Make: DWM

Model: Luger P.08 (Parabellum-Pistole)

Serial#: 3963g

Year of Manufacture: 1917

Caliber: 9mm Luger

Action Type: Toggle-Action Semi-Automatic Striker-Fired Pistol fed by a Detachable Magazine

Barrel Length: 4”

Sights/ Optics: The front sight is blade dovetailed to a serrated, banded base fixed to the muzzle. The rear sight is a “V”-notch integral to the rear toggle link.

Stock Configuration & Condition/ Grip: The grip panels are two-piece checkered wood. The grips have even light wear, slightly more notable at the bottom edges. There is a very small loss below the safety lever at the top-rear of the left panel. There are a few light marks. The checkering is well defined. There are no cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blue & Strawed

Finish Originality: Refinished, numbers matching.

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with well defined rifling. There is some scattered light erosion, infrequent minor pitting, and stubborn fouling in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 6+/10.

Overall Condition: The pistol retains about 75% of its current metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is scattered minor surface oxidation and some minor erosion. Most of the strawed finish has muted or worn to white. The grip areas show light handling wear. There is some other scattered finish wear, mostly on raised features. There are light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are generally clear, some inspection marks are shallow, but visible. Overall, the pistol is in Very Good condition as refinished.

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

Box Paperwork and Accessories: The pistol comes with a single unmarked wood-floorplate 8-round magazine.

Our Assessment: The Luger (Pistole Parabellum or P-08) is perhaps the most aesthetically and ergonomically pleasing of all autoloading centerfire pistols. 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 Luger was made in 1917, near the end of Germany's wartime production. This example is intriguing due to its British commercial proof marks, indicating that someone in the UK took private ownership after 1925. The parts having matching serial markings, though the included magazine is unmarked. The pistol has some erosion in its bore, but retains strong mechanics. It will make a neat addition to a WWI or German military arms collection. Please see our photos and good luck!