:01 AM	#13
highpower3006 Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2011 Location: Savannah TN Posts: 1,220	I only have a couple that are definitely wartime guns and oddly enough they are both from WWI. DWM Luger, chamber dated 1913. All matching except the magazine. 1911 as manufactured by Springfield Armory in 1914.

September 17, 2014, 04:20 PM	#14
Hurryin' Hoosier Member Join Date: March 1, 2012 Location: Columbus, Indiana Posts: 98	"... manufactured during wartime ..."? That's kind of vague. During what period of history was there not a war going on somewhere?

September 18, 2014, 07:18 AM	#16
PzGren Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2001 Posts: 1,260

September 18, 2014, 07:23 AM	#17
PzGren Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2001 Posts: 1,260

September 18, 2014, 07:26 AM	#18
PzGren Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2001 Posts: 1,260	I actually shoot this one quite a bit and retired the fragile grips. Spreewerke, another shooter

September 19, 2014, 12:47 PM	#20
highpower3006 Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2011 Location: Savannah TN Posts: 1,220	I kind of forgot that I have these two Mausers. Produced after WWI for export primarily to China, they were used by the Nationalist Chinese to fight warlords, the communists and the Japanese.

September 24, 2014, 04:19 PM	#22
IdahoG36 Senior Member Join Date: June 24, 2006 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 2,993	I just picked up a nice all numbers matching Spreewerke P38 yesterday. By serial number, it was made in June 1944. It has the incorrect grips for the gun. They are Walther grips, MD 38/Z3 with mold marks of 1529/left grip, 1528/right grip. The magazine is also incorrect. It's marked P38v, e/359 which is a late ac43, early ac44 Walther magazine. Overall the gun is in fantastic condition. I will be on the lookout for grips and an e/88 magazine now. I am not sure yet if I will shoot this one. I also picked up a nice RC, bnz 42 k98 at a gunshow last week.

September 24, 2014, 09:49 PM	#24
IdahoG36 Senior Member Join Date: June 24, 2006 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 2,993	That is what I am thinking. I can find early P1's for around $300, and shoot them when I want. With this Spreewerke being a numbers matching gun, I sure would hate to have a part break on me. That could knock the value down considerably. I might shoot a mag or two of lower powered target ammo through it one day though.

September 24, 2014, 09:56 PM	#25
Bozz10mm Senior Member Join Date: June 28, 2013 Location: Central Texas Posts: 287	Roth Steyr Model 1907 Semi-Auto Budapest, Hungary Cal 8mm Brought back by Dad, from Germany after WWII ended