DWM Model 1914 Military P.08 Luger, + 2 Magazines & Holster, Blue 4” WWI SA Semi-Automatic Pistol, MFD 1915 C&R

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LSB#: 170201SW03

Make: DWM

Model: 1914 Military Luger

Serial Number: 1364f

Year of Manufacture: 1915

Caliber: 9mm Luger

Action Type: Toggle Action Single Action Semi-Auto, Removable Magazine.

Markings: The left sideplate, the left side of the trigger, sear bar, sear bar safety, takedown lever, extractor, back of the rear toggle link and the top of the front toggle link are marked “64”. The rear toggle is marked with a script “DWM”. The front of the frame under the barrel and the underside of the barrel are marked “1364 / f” and the barrel is also marked “8,83”. The left side of the frame behind the trigger is marked “S”. The top of the receiver at the chamber is marked “1915” and the left side of the chamber is marked “1364”. The right side of the receiver is marked with three crowned scripted characters and an eagle as resembling the first four characters shown on line 10, pg. 234 of “Luger Variations” by H.E. Jones, for DWM military pistols, and the top of the barrel is marked with the 5th character, a sideways Eagle. The left side of the breechblock is marked with an Eagle. The left side of the frame in front of the safety is marked “GESICHERT”. The underside of the grip panels are both marked “2”, “W” and with what could be a “V”. The right underside surface of the rear toggle is marked “S”. The bottom face of the lug on the underside of the barrel chamber is marked “N” and the chamber in front of the lug is marked “T” and “1”. The top surface of the holdopen latch is marked “64”. The well at the front of the frame is marked “J”, “Y”, “n” and “O”.

Barrel Length: 4”

Sights / Optics: This pistol is mounted with a “V” notch in the back of the toggle and a serrated ramped blade front sight in a dovetail on the base on the front barrel band. The rear face of the base is also ramped and serrated.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered walnut with both grips dark from oil staining. The checkering shows moderate to heavy wear, with the bottom edges of the checkering worn smooth. There is a ding below the safety in the left grip and an area in the right grip behind the magazine release where the wood is abraded. The grips rate in about Very Good overall condition.

Type of Finish: The finish is blued. The ejector, trigger, takedown lever and the right side of the magazine release have a straw color. The pin holding the rear toggle to the frame and the sear bar spring have a fire blue finish.

Finish Originality: The finish is original.

Bore Condition: The bore is a gray with light wear in the rifling. There is light erosion scattered throughout the bore.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 85% of its metal finish. There is pinprick surface erosion on the front edges of the barrel band and a strip of erosion on the sideplate, with light surface frosting scattered over the front strap and backstrap. There is surface loss on the edges of the barrel band and sideplate, and on the front corners of the frame. There is thinning on the edges of the frame and receiver, at the bottom of the front strap and backstrap, and on the top rear surfaces of the receiver and rear toggle link. There are light marks on the rear of the frame where it has been hit by the rear toggle link, and light marks in the receiver’s chamber ring and on the frame rails. The serrations on the toggle knobs and the knurling on the takedown lever and magazine release are sharp. The safety serrations and toggle knurling show light wear. The grip screws are sharp, but the right screw is lightly eroded. The markings are clear except for the sideways eagle on the top rear of the barrel, which is faint. Overall, this pistol rates in about Fine condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The receiver is tight to the frame. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a total of two blued magazines and a black leather top flap holster. The magazines are unmarked and have wooden bottom pieces. The magazines show minimal wear and are in Fine to Excellent condition. The back side of the holster is made from a double thick piece of leather with a single belt loop sewn to it. A separate piece is sewn to the top of the back piece and folded over to the front to form the top flap. The outside section of the holster is formed to fit this pistol and is sewn to the back side, with a magazine pouch sewn to the front face of the outside section. A strap sewn between the back and outside pieces is used to secure the top flap via a brass stud on the top flap. There are two holes punched into the leather near the top rear of the back side. The holster has no markings visible. The holster shows light wear in the top flap and outside surfaces, giving them a mottled bright/dull look and moderate wear in the back side. There are several handling marks in the top flap and compression marks in the outside of the holster in the area of the barrel. The stitching is intact. The holster is in about Very Good condition.

Our Assessment: The Luger (Pistole Parabellum or P-08) is perhaps the most aesthetically and ergonomically pleasing of all autoloading centerfire pistols. It is also one of the strongest, most accurate and most recognizable service pistols ever made. Georg Luger developed his famous pistol in 1898-1899 (starting with the Borchardt/Luger transitional pistol). The Luger is, essentially, a much improved Borchardt type pistol, which was itself based on the toggle action concept used by Sir Hiram Maxim in the world’s first practical machine gun. The Maxim shot its way to bloody fame in World War One, which also became the combat proving ground for the Luger Pistol. The Luger was so well liked and reliable that it was still being made and issued to German troops well after the P38 was adopted by the army. This DWM Military 1914 is in about Fine condition with about 85% of its original metal finish remaining. The bore is gray with light wear in the rifling and light erosion scattered throughout the bore. The pistol is correctly marked and has matching serial numbers except for the grip panels. The pistol comes with two magazines, which are unmarked and appear to aftermarket. It also comes with a vintage black leather top flap holster that is similar to those we have seen issued to the German police in the late 1930’s. This is a nice find for Luger collectors and those with an interest in German military arms as used in WWI and WWII. Most of the M1914 Military pistols that survived WWI and/or WWII have been arsenal reworked, have unmatching numbers or have been refinished, making pistols like this one a rare find.

DWM Model 1914 Military P.08 Luger, + 2 Magazines & Holster, Blue 4” WWI SA Semi-Automatic Pistol, MFD 1915 C&R
DWM Model 1914 Military P.08 Luger, + 2 Magazines & Holster, Blue 4” WWI SA Semi-Automatic Pistol, MFD 1915 C&R