1917 DWM Luger - Page 2

Deerhunter · May 18, 2020, 05:12 PM

More pictures. Hopefully this helps you all out.

Deerhunter · May 18, 2020, 05:13 PM

I tried to take the best pictures I could. I got like 30 and I am uploading a bunch. Hoping everyone is ok with all the pictures and it helps out.

Deerhunter · May 18, 2020, 05:15 PM

few more

Deerhunter · May 18, 2020, 05:16 PM

Still more

Deerhunter · May 18, 2020, 05:19 PM

still more

Deerhunter · May 18, 2020, 05:20 PM

a few more

Deerhunter · May 18, 2020, 05:22 PM

last set of pics

**44 AMP** · May 18, 2020, 11:27 PM

Thank you for the pics. I believe it was usual to only number one of the grips, but am not certain.

based on the pics and everything being the same general condition, I'd say a "force match" is doubtful. I can see traces of the straw color on the small parts, and the magazines are period correct for the pistol, though if you can't find matching numbers on them, I wouldn't assume they were the original mags.

My book lists that model as "common" (by # produced). Looks to be in good condition, (bore needs cleaning

) Finish appears original. I don't know if its actually worth $1700 today, but if not, it will be eventually.

Looks like a good example in decent shape, and about as original as you are likely to find for a WW I Luger. With the holster tis not a steal at the asking price, but its not the most outrageously priced Luger I've seen, either.

Again, you need to find someone currently in the Luger buy/sell market to get an idea of the current value. Personally, if they let you put it on layaway, I'd buy it.

If you do buy it, and plan to shoot it, DO NOT use any kind of NATO spec or +p ammo!!!! That gun was built to run on German service ammo of the day, which was a 115gr at 1150fps. Anything hotter is a stupid abuse of a fine antique.

Deerhunter · May 19, 2020, 05:17 AM

44 Amp

Thanks for the info. Yeah they will let me put it on a 90 day layaway

I am planning to shoot it a little. You know like a magazine here and there. Not going to get crazy and I will make sure I am shooting light ammo. Thanks again

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luger fan · May 19, 2020, 05:32 AM

Am I a fan? See my user name.

**44 AMP** · May 19, 2020, 01:23 PM

Congrats Deerhunter. A mag or two now and then of the proper ammo shouldn't hurt anything.

The original standard Luger loading was a 124gr at 1050fps, which was changed to a 115gr at 1150fps shortly before WW I. They are "light" compared to what is sold for defense today, but I don't call them "light" just standard.

something I just thought of, for you to check, does the gun have the loading tool with it? There's a little pocket in the holster for that. If it doesn't, get one from one of the repro suppliers. You will want one, and it completes the set.

Monocle, walrus moustache, pickelhaube helmet "Got Mit Uns" belt and Field Grey greatcoat are optional accessories....

RickB · May 19, 2020, 03:44 PM

Wow, that is really beautiful!
I shoot mine once a year, about 100 rounds . . . and it has broken each of the last three times I've taken it to the range.
Mine is not all matching, the parts that broke were either non-matching or unnumbered, so not a huge deal, but something to keep in the back of your mind when deciding how much to shoot.

Jim Watson · May 19, 2020, 04:01 PM

Looks like the barrel needs a good cleaning.

Deerhunter · May 19, 2020, 05:05 PM

44 Amp. Yeah that tool is in the holster. I used it to take the grips off at the shop

Rick I am going to be careful with it. I am thinking about getting a reproduction firing pin for it for when I shoot

Jim it sure does. The barrel is real dirty. First thing I will do when I get it home is clean it all up

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rshaw · May 28, 2020, 02:10 PM

Hi Deerhunter,
I have a 1917 DWM 9 mm with 1 matching mag, 1 spare mag, all matching parts which I bought for EUR 1700 a little over three years ago. Since your mag isn't a match, but you have a holster and loading tool, $1700 is not unreasonable. I have shot mine with S&B Subsonic FMJ and have had no trouble. I shoot it only very occasionally, as it is a special gun for me (the first Luger I ever laid eyes on).

A dirty barrel is not a good sign. If pitting is evient after cleaning, this would drop the value significantly from a collector's point of view. Most serious collectors are rather picky about the bore. Your photos of the outside look pretty good!

I had a reblued 1918 DWM all-matching which I bought as a shooter. I broke the holdopen, finally got another after 2 long months. This new part did fit, but the gun did not cycle as smoothly as before. This made me more hesitant to continue shooting my 1917. So............I found a Bern Model 06/29 in 7,65 mm which is great to shoot- (ammo is pricey though).

Looks like you have a good buy. Perhaps find a non matching shooter to take to the range. I was VERY happy that I did not break the holdopen in my 1917.

Logan Creek · May 30, 2020, 07:13 PM

Very fair price for the rig these days.
Nice holster which is a big bonus including the tool.
Finding a Luger with even one matching mag is a minor miracle.
They are really not a concern in the Luger world except as a real premium if present.
They are often faked or attempts made at faking them.

Deerhunter · June 1, 2020, 07:54 AM

Thanks folks. Yeah excited about it. I called and put it on layaway till I could get back to the shop and pick it up. Hoping to get down there this week. I don't plan to shoot it much at all. Likely only a magazine out of it here and there like once or twice a year.

rshaw · June 2, 2020, 07:38 AM

One suggestion if I may..... If and when you plan to shoot it, taking the holdopen out is a completely safe option. The only change in performance would be that the toggle does not stay open after the last shot. Other than that, the safety of operation is not compromised at all.

Deerhunter · June 4, 2020, 09:30 AM

RShaw

Thanks for the advice. I will look into doing that.

**44 AMP** · June 4, 2020, 01:05 PM

Its not cheap, but if you want to protect the collector value of your Luger to the greatest amount possible and still shoot it, then get replacements for all the numbered parts, and put the numbered parts in secure storage.

Doesn't matter much with a lot of guns, but with Lugers, a significant portion of their value is having matching or non matching numbered parts.

There is always some risk, shooting an old all original gun. With proper ammo, one or two mags, once in a while, shouldn't hurt anything. Note, I said shouldn't, not couldn't.

May 18, 2020, 11:27 PM	#33
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,833	Thank you for the pics. I believe it was usual to only number one of the grips, but am not certain. based on the pics and everything being the same general condition, I'd say a "force match" is doubtful. I can see traces of the straw color on the small parts, and the magazines are period correct for the pistol, though if you can't find matching numbers on them, I wouldn't assume they were the original mags. My book lists that model as "common" (by # produced). Looks to be in good condition, (bore needs cleaning ) Finish appears original. I don't know if its actually worth $1700 today, but if not, it will be eventually. Looks like a good example in decent shape, and about as original as you are likely to find for a WW I Luger. With the holster tis not a steal at the asking price, but its not the most outrageously priced Luger I've seen, either. Again, you need to find someone currently in the Luger buy/sell market to get an idea of the current value. Personally, if they let you put it on layaway, I'd buy it. If you do buy it, and plan to shoot it, DO NOT use any kind of NATO spec or +p ammo!!!! That gun was built to run on German service ammo of the day, which was a 115gr at 1150fps. Anything hotter is a stupid abuse of a fine antique. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

May 19, 2020, 01:23 PM	#36
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,833	Congrats Deerhunter. A mag or two now and then of the proper ammo shouldn't hurt anything. The original standard Luger loading was a 124gr at 1050fps, which was changed to a 115gr at 1150fps shortly before WW I. They are "light" compared to what is sold for defense today, but I don't call them "light" just standard. something I just thought of, for you to check, does the gun have the loading tool with it? There's a little pocket in the holster for that. If it doesn't, get one from one of the repro suppliers. You will want one, and it completes the set. Monocle, walrus moustache, pickelhaube helmet "Got Mit Uns" belt and Field Grey greatcoat are optional accessories.... __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

May 19, 2020, 05:05 PM	#39
Deerhunter Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 607	1917 DWM Luger 44 Amp. Yeah that tool is in the holster. I used it to take the grips off at the shop Rick I am going to be careful with it. I am thinking about getting a reproduction firing pin for it for when I shoot Jim it sure does. The barrel is real dirty. First thing I will do when I get it home is clean it all up Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

May 28, 2020, 02:10 PM	#40
rshaw Member Join Date: January 23, 2017 Location: Venlo, the Netherlands Posts: 94	Hi Deerhunter, I have a 1917 DWM 9 mm with 1 matching mag, 1 spare mag, all matching parts which I bought for EUR 1700 a little over three years ago. Since your mag isn't a match, but you have a holster and loading tool, $1700 is not unreasonable. I have shot mine with S&B Subsonic FMJ and have had no trouble. I shoot it only very occasionally, as it is a special gun for me (the first Luger I ever laid eyes on). A dirty barrel is not a good sign. If pitting is evient after cleaning, this would drop the value significantly from a collector's point of view. Most serious collectors are rather picky about the bore. Your photos of the outside look pretty good! I had a reblued 1918 DWM all-matching which I bought as a shooter. I broke the holdopen, finally got another after 2 long months. This new part did fit, but the gun did not cycle as smoothly as before. This made me more hesitant to continue shooting my 1917. So............I found a Bern Model 06/29 in 7,65 mm which is great to shoot- (ammo is pricey though). Looks like you have a good buy. Perhaps find a non matching shooter to take to the range. I was VERY happy that I did not break the holdopen in my 1917. __________________ Enjoying any firearm is like staying happily married- take her out on a regular basis, treat her with respect and pay attention to proper maintenance. RShaw, Venlo, the Netherlands

June 1, 2020, 07:54 AM	#42
Deerhunter Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 607	Thanks folks. Yeah excited about it. I called and put it on layaway till I could get back to the shop and pick it up. Hoping to get down there this week. I don't plan to shoot it much at all. Likely only a magazine out of it here and there like once or twice a year. __________________ My idea of fast food is a mallard. -Ted Nugent

May 19, 2020, 05:17 AM	#34
Deerhunter Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 607	44 Amp Thanks for the info. Yeah they will let me put it on a 90 day layaway I am planning to shoot it a little. You know like a magazine here and there. Not going to get crazy and I will make sure I am shooting light ammo. Thanks again Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

May 19, 2020, 05:32 AM	#35
luger fan Senior Member Join Date: March 10, 2018 Posts: 150	Am I a fan? See my user name.

May 19, 2020, 04:01 PM	#38
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	Looks like the barrel needs a good cleaning.

May 30, 2020, 07:13 PM	#41
Logan Creek Junior Member Join Date: October 16, 2019 Posts: 4	Very fair price for the rig these days. Nice holster which is a big bonus including the tool. Finding a Luger with even one matching mag is a minor miracle. They are really not a concern in the Luger world except as a real premium if present. They are often faked or attempts made at faking them.

June 2, 2020, 07:38 AM	#43
rshaw Member Join Date: January 23, 2017 Location: Venlo, the Netherlands Posts: 94	One suggestion if I may..... If and when you plan to shoot it, taking the holdopen out is a completely safe option. The only change in performance would be that the toggle does not stay open after the last shot. Other than that, the safety of operation is not compromised at all. __________________ Enjoying any firearm is like staying happily married- take her out on a regular basis, treat her with respect and pay attention to proper maintenance. RShaw, Venlo, the Netherlands

June 4, 2020, 09:30 AM	#44
Deerhunter Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 607	RShaw Thanks for the advice. I will look into doing that. __________________ My idea of fast food is a mallard. -Ted Nugent

June 4, 2020, 01:05 PM	#45
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,833	Its not cheap, but if you want to protect the collector value of your Luger to the greatest amount possible and still shoot it, then get replacements for all the numbered parts, and put the numbered parts in secure storage. Doesn't matter much with a lot of guns, but with Lugers, a significant portion of their value is having matching or non matching numbered parts. There is always some risk, shooting an old all original gun. With proper ammo, one or two mags, once in a while, shouldn't hurt anything. Note, I said shouldn't, not couldn't. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.