Make: DWM

Model: Parabellum-Pistole, Luger Model P.08

Serial#: 3815

Year of Manufacture: 1916

Caliber: 9mm Luger

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

Barrel Length: 4”

Sights/ Optics: The front sight is serrated blade dovetailed to a banded base integral 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 vertically serrated black bakelite. The grips have some scattered minor nicks and small scratches. The serrations are well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Fine condition as not original to the gun.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Refinished, likely Arsenal re-worked after capture by Soviets. Some parts are force-matched.

Bore Condition: The bore is light gray with sharp rifling. There is scattered light erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 6-7 out of 10.

Overall Condition: The pistol retains about 95% of its current metal finish. There are scattered light nicks and small scratches. The knurling on the grasping knobs shows wear. There are some scattered marks and minor erosion under the finish. The action shows operational wear. The markings are generally clear, the sideplate's original serial marking has been X'd out. The screw heads are sharp. 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 force-matched 8-round magazine with aluminum floorplate.

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, 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 Luger was so reliable and well liked that it was still being made and issued to German troops well after the P38 was adopted by the army. The largest percentage of Lugers were made by DWM, which became Mauser in 1930.

This particular Luger is an interesting find for the collectors. Large numbers of Lugers were captured by the Soviets during WWII. They typically went through a refurbishment program where they received a hot dip blue finish, had replacement parts force-matched, and in some cases would have any swastika markings punched out. The great majority of these pistols were Mauser produced guns from the 1930s and early 1940s, but this example is a 1916-dated DWM. It doesn't have a "double-date" post-WWI chamber marking, but it is entirely possible this pistol stayed in German inventory through the end of WWI, the inter-war years, and into WWII. This pistol was imported by C.A.I. some time after 1996 and may have been one of the many Russian-capture pistols marketed as a "Black Widow" due to its uniform dark finish. Please see our photos and good luck!